Gardens and stewardship

摘要: The primary focus of this thesis is the local suburban garden. interactions among gardeners, gardening activity, ethical viewpoints, and environments that take place in this setting are investigated from within context historical traditions and contemporary understandings stewardship. foundational premise thesis is people motivated by an ecological impulse draws them to be involved with Earth. It argued manifested in space of the also a stewardship ethic evident in much contemporary practice. further gardening stewardship extends genius loci garden inform broader global impulse. Ultimately gardens portals through which examine the changing relationship between human more than world. Throughout history humanity, humans than human world have resulted altering often with damaging consequences. Since hunter-gatherer early agricultural times, degree of modification was marginal. More recently however scale modification has intensified, manifesting itself as ‘ecological crisis’. This crisis represents major rupture world. Some gardens identified contributing crisis. Stewardship, time honoured well practiced code conduct towards garden, presented an ethical basis for addressing rupture relationship. This study first explores antecedents meanings stewardship as means investigate significance shaping relationships to Second, data on species composition and richness obtained used critical material evidence exploring gardeners’ attitudes to, practices Hobart Tasmania. Third, qualitative interviews case studies gardeners reasons why people examined how reflect sense stewardship. Themes revolved around gardeners’ urge the implementation specific respect the integrity recognition interconnectedness gardeners, other life forms processes relationship with their connecting greater Literature on stewardship analysis interview identify various manifestations gardeners. is concluded site where various manifestations of stewardship these greater ecological consciousness.