Developing Community in the Garden: the Spatial Relationships of Socialization in the Sheboygan Community Garden

Abstract

This study seeks to understand how the spatial dimensions of the garden relate to the social interactions in the Sheboygan Community Garden (SCG). Social interactions are the building blocks for community development in the garden and the surrounding neighborhood. My research explores the ways in which the spatial aspects of the garden encourages or hinders social interactions. Community development and social interactions extend beyond the physical space of the garden and into the larger community; however, for the purpose of this study, I focus only on the individuals in the garden and the physical garden space. There is wealth of data available on the amount of food grown and harvested in community gardens. The economic benefits of the community gardens are therefore well documented, but there is a gap in the community gardening literature (and in our knowledge base) about the impact of garden design on social interactions. The purpose of this project is to improve our understanding of the social role such spaces play in community building. This research provides a resource for the CAC as they pursue their mission to develop social capacities in individuals, families, and communities, specifically in the community gardens of Madison.