The following presentation outlines my progress so far towards my research inquiry:  human-plant relationships. The deck is followed by more detailed content about my site visits and findings, along with reference images.

         

 

  

   

 

     

 

Research Statement

This is my revised research statement that takes a more expansive approach to my inquiry instead of specifically working on houseplants in NYC apartments.

I am studying how people interact with, and are influenced by, plants and foliage in their everyday lives in New York City, so that I can highlight the indispensable, dynamic relationship between the two.

 

These are my observations and findings over the past week:

Central Park

Central Park is always abuzz with life: walkers, joggers, friends, dog walkers, tourists, cyclists, ducks, dogs, pigeons… The list is endless. New York City wouldn’t be what it is without the Central Park. It balances the growing concrete jungle and serves as a sort of nucleus to the city. Even the grid system is planned around the park. Along the perimeter of the park, one gets a glimpse of the verticality of the rest of Manhattan and there is a strong contrast between the rich green (soon to change colour) and the neutrals of the tall buildings. Again, taller the building, better the view of the park, resulting in higher property value.

The Conservatory Garden runs on the east side of the park along 103rd to 106th. It is pristine, symmetrical and so well maintained. Divided into three parts: the centre, north and south gardens, the main entrance is through a large ornate gate which was locked prior to sunset (the closing time).

 

Chelsea Flower Markets

 

M&S Schalberg: Custom Fabric Flowers

I visited the factory of M&S Schmalberg, a fourth generation, family-owned company that manufactures custom flowers from different fabrics. Though this was a slightly deviant path considering the products were not natural or real, I still wanted to explore the relationship people had with flora, even in a different material. I spoke with the COO, Adam Brand, regarding the history, tools, processes and clientele of the company.

• any fabric, even an old garment of sentimental value can be used to create flowers
• metal moulds used – positives and negatives
• fashion, broadway costumes, brides, custom bouquets, artists, interior designers
• flowers last forever if not damaged
• flowers for posterity – can be passed down for generations
• contacted directly by brides, local and well-known designers
• “without plants, we would die”
• traditionally flowers were used for fashion. Today they make the flowers and the client can use them anywhere, anyhow – even arches or installations in public spaces, window displays, etc
• shapes – different flowers, motifs, insects and butterflies, common and unique leaves

 

 

Creative Little Garden

This space is a community backyard between A and B avenues in the Lower East Side. I noticed family and friends hanging out, some people sitting alone with a books and talking on the phone.

I spoke to an East Village resident of 40 years, Anna, about community gardens in the city. She told me:

• The garden is locked at 6 pm every night so that nobody misuses it.
• There are green pockets like Creative Little Garden throughout the city and the lower east is well known for it – there are more in Alphabet City and there might be few in the lower west as well
• used to be more gardens like these but over the years they have been wiped out and buildings were constructed in their place – green is being replaced by concrete
• lot of people from the neighbourhood spend time in the garden, or those interested in gardening
• only people who have lived in the area know about these spaces and visit regularly

 

 

Tompkins Square Park

This square shaped park in East Village is always bustling with life with art, music, pop-up shops, people with pets, children in play areas. The park is divided into parts- the dog run, passive lawn, playground, and so on, with people of all age groups inhabiting each space.

  

 

NY SUN Worksorks

NY Sun Works is an organisation that uses hydroponic farming to educate students and teachers about the sustainability. They have worked with around 170 schools in the city to convert classrooms into urban farms.

• the various units include seedling station, NFT, VCS, tower garden, lettuce grow, worm bin and ladybug bin
• curated educational kids for different age groups and classes
• the lettuce grow and tower garden systems are both stackable, with the lettuce grow system made completely out of recycled plastic. The tower garden is easier to use because the lights can be adjusted like headlights
• all systems use recycled water – this is 95% less than traditional agriculture
• NY Sun Works is actively trying to make the system more accessible to students and designing them in such a way that they are feasible to use in a classroom setup
• rotational harvesting with no wastage from seedling to final stage
• teachers are trained to use the system and teach the students accordingly
• someone from the NY SUN team visits the schools once a week to maintain the systems
• During quarantine, they developed home hydroponic kits for the students, along with instructions – these were a hit

 

Elizabeth Street Garden

Set between Little Italy and Soho, ESG is a 200 year old outdoor recreational and educational space for the community. When I  visited on a Saturday morning, a yoga and pilates class was in session. The garden is informally divided into little pockets with the use of sculpture, creating nooks and crannies that serve as more private spots for people with dogs, friends, couples and the elderly. I did not see any children at all, probably because there is no play area.

 

Governors Island

Grow NYC’s Urban Farm

The urban farm teaches about urban agriculture and green infrastructure through workshops and activities. The garden has 20+ vegetable beds made from recycled plastic lumber, an aquaponics system, outdoor kitchen, solar oven, rainwater harvesting system and a greenhouse.

Composting with Earth Matter NY

The compost center in the urban farm processes all of the food scraps and landscape debris generated on Governors Island and some Manhattan residences. The compost is used on the island. Urban composting has two purposes: diverting organic waste away from the landfill and enriching existing soil.

I spoke to a volunteer who told me that:

• there are many community gardens in Manhattan, all run on a volunteer- basis
• types of plants grown is usually a community decision – either produce / decorative plants / what they want to grow that particular season
• Earth Matter’s initiative is to educate people more about food, sustainable lifestyles and the importance of plant life, composting and sustenance.

Wave Exhibit

The exhibit by is a site-specific installation by Meg Webster, an artist who works primarily with natural materials. It comprises:

Moss Mound – an addition to her iconic mound, cone or bed sculptures

Growing Piece – growing plants on-site to serve as a living nursery for a pollinating garden grown in the urban farm

  

Largest Blown Sphere – a group of five blown glass pieces

 

Public Spaces in the city

  

In busy neighbourhoods, people tend to walk along tree-lined streets, sit on the benches and relax.

Commonly seen across the city are outdoor/public dining spaces either open with informal seating or with temporary sheds with proper tables and seating arrangements. Eateries use both fake and real plants while some take the extra experience to make their spaces look ‘enchanting’ with lights and flowers.

Foliage inspired mural on the Houston Bowery Wall:

 

Pollinator Garden, Cooper Square

This was actually the first time I saw someone tending to a green space on the road. Initially I thought this was a public garden, but the lady in the picture was actually from Grace Church School (the building at the back) and was watering the school’s pollinator garden.

Planters in public spaces differ between various parts of the city and between boroughs. Some are well maintained, with instructions and in rare cases, a wire for protection.

 

Talking to Anushri N.V, a recent MSc graduate in Environmental Sciences: Sustainable Development

• urban greening is important – creation of more green spaces in cities
• though green spaces are more aesthetically pleasing, with urban greening results in higher property value leading to faster gentrification – thereby not helping the initially intended community

 

key aspects / relationships

• greenery & humans in public spaces
• the more intimate plant-human relationships – touch, smell, memory, plant personalities
• plants for food, healing, medicinal and therapeutic value
• symbiotic relationships (plants, humans, animals)
• juxtaposition / dichotomy of concrete & green in NYC, exotic & everyday species, outdoor & indoor green spaces, monetary value (consumerism) vs value to the environment etc
• plants as mediums that change – colour, texture, shape, direction, seasonal, etc
• greenery and usage across cultures – eg food, religion and traditional practices