The Struggle for Eden: Community Gardens in New York City

(Hardback)

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Describes the history of community gardens in New York City, the internal organization, and the social, economic, cultural, and political dynamics of individual gardens, as well as the political struggle on their behalf which involves coalitions at the level of the neighborhood and the entire city. This study is a portrayal of the political, economic, and cultural history and present of community gardens in a New York City neighborhood, the Lower East Side of Manhattan. An ethnographic study of a particular instance of urban history, it provides a basis for an understanding of urban community gardens in the United States. Beginning with a historical overview of urban community gardening in the United States and other countries, the author concentrates on the last two decades of the 20th century in this portrayal of a social movement that seeks to impact urban environments both in social and economic terms and in terms of ecological dynamics. The last decade in particular has been critical with regard to the development of a broad network of community-based coalitions acting on behalf of urban community gardens. The author considers internal dynamics and organization of individual gardens within the specific social, political, and economic context of the Lower East Side and analyzes the political struggle on behalf of community gardens in that neighborhood and the entire city. The author also addresses the diverse ways in which community gardens on the Lower East Side have become critical components in the daily life of urban gardeners, predominantly poor and low-income people.

Reviews

Developing community gardens in urban settings has been no easy task. Hassell (behavioral sciences, Suffolk County Community College, New York) elucidates the issues and struggles that have taken place over decades of change in the urban landscape, particularly of New York City. Political, economic, and community interests are often at odds over the use of privately and publicly owned land in cities. The case is made from various perspectives that these gardens inspire pride and independence, bring communities together, and teach children and adults alike about the plants they use and consume. A primary audience for this book certainly will be community activists, but urban planners concerned about the cityscape in all its aspects will find pertinent information. Using a light and informative style of writing, Hassell draws on literary sources, government documents, and personal accounts related to the creation and perpetuation of these spaces. One might have wanted a few more photographs of some of the successful and ongoing garden ventures, but then, this is not a how-to garden book, but rather a description of how to overcome the political realities of developing gardens where the pressure to fill the land with revenue-producing buildings is great. General readers; graduate students through professionals; two-year technical program students.-Choice
The Struggle For Eden is an engaging book that provides a wealth of information about the urban gardening movement today....The book contains a wealth of information about many aspects of urban gardening. and it deals effectively with the political and philosophical issues that attend urban gardens....Von Hassell addresses a neglected topic and shows that urban gardening makes a significant contribution to social development The Struggle for Eden should be widely consulted by anyone working in community and social development today.-Journal of Social Development Issues
"The Struggle For Eden is an engaging book that provides a wealth of information about the urban gardening movement today....The book contains a wealth of information about many aspects of urban gardening. and it deals effectively with the political and philosophical issues that attend urban gardens....Von Hassell addresses a neglected topic and shows that urban gardening makes a significant contribution to social development The Struggle for Eden should be widely consulted by anyone working in community and social development today."-Journal of Social Development Issues
"Developing community gardens in urban settings has been no easy task. Hassell (behavioral sciences, Suffolk County Community College, New York) elucidates the issues and struggles that have taken place over decades of change in the urban landscape, particularly of New York City. Political, economic, and community interests are often at odds over the use of privately and publicly owned land in cities. The case is made from various perspectives that these gardens inspire pride and independence, bring communities together, and teach children and adults alike about the plants they use and consume. A primary audience for this book certainly will be community activists, but urban planners concerned about the cityscape in all its aspects will find pertinent information. Using a light and informative style of writing, Hassell draws on literary sources, government documents, and personal accounts related to the creation and perpetuation of these spaces. One might have wanted a few more photographs of some of the successful and ongoing garden ventures, but then, this is not a how-to garden book, but rather a description of how to overcome the political realities of developing gardens where the pressure to fill the land with revenue-producing buildings is great. General readers; graduate students through professionals; two-year technical program students."-Choice

Author Bio

MALVE VON HASSELL is Adjunct Instructor, Department of Behavioral Sciences, Suffolk County Community College, New York.