Abstract
Abstract. This paper discusses issues of public space, citizenship, gender, and race in the light of public relocation of responsibility for social services and care to private communities due to the elimination, privatization or devolvement of such services by state restructuring and welfare reform. The presented case studies are taken from a larger study of community gardens in Buffalo, NY. This mixed methods study found connections between community organizations' commitment to community gardening and their involvement in the provision of social, youth, and emergency services, including after school programs, tutoring, refugee services, and winter coat drives. The paper concludes that the everyday lives of Buffalo’s residents within the social, political and economic conditions cannot be separated from the effects of larger structural processes, such as deindustrialization, privatization, and state restructuring.
Highlights
The planting of community gardens in urban areas is a common, community-based strategy for the temporary reuse of vacant lots in declining urban neighborhoods in the United States (Hanna & Oh 2000; Hynes 1996; Lawson 2005; Schmelzkopf 1995, 2002)
An important theme emerges: it became apparent that many community gardening organizations were engaged in the provision of other types of social services and care well beyond those typically associated with community gardening, including after school programs, tutoring, youth services and emergency/refugee services – community social services that have been devolved, reduced or dismantled from government programs in recent years. In light of this finding, the purpose of this paper is to look closer at the interrelatedness of issues of public space, citizenship, gender and race and larger structural processes of deindustrialization, globalization and state restructuring
3.1 Histories of public space and citizenship Public space and the public sphere have a history of exclusion and privilege, with women, working-class, racialized men and other groups being excluded from full access or participation
Summary
The planting of community gardens in urban areas is a common, community-based strategy for the temporary reuse of vacant lots in declining urban neighborhoods in the United States (Hanna & Oh 2000; Hynes 1996; Lawson 2005; Schmelzkopf 1995, 2002). The benefits of community gardens are widely known; they have been the focus of civic and beautification programs, but have been an important source of fresh fruits and vegetables in times of need throughout the history of the United States. In times of economic depression, government supported community gardening programs promoted self-sufficiency and dignity for urban dwellers by enabling them to grow food for their families in subsistence or allotment gardens. Community gardens continue to supply fresh food in urban neighborhoods while serving as spaces of community building, engagement and support
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