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Can Gardening and Politics Co-Exist?
In the fellowship of gardeners, that is. I have this tendency to compartmentalize, and so I have operated under the impression that gardening, like music, is something of a great unifier. But I am not so sure.
In certain parts of my world, others are a bit more conservative than I am, in other parts there is a narrow spectrum of differences in which, … the locale, and even wider differences among family members, do not find politics of particularly marked importance in the relationship. So it is something unusual to find that in the company of garden enthusiasts, and especially the garden bloggers, I am in the preserve of liberal leaning politics. Sometimes I wondered whether it impacted my blog, but then dismissed that idea with the knowledge that my sporadic unreliable blogging and networking probably had more to do with that. Yet, I still have a nagging curiosity. What determines more of a relationship? The passion for a garden or for politics? It could be that those of conservative views are more quiet about them in the garden community… or maybe not so many are gardeners? Maybe more of them are interior decorators?
This curiosity predates the present political climate which has played powerfully into our cultural emotions. Race, religion, war, macro-economics any one of which would mold our opinions; but I had imagined the garden to have been a sanctum which ushered us into a neutral ground of interaction.
That now seems naive. In some of my garden reading I realized how much of our garden ideas are inflected with our political mindset. We are not particularly partisan at all times, but we are quite impassioned on some issues.
I wonder if anyone ever did a demographic study?
Just some random thoughts….
Oh, don’t get me started Ilona …
Gardens are usually an expression of our most positive values. And deep down inside, most gardeners — regardless of party affiliation — share many deep-seated (-seeded?) values. Appreciation for life and beauty. Satisfaction when hard work is rewarded. Sharing the bounty with those who aren’t so blessed. etc. etc.
It’s just when we start trying to express our values through our sometimes perverted political processes (the ones that divide us and accentuate our differences) that things can get tense. I know more than a few folks who I admire and get along with on a gardening level but would have a hard time having a civil conversation with on politics.
Maybe we can use gardening to help us work together to get through these tough times.
Gardening and politics can co exist. I am wondering what you find to be the political leanings in the garden blog community? I know that after the election there were so many positive posts, is that what you are talking about? No negative ones. That tells me the Republicans thought it better to be silent on the matter. I try to keep my political views out of it all, as you just never know how the other person will react to you. Such is life.
Craig- I love how your mind works (“deep-seated (-seeded?)”). You expressed my hope exactly when submitting that perhaps we can have our gardens as the platform for peaceful relations.
Tina… you know Republicans are anything but quiet- you have only to read a few conservative political blogs to have that come in loud and clear. I read mostly the reasoned and logic oriented ones -on either side (life is too short for crazy rants), but the way you word this underlines what I perceive: most garden blogs that are politically inflected are to the left of center. I come to your attitude, as well. For the most part. My caveat here is the type of political influence that I noted while reading Oudolf+ Kingsbury ‘Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space’. I took many notes to write some future posts ( maybe in early 2009)
Yes, Ilona, Garden bloggers are probably to the left. I know I am.
Craig, You have it exactly correct, “gardens are usually an expression of our most positive values.” Hence our blogs too?