Use gardens as vehicles
Planting activities and garden maintenance events are designed to open up spaces for diverse stakeholders, as well as individuals and group representatives, to come together to work side-by-side towards a common goal. In the act of digging holes, working the soil, and planting, perceptions of individuals may be shifted as people engage with one another in conversation and come to recognise their shared humanity. This can be a powerful process for breaking down barriers and antagonisms that may exist between groups or individuals due to prior blanket judgments, ignorance or misunderstanding.
In order for this building block to be successful, it is important to consider which groups and individuals to invite to the gardens for visits or specific events, as well as various strategies to help ensure their attendance. In the case of planting days, activities must be structured to encourage communication and teamwork towards a common goal. A further aspect to consider is the role of the media in bringing attention to the project.
Connecting key individuals within groups, communities and institutions can lead to rapid establishment of relationships and the sharing of information and resources, often far beyond any initial expectations. Through such strategic linkages, garden activities can soon become catalytic and spread with minor additional inputs.