Making Space for Green - Sites at Lafayette

Fittipaldi 1Making Space for GreenBy: Ramona Victoria Fittipaldi“Our ties to the green world are oftensubtle and unexpected… When people whogarden find new friendships with neighbors,when a walk in the woods brings relief frompent-up tensions, or when a potted begoniarestores vitality to a geriatric patient, we canbegin to sense the power of these connectionsand their importance to physical andpsychological well-being” (Lewis 1). Greenspaces in an urban setting are the mostimportant aspect of healthy cities. Thoughthere are many aspects that form a healthy city,such as diversity, I will prove that green spacesare the most significant.Community gardens are an excellentway to bring people out of their homes andinto their community and city. They allowpeople to reconnect with nature, or in the caseof children, form a relationship with nature forthe first time. Community gardens provide theopportunities for “therapy, recreation,education, and cultural exchange” (Stuart 61).Numerous studies have indicated the positivephysical, psychological and social benefitscommunity gardening may produce (Stuart61).For example, Project GROW helpsresidents of a domestic violence shelter bycreating gardens and healthy foods to enrichtheir lives. These women are recovering fromemotional and physical trauma and hadmultiple sources of stress, such as looking forjobs and housing. Despite their stressful lives,the majority found the main effects ofgardening to be psychologically andtherapeutically beneficial (Stuart 69-70).Another study of gardeners in NYfound that community gardens provide aplace for food and socializing as well asstrengthening the sense of community andsecurity. Research in Philadelphia foundthat adult gardeners consume morevegetables, have more of a sense ofsatisfaction and are more involved incommunity projects than those who do notgarden. A study of U.S. entrepreneurialcommunity gardeners concluded positiveimpacts, like increased self-esteem,personal satisfaction, and stability (Stuart64).Urban Farming is an organizationthat aims to eliminate hunger while“increasing diversity, motivating youth andseniors and optimizing the production ofunused land for food and alternativeenergy” (Urban farming). In 2005, UrbanFarming started with 3 farms in Detroit,and by 2008 they had over 600 farmsthroughout the United States and abroad,providing fresh foods to over 50,000people. The food provides healthy choices,like fruits and vegetables, for those in need.Some cities involved in this project includeNewark, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Detroit,St. Paul and New York City. Thecommunities involved in Urban Farminghave been greatly affected. Detroit Chiefof Police, Ella M. Bully-Cummings, states,“… the Urban Farming community gardenshelp cut down on crime” (Urban farming).Another positive effect is the diverse groupof participants from the community comingtogether to work towards a greater good.

Fittipaldi 2For example, in The Harlem district of NewYork City, Blacks, Whites, Asians andHispanics, both young and old, are workingon farms. The community members arecommunicating more and formingfriendships while reconnecting to the earth(Urban farming).Joshua Palmer, the owner of SetteLuna, chooses his food carefully andchanges the menu to focus on foodsthat are in season, to allow his food tobe extremely fresh. Palmer stated thatbuying local, fresh ingredients makes adifference in the taste of his food. Heenjoys being able to talk with theproducers of the foods and finds thefarmers’ market a great way tosocialize, as do others (Palmer).Farmers’ markets are a wonderful wayto interact with other communitymembers, while making healthy foodchoices.(Photo by Jennie Love)“Food production and consumptionhave lost their interconnectedness withnature” (Andreatta 123). Several efforts,such as community gardens and directmarketing of fresh farm products, are helpingto restore the urban connection toagriculture. Farmers are selling directly tothe local public at roadside stands andfarmers’ markets. Removing the middlemenkeeps money within the area and provides asense of security and connection (Andreatta123). Consumers now know where theirfood was produced and are able to askspecific questions regarding how. They areable to question whether it “is organic?” andif “there any pesticides used?” (Edens LosAngeles Sample). Children also becomemore aware of where their food originallycomes from and no longer think that it comesfrom the grocery store (Edens Los AngelesSample). For instance the restaurant SetteLuna buys from Easton’s Farmers’ Market.(Photo by Ken White)Farmers’ markets andcommunity gardens have a range ofpositive outcomes on its residents, asdo street trees in a community. Kuo,Sullivan and their associates created aseries of studies that compared publichousing residents based on theavailability of nearby nature, such asstreet trees and lawns. The studiesfound the following as advantages toresidents with nearby nature:* “more social interaction among youthand adults;* greater sense of community amongolder adults;

