With antecedents dating back to the Middle Ages; the community garden is more popular than ever as a means of procuring the freshest food possible and instilling community cohesion. But as Micheline Nilsen shows; the small-garden movement; which gained impetus in the nineteenth century as rural workers crowded into industrial cities; was for a long time primarily a repository of ideas concerning social reform; hygienic improvement; and class mobility. Complementing efforts by worker cooperatives; unions; and social legislation; the provision of small garden plots offered some relief from bleak urban living conditions. Urban planners often thought of such gardens as a way to insert "lungs" into a city.Standing at the intersection of a number of disciplines--including landscape studies; horticulture; and urban history-- The Working Man’s Green Space focuses on the development of allotment gardens in European countries in the nearly half-century between the Franco-Prussian War and World War I; when the French Third Republic; the German Empire; and the late Victorian era in England saw the development of unprecedented measures to improve the lot of the "laboring classes." Nilsen shows how community gardening is inscribed within a social contract that differs from country to country; but how there is also an underlying aesthetic and social significance to these gardens that transcends national borders.
#1536579 in eBooks 2013-08-01 2013-08-01File Name: B00HU4ZUD6
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great are You LordBy Therese StenzelThis is a book every Christian should reread once a year. We get so busy; distracted; bogged down; and we forget Gods promises to; "be with us always." That means; in the car; the kitchen; the shower; bed; asleep; exercising etc. SO lets practice the sensation of His presence. As I sit at my desk right now; I feel His presence behind me and it brings me such peace. Great are You Lord!38 of 39 people found the following review helpful. Practical and Accessible Mysticism for Us Every Day FolksBy Wisdom LoverThis former soldier entered a Carmelite monastery as a lay brother after spending some time in the very much real world. He became much loved for his friendliness and devotion and we are grateful that he was befriended by a member of the Catholic bureaucracy from outside the monastery. Thus; we have his letters and maxims; and biographical material.The good Brother gives clear and specific ways of handling our wayward thoughts; our errant behavior; our confusion; depression; and spiritual doubts. Anyone from any faith tradition would enjoy and benefit from the esteemed Brothers thoughts. It is not hard to take away a deep faith in this simple practice after just a page or two and see immediate results in ones life. This is a gentle; non-demanding way of continual prayer; that never seems to burden one; or to be a forceful or forced act. Hopefully; this will be a primer for starting contemplative or meditation practice for the reader.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great book for the spiritual life!By CLINTONnbsp;Tnbsp;BREWERThis book is life changing. It is simple and seemingly repetitive; but there is newness of concepts presented if you have the patience to search the text deeper and perhaps read more than once.It is a breath of fresh air in the spiritual life; at once liberating and demanding of souls seeking to follow God.One takeaway: We have little time in this world. Let us love our Creator and seek to remain in His Presence.
