Connection to “Place”

Jo Townsend weaves her childhood experiences of growing up on a small rural property, with a Masters in Therapeutic Art Practice (Specialising in Community Arts and Health), in her role as Garden Manager and Community Connector for SEEDs Communal Garden, within values-based community organisation Milparinka. In this post, Jo provides a practitioner perspective of the concept of “place” and the potential that it has for fostering community connection and belonging.  

“Place” is created not merely from our connection to the specific environment we inhabit at any given moment but from our relationship to the myriad spaces we have inhabited throughout our lives” (Hyland Moon, 2002).

Milparinka  is a community organisation in Melbourne, Australia, providing supports for individuals with varying disabilities. What initially drew me to Milparinka, as an organisation, was its values-based approach, with a strong focus on community and social justice. In 2016, I began an art therapy placement with them, during which one of the participants I was working with, lead me out into a garden. It was here I ended up spending most of my time, discovering this garden's potential as an open studio space, offering various modalities for creative expression.

The garden was first established in 2015 when Milparinka, decided to create a “place” that would cultivate an inclusive social environment, where a diverse range of people could connect over shared interests. The primary intention was to provide equal opportunities for the participants of Milparinka and the local community to form friendships, develop skills, and pursue their passions. This is now known as SEEDs Communal Garden, a thriving community garden located in Brunswick, one of Melbourne’s northern suburbs. SEEDs is a “communal” garden model which consists of no individual plots, instead the community share in the entire gardening process from seed to plate.

My role as Garden Manager and Community Connector, involves overseeing the garden's growth with strong emphasis on nurturing connections to support community development and resilience. Reflecting on my experiences, I've come to understand that this “place” need not have been a garden. In fact, any setting that holds intention, facilitates belonging, and embodies a set of values, can serve as a place for a community to build upon. That said, gardening is a universal language which connects people to growing cycles and the seasons, to find rhythm in their lives. It also serves as a powerful metaphor for embracing emergence, change, and impermanence.

Planting the seeds for change

Before any of the physical elements of the garden were established, SEEDs Communal Garden was first given shape by a clear set of written values known as a Holistic Plan, based on the Holistic Decision-Making Framework by Dan Palmer. The Holistic Plan was developed through consultation with Milparinka, participants, families, and the local community, and formed a strong foundation on which to build the garden. It reflects Milparinka’s guiding principles and provides a framework to inform decision-making within the community.

Having a well-defined set of values provides a map in which to navigate needs, boundaries and opportunities, as we work relationally within a community context. It also serves as an anchor point, for working with value conflicts, seeing them instead as an opportunity for open discussion and collaboration. The Holistic Plan has proven especially beneficially in holding us together and defining our edges during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has subsequently reshaped how we relate and connect as a community.

Integral to the Holistic Plan is the value of reciprocity, which encourages movement beyond the garden walls, and allows us to extend our network into the broader community. This principle is embodied through various initiatives, such as donating excess harvest to local food relief organisations, sharing food via our community food cupboard, and ensuring that our abundance reaches those in need. Another such initiative is our compost hub, which plays a vital role in sustaining the garden’s growth and engaging with local organisations and households seeking solutions for their food waste. By providing an accessible drop-off point and collection service for our community partners, we actively contribute to educating the community about sustainability and reducing the amount of food waste going to landfill.  The contributed food waste is processed through a variety of systems including hot composting, a worm farm and we have recently installed an industrial food waste dehydrator.

Celebrating a community

Eight years since its establishment, SEEDs has evolved into more than a garden. It is an invaluable community resource, encompassing a compost hub, community food cupboard, twice weekly garden clubs, bush garden, community sit spot, and hosts a variety of learning/creative opportunities and community events. It is a place that goes beyond an individual’s primary social environments, inviting them to be part of something that is independent from their home, family, workplace or school. Such an environment fosters shared moments and unique experiences that contribute to people having “better stories to tell”. By providing a range of storytelling initiatives and platforms, SEEDs also empowers people to share their stories, to amplify the rich tapestry of voices, that make up the fabric of our community.

The reasons people have connected with SEEDs over the years are varied, but most people seem to be in search of something “more”. Some people are looking for somewhere to grow food or contribute their compost. Others are looking to learn about gardening or share skills. There have been travellers filled with curiosity to explore the area, as well as locals looking for grounding and respite from their regular daily life. Some arrive, hoping to make friendships with like-minded people who hold similar values. One person came in search of pomegranates to add to a favourite recipe, and is now one of our longest serving members.

For me personally, the reason that I returned to SEEDs after completing my placement, was primarily influenced by a deep-seated sense of coming home. It took me back to the place of my childhood, where I first found my passion for gardening and nature, and awakened a need within me to be part of a community. Throughout my time at SEEDs, I have tried to keep this versatility alive, by encouraging people to connect with the space and be open to it being whatever they need on any given day. This invitation is key to people taking the first steps to “connect to place” and has been especially necessary for those who are still finding their feet, and adjusting to this post-pandemic terrain. However, what brings people back is the discovery of something that they didn’t even realise they were looking for - A community, a sense of belonging and a purpose which resonates with their personal values, ultimately shaping how they see themselves in the world.  

Contact: Jo Townsend is the Garden Manager & Community Connector with SEEDs Communal Garden, Milparinka. She is contactable via jo.townsend@milparinka.org.au

References: Hyland Moon, C. (2002). Studio Art Therapy, Cultivating the Artist Identity in the Art Therapist. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers