Chet Kendell - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Chet Kendell

Culture <html_ent glyph="@amp;" ascii="&"/> Agriculture, 2005

This article explores the concept of public space as it relates to public work and the creation o... more This article explores the concept of public space as it relates to public work and the creation of a more civic agriculture. Public space is a necessary component to practicing public work around issues of food and agriculture. While various characteristics, such as private ownership, for-profit orientation, or the use of public or commonly held land may generally indicate the potential for developing a more civic agriculture, they are by no means sufficient conditions. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the nature of public work in two contexts. The first is a publicly funded, publicly managed community garden. The second is a for-profit, privately owned agricultural enterprise. The cases illustrate that civic agriculture may exist in unlikely places. Furthermore, it is not specific characteristics (e.g., private versus public, nonprofit versus for-profit, or public versus privately supported) that are responsible for generating a public space. Rather, it is how the activity engages the public that is important. As a result, public space, public work, and civic agriculture may emerge from for-profit enterprises, while land title and public funding do not guarantee a richly civic activity. By contrast, public space and public work may not necessarily emerge from institutions and venues that have been typically associated with civic agriculture, such as community gardens. We conclude that civic agriculture may live and thrive anywhere that a public space and a spirit of collective work is fostered.

Culture <html_ent glyph="@amp;" ascii="&"/> Agriculture, 2005

This article explores the concept of public space as it relates to public work and the creation o... more This article explores the concept of public space as it relates to public work and the creation of a more civic agriculture. Public space is a necessary component to practicing public work around issues of food and agriculture. While various characteristics, such as private ownership, for-profit orientation, or the use of public or commonly held land may generally indicate the potential for developing a more civic agriculture, they are by no means sufficient conditions. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the nature of public work in two contexts. The first is a publicly funded, publicly managed community garden. The second is a for-profit, privately owned agricultural enterprise. The cases illustrate that civic agriculture may exist in unlikely places. Furthermore, it is not specific characteristics (e.g., private versus public, nonprofit versus for-profit, or public versus privately supported) that are responsible for generating a public space. Rather, it is how the activity engages the public that is important. As a result, public space, public work, and civic agriculture may emerge from for-profit enterprises, while land title and public funding do not guarantee a richly civic activity. By contrast, public space and public work may not necessarily emerge from institutions and venues that have been typically associated with civic agriculture, such as community gardens. We conclude that civic agriculture may live and thrive anywhere that a public space and a spirit of collective work is fostered.