The Social Production of Community Garden Space: Case Studies of Boston, Massachusetts and Havana, Cuba
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University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Winter 2008 The social production of community garden space: Case studies of Boston, Massachusetts and Havana, Cuba Charles A. French University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation French, Charles A., "The social production of community garden space: Case studies of Boston, Massachusetts and Havana, Cuba" (2008). Doctoral Dissertations. 459. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/459 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE SOCIAL PRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY GARDEN SPACE: CASE STUDIES OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS AND HAVANA, CUBA BY CHARLES A. FRENCH Bachelor of Arts, Dartmouth College, 1994 Master of Arts, Western Illinois University, 1999 DISSERTATION Submitted to the University of New Hampshire In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Natural Resources and Environmental Studies December 2008 UMI Number: 3348315 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ® UMI UMI Microform 3348315 Copyright 2009 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway PO Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 This dissertation has been examined and approved. Dissertation Director, Bruce E. Lindsay, Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics Mimi L. Becker, Associate Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy Alberto B. Manald, Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics Rebecca C. Grube, Associate Professor/Extension Specialist, Sustainable Horticulture Production LJOj_k_£lx%.MJ Andrew B. Conroy, Professor of Appli& Animal Science Date ACKNOWLDGEMENTS I would like to give special thanks to the members of my Doctoral Committee for helping me to complete this dissertation. They are Doctors Bruce Lindsay (Chair), Mimi Becker, Andrew Conroy, Rebecca Grube and Alberto Manalo. Their keen advice and ideas helped me to strengthen my research. And their support and countless hours editing the chapters cannot be understated. Thanks also go to my wife, AnnMarie French, who nurtured me through the process and patiently endured my many ups and downs. Lastly, I would like to thank my parents, Robert and Shirley French, who encouraged me at several points when I wanted to quit. This one is for you, Dad! iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES x ABSTRACT xii CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION 1 Overview of Research 1 Historical Context 3 The Rise of Community Gardens in the Industrialized World 3 The Rise of Community Gardens in the Developing World 6 Justification for Study 7 Case Study Approach 9 Research Questions 11 Research Goals and Objectives 12 II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 14 Overview of Space and Society 14 Socio-Spatial Dimensions of Urban Community Gardens 17 Urban Socio-Spatial Theory Development 19 Economic Geography 19 iv Urban Ecology 22 Marxian Political Economy 24 The Social Production of Space 26 The Socio-Spatial Dialectic 27 Abstract Space and Concrete Space 28 Lefebvre's Conceptual Triad 32 Towards a Socially Relevant Spatial Science 35 Using Lefebvre's Production of Space as an Analytic Framework 35 Incorporating the Element of Time Into the Socio-Spatial Framework. ...37 A New Production of Space Framework for Urban Community Gardens 38 III. METHODOLOGY 44 Research Approach 44 Theoretical Framework 44 Case Study Analysis , 48 Field Instruments 52 Secondary Data Analysis 52 Direct Observation 53 Structured Interviews 54 Survey Questionnaire 55 Data Analysis Procedures 56 Coding of Interviews and Direct Observation Data 56 Analysis of Survey Questionnaires 60 Validity and Reliability 61 v Assumptions and Biases 63 Dissertation Structure 67 IV. BOSTON CASE 68 Introduction 68 Background 70 Evolution of Boston's Community Garden Sector 70 Methods 75 Theoretical Framework 75 Field Instruments 76 Data Analysis Procedures 77 Analysis 78 Demographic Cluster Analysis for Identifying Gardens for Study 78 Data Analysis Procedures for Interviews 82 Findings , 83 Gardens as Spatial Manifestations of Cultural Heritage 83 Personal Values Manifest in Gardening Practices 95 The Influence of Agencies and Organizations on the Garden Landscape .101 Impacts of Social, Economic and Demographic Change 105 Gardeners' Perceptions of Change 106 Perceptions of the Future 109 Bringing the Model Full Circle: Linking Outcomes to Characteristics...! 