UNEARTHED - The power of gardening
By Sue Gifford
The British Library at Kings Cross, London recently held an unusual exhibition in its exhibit rooms, about the transformative power of gardening. Divided into four parts, it covered the ideas of gardening:
to nurture – we garden to fill stomachs, treat ailments and nourish our minds;
together - empowering communities and transforming neighbourhoods;
for global exchange – as long as humans travel and migrate, we will move plants; and
with the planet – because by gardening we are connecting to the natural world.
It was a broad sweep kind of exhibition, accessible to the many Londoners, young and old, who may have had little connection to, or thoughts about, gardening. But it also carried thought-provoking messages to those a little bit in the know about the exceptional benefits of gardening. As well as static displays, there were multimedia exhibits, works of art and speaking sessions with garden writers Jamaica Kincaid and Olivia Laing discussing the radical power of gardening. As an aside, if you haven’t read Olivia Laing’s book ‘The Garden Against Time’ then do, it’s a fascinating absorbing read.
Throughout history gardening has been part of social and political movements. It’s been used as a form of activism, such as challenging land ownership (the guerilla garden movement as an example), and to highlight social issues, particularly for those disadvantaged and under-served populations who’ve historically had little power over the land on which they live.
The sustainable message was loud and clear. A provocative reproduced poster titled ‘F*** Lawns’ by Sam Wallman certainly drew the eye. Here the artist was challenging us not to keep manicured lawns because they are an unsustainable monoculture, ‘a historic symbol of control, dominance and status’ and require way too much water and chemical fertilisers to maintain. So, his message is – there is another way. Leave the lawn unmown, let it fill with indigenous plants, and the habitat will be healthy and full of life, and, importantly, sustainable.
Aside from the sustainability themes, the chief take-away for me was the benefit of being involved in community gardening. This part of the exhibition was particularly powerful, and it showed through film, a small locale in the centre of London’s south, where people have transformed not only a derelict plot of council-owned land, but created a new community through their gardening efforts. Of course, an enterprising core group championed the project but now it’s a blooming and wonderful centre point for many people who prior to this project, did not know their neighbours – or how to grow food to put on their tables. To describe their efforts as inspiring is an understatement.
The exhibition urged people to get outside and discover some of the parks and gardens in the local area (in this case, around the British Library). Addresses for 6 gardens within a 15 minute walk were listed. The wildflower planting in the Library Piazza was blooming and full of butterflies and bees and the Story Garden which began right behind the library is an amazing example of how people come together through gardening. The Story Garden is a sustainable community garden project which began in 2009 as a moveable vegetable garden built in skips! But that’s another story for another day. The point is there are so many opportunities for we gardeners to share passion, knowledge and time outside our own plots to bring everyone on board with this all-giving endeavour.
