Earthways: Opportunity, Community and Meaning in the Personal Garden

The hybrid space of the personal garden offers valuable opportunities for individuals to express themselves personally in an outdoor setting, to develop meaningful relationships with green spaces, and to connect with the greater natural environment and urban community, as demonstrated in the works of contemporary gardener-authors Marjorie Harris, Sara Stein, and Leon Whiteson. These opportunities are particularly significant in urban environments where access to nature and green space is limited, and where gardening activities can contribute to the health of the natural environment, the wellbeing of people involved in the space, and the vitality of the community at large.