Abstract
Humans use only a small fraction of edible plants globally. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, out of 30,000 edible plant species, we cultivate only 170 for human consumption. Plants and the food they grow bind us to our landscape and the people with whom we share it. Swapping out an ingredient for a local variety grounds the food in multiple places simultaneously, connecting us across disparate cultures. This grounding is necessary for people to invest time and energy, which they don’t always have in abundance, to address their climate futures. Led by Professor Ellen Garrett, Pratt Institute Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) students work alongside community members to understand the cascade of issues related to a changing climate and disproportionate environmental burdens they face, such as flooding, extreme heat, poor air quality, and food sovereignty. Due to decades of systemic disinvestment, residents of Central Brooklyn are understandably disillusioned with government policies and initiatives, having largely been left out of the conversation. The MLA program partners with the community-based organization Brooklyn Level Up to rebuild trust by connecting people to environmental issues through food, cuisine, and culture. The study showcases three years of landscape architectural student work on multiscalar design strategies in Central Brooklyn. Each student develops a landscape design strategy born out of work with community members and through the lens of an edible plant that grows in Brooklyn. The projects show the power plants have in connecting people to the land while building resiliency.
Presenters
Ellen GarrettVisiting Assistant Professor, Master of Landscape Architecture, GA/LA/UD, Pratt Institute, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Landscape, Urban, Design, Ethnobotany, Placemaking, Strategy, Resiliency, Community, Co-Design
