What is street gardening to us at Heartscapes?

Of course the term street gardening has been around a long time - it is generally known as a resident planting on the nature strip out the front of their house. but a few years back in my research I couldn’t find a clear meaning and that go me to thinking…

The lack of information and my experiences led me to clarify what street gardening means to us and the thinking and approach that is required to be a great/successful street gardener.

When we are clear on what we are doing and where we are heading there is more opportunity for success!

I have developed these 4 principles that form the foundation of our street gardening approach.

1- Street gardening is its own type of gardening

It is different to guerrilla gardening, private realm planting and government plantings. It has to be different because of the land’s specific constraints, challenges and expectations.

2- Street gardening is about working within constraints

Working within constraints gives freedom, power and wiggle room to make a case if there is an issue.

It is about flipping our thinking from what we can’t do on this land to what we can do and then doing as much of it as possible. The flow-on effects in the community can be immense.

If you are going to go outside the constraints it is important to know where you are inside and outside of the constraints, making sure whatever is outside constraints can be easily remedied if need be.

3- The right mindset is key

Being a great gardener does not necessarily mean you are a great street gardener.

You have to have the mindset and you have to keep on cultivating it too! The mindset includes being determined, caring, generous, positive and community-centred. Talking and engaging is as important as the gardening if not more important.

4- Knowing the land helps heal the land

Street gardening is about getting to know the land in many ways through site awareness, site observation and site immersion. You are looking at water, wind, sun, soil, existing plants/weeds, local biodiversity, litter. You are working out how people, dogs and wildlife use the land.

We apply this approach to not only the nature strips we care for but all of the land we regenerate!