Fittipaldi 3* greater sense of safety and feeling ofbelonging;* better ability to cope with challenges;* lower level of fears, fewer incivilities, andless aggressive and violent behavior;* less chronic mental fatigue, which meansless likely to be impulsive andirritable;* greater self-discipline and ability toconcentrate on the part of girls”(Kaplan 281-282).Trees draw residents from their nearbyhomes further into their community, wherethey get to know their neighbors. As theybecome more familiar with theirenvironment and neighbors, residents build astrong sense of trust and togetherness. It’sremarkable what a few street trees and lawnscan do for a community’s health (Kaplan281-282).I have experienced the effects ofstreet trees, first hand, by going on “JaneWalks.” Jane Jacobs was an urban activistand writer. She used her observations ofcities and her common sense to demonstratewhy certain places in a city worked and whatsteps could be done to improve those that didnot (“Jane Jacobs”). Jane Jacobs describedJane Walks as a “ballet of the good citysidewalk” (Russell). The street ballet is “anorder composed of movement and change,”where everyone who goes, by plays“distinctive parts, which miraculouslyreinforce each other and compose an orderlywhole” (Russell). As I walked through thecity streets of Philadelphia and Easton duringmy Jane Walks, there was a noticeabledistinction between the streets with trees andthose without. Those with trees were moreinviting to pedestrians and gave a sense ofsafety. These streets created a friendlyatmosphere and were more attractive than theones without trees.Which street would you prefer towalk down?Which creates a safer, friendlier,more inviting atmosphere?(Photos by Ramona Fittipaldi)

Fittipaldi 4Street trees go beyond beautifying thecity; they lessen the effects of urbanizationon the environment. Furthermore in thesummertime, they reduce the air temperatureand harmful effects of storm water runoff.Street trees provide oxygen, as well ashabitats for birds, insects, and other smallanimals. They create a healthier urbanenvironment for people as well as lands(Mylon 22-23).Urban parks, especially those withnature and trees, stimulate social interactionand physical activities, when the communityfeels safe in them. Parks in “mixed-useneighborhoods” thrive because there is aassortment of buildings, which produce forthe parks a mixture of users, who enter andleave the parks at different times (Frumkin255). These parks are a safe place and createan atmosphere for socializing, relaxation,reflection, and physical activity. Parksencourage physical activity outside in nature,which is important because many urgentphysical health related problems areconnected to inactive, indoor urbanlifestyles. Exercise is now known to be a“codeterminant of health” (Barlett 308).Physical activity decreases the risk of dyingfrom heart disease and reduces the risk ofdeveloping diabetes, hypertension, and coloncancer. It creates healthy muscles and bones,helps maintain independence in the elderly,and has an influence on people’s sense ofwell-being (Barlett 300-308). Consequently,parks provide a diverse range of roles,including trails for nature walks andbicycling, peaceful areas for reading, andrecreational facilities. There are a greatvariety of parks, such as small urban pocketparks and waterfronts (Frumkin 261-262).Waterfront parks provide additional facilitiesfor physical activities, such as kayaking,canoeing and boating (Mylon 19).(“The Top 3 Most Popular New York CityAttractions”)At times, it can be “difficult tosurvive cold urban life” with little moneyand unfriendly crowds (Ledden).However, green spaces relieve stress andpromote physical activity and socializing.Ultimately, they address the physical andmental aspects of community members’health. With health a primary issue formost people, forming a healthy city shouldbegin with the development and furtherutilization of green spaces.Works CitedAndreatta, Susan. “Urban Connections toLocally Grown Produce.” UrbanPlace: Reconnecting with the NaturalWorld. Ed. Barlett, Peggy.Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2005.117-140.Barlett, Peggy, ed. Urban Place:Reconnecting with the NaturalWorld. Cambridge: The MITPress, 2005.

Fittipaldi 5Edens Los Angeles Sample. PBS miniseries: Edens Lost and Found. 2007..Frumkin, Howard. “The Health of Places,the Wealth of Evidence.” UrbanPlace: Reconnecting with the NaturalWorld. Ed. Barlett, Peggy.Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2005.253-269.“Jane Jacobs.” Project for Public Space.2008. 6 March 2009..Kaplan, Rachel, and Stephen Kaplan.“Preference, Restoration, andMeaningful Action in theContext of Nearby Nature.” UrbanPlace: Reconnecting with the NaturalWorld. Ed. Barlett, Peggy.Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2005.271-298.Ledden, Alicia Kong, and Hanna Soll-Morris. “Ecoart 08: SIoux Maq.”2008. 6 March 2009.< http://www.ecoart08.blogspot.com/>.Love, Jennie. “Urban + Farming=Oxymoron?” Eat.Drink.Better..Mylon, Steven, Arthur Kney, LaurieCaslake, and Javad Tavakol.Urban Ecology in the WestWard. Lafayette TechnologyClinic, 2008.Palmer, Joshua. “Sette Luna Salon.”Sette Luna. 10 February 2009.Russell, James. “Jane Jacobs’ Lesson:Look and Learn.” 2006. 6 March2009. .Stuart, Susan. “Lifting Spirits: CreatingGardens in California DomesticViolence Shelters.” Urban Place:Reconnecting with the NaturalWorld. Ed. Barlett, Peggy.Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2005.61-88.“The Top 3 Most Popular New York CityAttractions.”.Urban Farming. Aidan Brooks. 2008. .White, Ken. “Two weeks left to enjoyEaston Farmers' Market.”.Lewis, Charles. “Green Nature/ HumanNature.” Urban Place: Reconnectingwith the Natural World. Ed. Barlett,Peggy. Cambridge: The MIT Press,2005. 1.