Tribe Village Community

Some people live in "rural areas" and some live in "cities" and some live on "farms".

For a long long time, people lived in small, extended-family groupings known as "tribes."

A settled semi-tribal area that had expanded into the countryside and established long-term housing and relationships between households in a particular area might be one way to describe a "village".

"Community" can be based on proximity to each other geographically or a sharing of interests or backgrounds or needs. We might talk about the LGBT community or the Jewish community or the community we feel in a Neighborhood or the community we feel talking to fellow Parrot companions on an online chat list.

Close-knit groups may provide stability, assurance, shared financial arrangements, companionship, opportunities to express and share and hear feelings and ideas, chance to learn and teach and contribute, gift sharing, etc.

Close-knit groups may also provide attitudes of disliking or distrusting or evaluating or judging other close-knit groups or identities.

The United States is perhaps the most ethnically diverse, and socially diverse, national grouping in human history. It is also large and regional geographically and geopolitically. It also has states, which are partly outlined by rivers or other natural boundaries, but are often outlined by - lines that have been drawn.

Bioregionalism is about living in accordance with regional watersheds and foodsheds, with regional geographies and economies.

Groupings are often great at providing synergy and giving people in the group elements they need or want.

Groupings can also be about bonding with members of the group against other members of the group or against other groups.

Even a community garden can be a place of shared interests or micro-turf battles.

How do we notice our sense of involvement with others in a Sense of Community?

 

What is a Neighborhood?

Is there such a thing any more ... as a Neighborhood?

Years ago people in a neighborhood often knew each other. Looked after each other's kids. Were connected by a common bond such as the country they came from before emigrating to the United States. By a common language or culture. By the displays that were culture-specific or neighborhood-specific in shop windows. By participation in the local Parent Teachers Organization. Or showing up at Fire Department pancake breakfasts.

Is a Neighborhood an attitude?
A collection of statistical information, such as how many households have children, couples, students, seniors, people of varying genders, people of varying economic backgrounds?
Is it a study of household income?
Of which and how many households have gardens?
Of what flowers or veggies or trees are grown in the gardens in that area?

Is a Neighborhood something designated on a map by realtors?
By government officials?

Do Neighborhoods have history?
Memory?
Character?

Is it acting like we're better in our neighborhood if we know we have characteristics or qualities or advantages that are different from in another Neighborhood?

Are we able to appreciate the special qualities we identify and love in our Neighborhood, while also appreciating that there are special qualities that others might identify and love in their Neighborhood?

Sense of Place

What is "where I live"?
Is it my bedroom?
My office?
Where I entertain guests?
My garden?
My yard?
Where I play my piano?
Where I hide from the noise of my neighbor's music?
The quiet area away from my neighbor's loud talking?
The open windows feeling I get when I listen to the sounds of the city?
The shared feeling I get when I talk to my neighbor when we're both home?
The weather?
The trees?
The sky?
The shops and stores and restaurants nearby?
The highway that takes me where I really want to go?
The airport that takes me away on business, where I spend so much time?
Facebook?
My laptop?
My iPhone?
My iPod?
My memories?
My sense of being in the present moment?
The feeling I get that's hard to put into words when I notice my whole surroundings?

 

Gardens Where People Live

This new blog is to explore what gardens can do and be where people live ... and what living means for people when gardens are nearby ... in cities or suburbs or exurbs or small towns or big farms ... or people's imaginations.

Is a garden about flowers and beauty?
Is a garden about fruits and nuts and vegetables?
Is a garden about a gathering place for people to meet and greet?
And talk about gardening?
Is a garden a way of imposing humanity onto soil?
Is a garden an antidote for industrial farming and petroleum based food distribution?
Is a garden about food and herbs?
Are herbs medicine?
Are people part of a garden?
Does a gardener create a garden?
Does a garden create a gardener?
Is a garden a place to wear gardening clothes?
Are any two gardens alike?
Are some gardens miniature farms?
Including gardens in dense urban areas?
Are farms large gardens?
Are gardens a way we greet nature?
Are gardens compatible with lawns?
Are lawns a way of gardening?
Are questions a path to answers?
Are questions a way of inviting imagination and conversation?
Do "many hands make light work"?
Do "too many cooks spoil the soup"?
Are gardens a way to make ingredients for soup?
Do we make gardens or do we allow them to come into place?
What is the place that has a garden?
What is the garden that has a sense of surrounding relationship to place?

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