Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2014 Old Roots: Place-Making and Hybrid Landscapes of Refugee Urban Farmers Missy Ward-Lambert Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons Recommended Citation Ward-Lambert, Missy, "Old Roots: Place-Making and Hybrid Landscapes of Refugee Urban Farmers" (2014). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 3298. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/3298 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. OLD ROOTS: PLACE-MAKING AND HYBRID LANDSCAPES OF REFUGEE URBAN FARMERS by Missy Ward-Lambert A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management Approved: ________________________________ ________________________________ Ann Laudati Steven Camicia Major Professor Committee Member ________________________________ ________________________________ Peg Petrzelka Claudia Radel Committee Member Committee Member ________________________________ ________________________________ Cinthya Saavedra Mark McLellan Committee Member Vice President for Research and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2014 ii Copyright © Missy Ward-Lambert 2014 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Old Roots: Place-Making and Hybrid Landscapes of Refugee Urban Farmers by Missy Ward-Lambert, Doctor of Philosophy Utah State University, 2014 Major Professor: Ann Laudati Department: Environment and Society This dissertation explores the ways in which a place-based perspective that emphasizes the interconnectedness of physical environments and social worlds contributes to an understanding of some of the complex ways that refugees integrate into and resist their new environments post-relocation. Qualitative methodology, based on participant observation techniques, in-depth interviews, and a photography project, was employed to examine the agricultural experiences of 30 refugees living in Salt Lake City, Utah. All research participants were recruited through their participation in a local urban farming program for refugees. Seventeen of these individuals—from Burundi, Sudan, Bhutan, the Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Cuba—consented to participation in the in-depth interviews and photovoice stage of the project. In addition to a discussion of the epistemological and methodological choices that structured the research project, three papers are presented. The first paper examines the role of farming activities in the place-making processes of participants. The second paper iv describes the physical and symbolic landscapes of hybridity that can be “read” upon the landscape of this particular urban farming site. The third paper contains methodological reflections on the unique challenges and sites of opportunity that exist in research with refugee populations. Policy implications and suggestions for further research are discussed. (213 pages) v PUBLIC ABSTRACT Old Roots: Place-Making and Hybrid Landscapes of Refugee Urban Farmers Missy Ward-Lambert This research project was designed to analyze the relevance of place and the physical environment to the adjustment processes of refugees. This dissertation contains the results of qualitative research with a group of 30 refugee urban farmers living in Salt Lake City, Utah. Seventeen of these individuals—from Burundi, Sudan, Bhutan, the Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Cuba— participated in interviews and a photography project focused on their experiences with agriculture in their home countries and since their arrival in Utah. The results of the research show the connection between the refugees’ work as farmers and their sense of place since arriving in the United States. Participants reported material and emotional benefits from their farming work, as well as challenges. The research results also provide insight into the process of cultural hybridization and cross-cultural exchange experienced by the participants. A discussion of some challenges inherent in doing research with refugees is included, and policy implications and suggestions for further research are discussed. vi Dedicated to my children: May you always do whatever you can’t not do. vii l’exil s’en va ainsi dans la mangeoire des astres portant de malhabiles grains aux oiseaux nés du temps qui jamais ne s’endorment jamais aux espaces fertiles des enfances remuées exile thus goes into the feeder made of stars bearing clumsy grains to the birds born of time which never never fall asleep in the fertile spaces of stirred up childhoods -“Birds” by Aimé Césaire I promised to show you a map you say but this is a mural then yes let it be these are small distinctions where do we see it from is the question -From “An Atlas of a Difficult World” by Adrienne Rich viii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Ann Laudati for her continual encouragement and articulate guidance, and my committee members—Dr. Claudia Radel, Dr. Peg Petrzelka, Dr. Cinthya Saavedra, and Dr. Steven Camicia—for their assistance throughout the qualification and research process. I am grateful to Utah State University and the Department of Environment and Society for scholarships and funding opportunities throughout the course of my doctoral program. It is with deep gratitude that I acknowledge the farmers at New Roots of Utah who generously shared their knowledge and expertise with me, and the New Roots staff members (especially Jesse, Grace, and Supreet) who helped me meet and connect with the farmers who participated in this research. Special thanks to my family and friends for supporting me throughout the research and writing process—especially and always to Joe, Kya, and JD, who have lovingly braced me through every new stage. Missy Ward-Lambert ix CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................ iii PUBLIC ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................. v DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................ vi FRONTISPIECE ....................................................................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 Background on Refugeeism ..................................................................... 4 Displacement and Rootedness in Refugee Studies .......................11 II. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................20 Research Site, Sample Selection, and Consent ................................21 Epistemology and Methodology ...........................................................28 Methods of Data Collection and Analysis..........................................37 Conclusion ....................................................................................................50 III. THE ROLE OF FARMING IN PLACE-MAKING PROCESESS OF REFUGEES ...................................................................................................................52 Literature Review ......................................................................................55 Methods .........................................................................................................66 Findings and Discussion ..........................................................................68 Counterpoint: “A Deep Hole” .................................................................85 Conclusion ....................................................................................................91 IV. HYBRID LANDSCAPES OF CULTURE AND IDENTITY IN A REFUGEE COMMUNITY GARDEN ......................................................................93 x Literature Review ......................................................................................96 Methods ...................................................................................................... 110 Photovoice Findings............................................................................... 115 Hybrid Landscapes ................................................................................. 119 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 140 V. IN THE FIELD: LISTENING TO AND WRITING ABOUT REFUGEES ...............................................................................................................