11 Discussion and Conclusion 113 Ensuring Future Access to Community Garden Space 118 V. HAVANA CASE 120 vi Introduction , 120 Background 121 Agricultural Policy Reform and the Rise of Havana's Urban Agriculture Sector 121 Evolution of New Organizational Structures for Havana's Gardens 124 Changing Social and Physical Organization of Urban Agriculture Space 130 Restructuring Havana's Urban Agriculture Sector in the 21st Century ...131 Research Methods 133 Field Instruments 133 Data Analysis Procedures 135 Analysis and Findings 137 Primary Motivations for Gardening 137 Various Forms and Functions Incorporated for Urban Production 138 Perceptions of the Future of Urban Agriculture 142 Linking Outcomes Back to Individual and Societal Characteristics 144 Discussion and Conclusion 145 VI. CROSS-CASE ANALYSIS 149 Case Comparison Overview 149 Comparing and Contrasting Forces of Production of Garden Space 150 The Role of the Government 150 The Role of Cultural Heritage 153 Personal Values and Needs 155 Conclusion 157 vii VII. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 160 The Research Questions 160 Application of the Theoretical Framework 160 Summary of Research Findings 163 Broader Societal Implications of Research 166 BIBLIOGRAPHY 170 APPENDICES 178 APPENDIX A: Direct Observation and Field Mapping Protocol 179 APPENDIX B-l: Interview Protocol 180 APPENDIX B-2: Protocolo de Entrevistas (Spanish) 183 APPENDIX C: Consent Form for Participation in Research Study 187 APPENDIX D: IRB Approval 189 APPENDIX E: Boston Garden Survey 190 APPENDIX F: Case Study Protocols 192 APPENDLX G: Boston Gardeners' Survey Summary Report 195 APPENDIX H: Coding Categories 201 APPENDIX I: Boston Community Gardens and Median Rent by Census Tract 203 APPENDIX J: Boston Community Gardens and Population Density by Census Tract..204 APPENDIX K: Boston Community Gardens and Percentage Black Population by Census Tract 205 APPENDIX L: Boston Community Gardens and Hispanic Population by Census Tract 206 APPENDIX M: Boston Community Gardens and Urban Renewal Districts 207 APPENDIX N: NVIVO Model Structure 208 viii LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Boston Community Gardeners' Primary Motivation to Garden Based on Survey Results 96 2. Population Change by Race in Select Boston Neighborhoods 108 3. Comparison of Pre- and Post-Special Period Agrarian Reforms 124 4. Change in the Number of UBPCs and Worker Gardens, 1996 - 2005 131 5. Change in the Number of Patio Gardens and Parcelas, 1996 - 2005 124 IX LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Analytic Framework for Examining Socio-Spatial Relations in Community Garden Spaces 2 2. Example of Lefebvre's Abstract Space 33 3. Photo Showing the Lived Space of A Community Gardener. 34 4. Detailed Analytic Framework For Examining Socio-Spatial Relations in Community Garden Spaces 47 5. Major Coding Categories and Sub-Categories for Boston Interview and Direct Observation Data Using NVIVO Software 57 6. Matrix Describing Attributes of Community Gardeners and Individual Gardens 58 7. Queries Built Using NVIVO's Query Builder Function to Cross Reference Data Coded into Coding Categories and Attributes from Matrix Table 59 8. Model Structure Created Using NVIVO's Models Function 60 9. Map of Community Garden Interview Sites 80 10. Map of Boston Community Gardens Represented in Survey 81 11. Collard Greens, Sweet Potato, Okra and Beans Planted in Mounded Rows in Dorchester Community Garden 86 12. Casita Used for Holding Celebrations and Events in Hispanic Community Garden ..89 13. Plant Frames Used in Berkeley Street Garden to Grow Vegetables Upward 90 14. Intensive Planting of Tomato, Herbs and Flowers in East Boston's Joseph Ciampa Community Garden 93 15. Victory Garden Plot Surrounded by Tall Hedges and Ornamentals to Create a Sense of Privacy 97 16. Havana Gardener in Her Patio Garden 125 x 17. Neighborhood Garden in Havana Vieja District 126 18. Members of a UBPC-Managed Organoponic Garden in Havana Place Composted Material on Raised Beds 129 19. Map of Community Garden Interview Sites in Havana, Cuba 134 20. Employees of State-Run Enterprise Helping to Maintain the Enterprise's Worker Garden 141 XI ABSTRACT THE SOCIAL PRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY GARDEN SPACE: CASE STUDIES