Sustainability as Seen from a Vegetable Garden

Louise A. Crabtree

This thesis investigates interpretations and aspects of ‘sustainability’ as it pertains to urban spaces, using urban community food gardens within inner Sydney as case studies. The thesis interrogates definitions of ‘sustainability’ as this is a term widely adopted amongst various business, academic and government groups with actions undertaken in its name, while its bases, assumptions and aims are rarely elucidated. ‘Sustainability’, for this study, is seen as relying upon the beliefs, assumptions, expectations and actions of individuals, so reflects Buell and DeLuca’s ‘sustainable democracy’ or Esteva’s definition of ‘development’. The ability of individuals to act in ways which engender self determination, requires the ability of individuals to make informed choices about relevant, appropriate processes and structures concerning the means of their own existence. Such choices, while locally relevant, rely on wider bodies of knowledge. ‘Sustainability’ can thus be seen as relying upon access to information, resources and individuals.

Through participatory research, this thesis investigates urban community gardens within Sydney through the lens of ‘access’ and of the engagement with the spaces between individuals and groups, which can extend into an analysis of the various networks these bodies occupy. Issues arising from this study are examined with regard to their potential for enhancing community access to urban food growing spaces.

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A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours, Macquarie University, New South Wales. November 1999.

The author asserts her rights, right here. Correct reference to this thesis is:

Crabtree, L. A. (1999) Sustainability as seen from a vegetable garden. Unpublished Honours thesis, Department of Human Geography, Macquarie University.http://www.thirdangel.com/sustainability/honours/honours_index.html

Also, don't download any of this or my papers, chop it up some and then hand it in to me as an essay. That will get you thrown out of uni and get academics telling jokes about you at dinner parties for years to come. Research, yes. Plagiarise, meh.