Greening Cities, Growing Communities

"Greening Cities, Growing Communities does more than tell the story of a single city or even a single country; it offers essential reading on urban community gardens as promising public green space for the 21st century." * Journal of Landscape Architecture * "Excellent tables, indexing, and specific strategic objectives outline a vision for like-minded readers." * Choice * "Green Cities Growing Communities is one of the most informative books regarding urban community gardens available today. It is more of a reference than a story, more of a tool than an inspiration. While many books argue the merit, need and importance of urban gardens, few shed light on the practical details involved with initiating, constructing and maintaining an urban garden . . . . Being rich in content and evidence-based arguments are distinguishing characteristics of this book. Green Cites Growing Communities tackles the political, economic, social and design issues that are absolutely crucial in bringing an urban garden to life. The six case studies provide proven, tangible, and actionable advice for the everyday gardener hoping to enrich their neighborhood." * re:place Magazine * "Hou, Johnson, and Lawson have put together a thorough and beautiful look at a collection of community gardens built and maintained under very different conditions. This book will help those planning or advocating for community gardens understand a wide range of implementation and maintenance issues..Greening Cities, Growing Communities thoughtfully compares the designs and uses of community gardens in unique situations, from a redeveloped farm on the city's edges to a steep slope owned by a private citizen and city agencies." * Landscape Architecture * "Those who know and love these gardens will appreciate this lavishly illustrated book. Professionals looking to adapt Seattle's community gardening model elsewhere will find a useful template. Greening Cities provides another angle for understanding what makes Seattle Seattle." * Seattle City Living *

Jeffrey Hou and Julie M. Johnson are associate professors of landscape architecture at the University of Washington. Laura J. Lawson is associate professor of landscape architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Acknowledgments Introduction: A Case for Urban Community Gardens as Public Open Space Part I. Understanding Urban Community Gardens 1. Community Gardens in America Research and Literature on Community Gardens Roles and Resources Community Gardens Provide Understanding Community Gardens 2. Making and Sustaining a Community Garden Initial Conception The Garden Site Design and Design Process Implementation and Maintenance Participation and Leadership Evolution and Evaluation Citywide Planning 3. Seattle Model: Local Activism and Institutional Support Geography and Local Economy Demographic Change A City of Neighborhoods and Civic Activism Seattle's Community Garden History A Web of Support for Community Gardens Supportive City and Neighborhood Planning Community Garden Development and Land Tenure Funding Programs A City Ripe for Community Gardening Part II. Seattle Case Studies 4. Interbay P-Patch Tour of Interbay P-Patch Background and History: Building Community through Adversity Design Process and Implementation: Design for Efficiency and Social Activity Funding and Support: Creative Reuse Organization and Participation: Team Leadership Programs and Functions: Celebrating Garden and Community Contextual Factors and Challenges: Problems of Pilfering Special Lesson: Expanding Beyond the Garden to Help Others 5. Thistle P-Patch Tour of Thistle P-Patch Background and History: Forgotten and Rediscovered Design Process and Implementation: Maximizing Garden Productivity Funding and Support: External Resources Organization and Participation: A Garden Made by Immigrants Programs and Functions: A P-Patch Serving Immigrant Gardeners Contextual Factors and Challenges: Conflicts with Neighbors Special Lesson: Serving Immigrant Gardeners in Multiple Ways Special Lesson: Community Change on the Horizon 6. Danny Woo International District Community Garden Tour of Danny Woo Community Garden: Urban Refuge and Neighborhood Jewel Background and History: Rebuilding an Inner-City Community Design Process and Implementation: "A Work in Progress" Funding and Support: Community Entrepreneurism Organization and Participation: Serving a Special Population Program and Functions; Local Food Security, Education, and Habitat Contextual Factors and Challenges: Addressing the Presence of Illicit Activities Special Lesson: Fulfilling the Multiple Needs of Elderly Immigrant Gardeners Special Lesson: Community Design/Build 7. Bradner Gardens Park Tour of Bradner Gardens Park Background and History: "Protect Our Park" Design Process and Implementation: Creative Responses to Fulfill Multiple Functions Funding and Support: Leveraging Organization and Participation: Partnerships Programs and Functions: A Garden for Learning Contextual Factors and Challenges: Gentrification and Neighborhood Change Special Lesson: Green Building Practices 8. Marra Farm Tour of Marra Farm Background and History: A Farm Reclaimed Design Process and Implementation: Incremental Change Funding and Support: Diverse Sources for Myriad Improvements Organization and Participation: A Coalition of Interests Programs and Functions: Serving Individuals and Targeted Groups Contextual Factors and Challenges: A Green Enclave Special Lesson: The Urban Farm Experience and Opportunity 9. Magnuson Community Garden Tour of Magnuson Community Garden Background and History: A Garden within a Park Design Process and Implementation: A Guiding Master Plan with Incrementally Designed Areas Funding and Support: Seeking Funding and Broad-Based Volunteer Efforts Organization and Participation: Managing Multiple Gardens as One Programs and Functions: Synergies of Activity Contextual Factors and Challenges: Eyes on the Garden Special Lesson: A Community Garden Enriching a Large Urban Park Part III. Lessons from Seattle 10. Expressions and Challenges of Sustainabilit