Taking a holistic approach to fostering connections with nature and creating green spaces begins with understanding the land we are working with; through mapping.
Inspired by permaculture, the first step before making any interventions on the land is to observe.
How does the sun move throughout the day?
How does this affect the plants and animals living here? What plants are already growing in the area?
How does the place change across the different seasons?
How does it make you feel?
What plants thrive here?
Observation and experiencing the place are the initial steps in building the knowledge and wisdom needed to propose a sustainable intervention. However, through observing, experiencing, and mapping a place, we are already engaging in the process of placemaking. By mapping a place, we begin to transform that piece of land into a location with an identity, characteristics, and history.
Mapping as a mirror of your own interests
The mapping process reveals just as much about ourselves as it does about the land. The questions we ask and the details we notice not only inform us about the land but also about why the land is important to us. For example, if you grow food, you will likely start by observing the soil conditions, sunlight patterns, climate, and water accessibility. If your focus is on nature preservation, you’ll need to map out what elements of nature you wish to conserve. If you begin by mapping how the local community uses the space, it highlights the importance of this community connection to you. In other words, mapping is also a way to learn about yourself and the potential you see in a place.
Collective mapping as placemaking
Collective mapping, as an event, is also a way of building connection and relationship to that land. In all the pilots we saw various ways the artists have involved the local inhabitants in practices of collective mapping. These range from embodiment practices that generate bodily knowledge to community-engaged efforts that investigate the effects of climate change alongside local inhabitants.