Community Gardens as a Platform for Education for Sustainability
Australian Journal of Environmental Education
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Date:
Nov 30, 2003
Pages:
69 - 75
Sources ID:
86096
Visibility:
Public (group default)
Abstract:
(Show)
Community gardens fulfil many roles, including the reclamation of public space, community building, and the facilitation of social and cultural expression. This paper discusses a nexus between research and education for sustainability that evolved out of an examination of the role of community gardens in fostering community development and neighbourhood improvement in Sydney's Waterloo Public Housing Estate. It argues that they are also an educational resource providing a valuable platform for learning about multiple dimensions of sustainability. The paper is based on interdisciplinary research undertaken by a team from UNSWs Faculty of the Built Environment and the School of Social Work. The findings of this research affirm the importance of community gardens for public housing tenants, and present the gardens and their associated activities as an effective platform for education for sustainability.