In a previous blog post, I explored the relationship between nonwhite communities and access to nature in Cape Town. I also touched on the prevalent issue of a nature/human dichotomy culturally acquired by wider mainstream society; a particularly problematic notion for Cape’s black demographic who continue to endure a legacy of segregation. 

However, ‘Bottom Road Sanctuary’ was seen to provide a beacon of hope, with Grassy Park residents not only overcoming years of Apartheid trauma, but concomitantly building relationships with nature. In light of the latter, reclaiming urban ecologies must transcend both race and class. 

It is widely recognised that an epistemology which interprets nature as separate from humanity reinforces environmentally irresponsible behaviour (Cronon 1996). Deconstructing the nature/human binary must therefore be an exercise for all, especially in the context of today’s ecological crisis. This blog will briefly historicise the link between humans and nature, followed by Cape Town’s efforts to establish benign interactions with the land for its people.

Harking back to Karl Marx’s relatively slim literature on nature, he conceptualised humanity’s relationship with the natural environment as interchangeable and inherently connected. But, under the epoch of industrialisation, Marx observed capitalism’s role in fashioning a ‘metabolic rift’ between nature and society; a wedge that lost humans their dialogue with other forms of life (Shifferd 1972).  

McClintock postulates UA as a force for repairing this rift, as one can reconcile ‘a conscious metabolic relationship’ between themselves and nature, despite living in an urban landscape (2010). Planting, watering, harvesting and compositing are processes which together can re-weave humanity into harmony with the natural realm and the food supply chain. Through bettering one’s relationship with their food they eat, urban dwellers can reclaim sovereignty; a localised food system which bridges the gap between production and consumption (see fig. 1). Another beneficial byproduct of this alternative is a reduction of extortionate food miles associated with the modern day, transnational and standardised food system. 

So, what has Cape Town achieved in light of UA’s opportunities?

Well, the municipality established a city-wide campaign known as ‘Growing Together’, aimed at educating communities on the benefits of gardening and growing food. Bold posters with punchy taglines were promulgated by local ambassadors, with an eye-catching example shown below. Their government page also showcases reasons to get involved with UA initiatives, outlining the social and environmental advantages of growing one’s own food.

UA is certainly not limited to the top-down realm. Given Cape Town’s climate of resource insecurity, urban dwellers appear keen to become more responsible, resilient and regenerative in their acquisition of food. Community gardens are increasingly popping up across the city’s landscape, occupying roofs, people’s back gardens, parks and even facades! These can be implemented by companies such as Urban Harvest, who install organic food gardens into people’s homes, neighbourhoods and businesses.  

Another bottom-up trend is Guerilla gardening; a branch of UA where people cultivate on land other than their own, including people’s private property or areas of neglect. One individual in Cape Town organises guerilla gardening for locals on Sunday afternoons, encouraging people with no previous experience to ‘better the world, one lettuce leaf at a time’. Martin Allen provides a damning review of guerilla gardening, claiming it “encourages people to settle for planting sunflowers as a sticking plaster for poor urban horticulture” (2014: n/a). Although such forms of UA may seem like failures in ‘green urban governance’, citizens can gain a sense of empowerment through reclaiming one’s inherent connection with nature. Until green ventures become more widespread, participation in UA and gardening must not be discouraged, even if they are branded ‘guerilla’. 

List of References:

Allen, M. (2014) “Guerrilla gardening in the UK is a sign of failure” (WWW) London: Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2014/oct/22/guerrilla-gardening-uk-failure; 10 March 2020). 

Cronon, W. (1996) “The Trouble with Wilderness: Or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature”, Environmental History, 1, 1, 7-28.

McClintock, N. (2010) “Why farm the city? Theorizing urban agriculture through a lens of metabolic rift”, Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 3, 191-207. 

Shifferd, K. D. (1972) “Karl Marx and the Environment”, Journal of Environmental Education, 3, 4, 39-42.