WHERE NATURE
MEETS
COMMUNITY

An ethnographic research carried out by Paula Kovač in the winter of 2024.

This research explores how humans connect with plants in Dutch community gardens — Het Zoete Land, Groentepark Bontekoe, and Ons Buiten.

More than spaces for growing food, these gardens foster multispecies relationships that redefine our connection with nature. With that in mind, we asked:

How do humans and plants connect in shared spaces?

What can urban gardens teach us about co-living with nature?

How do multi-species relationships shape community?

Human-Nature Bonds

Gardening goes beyond planting—it's about forming a relationship with the natural world. These gardens demonstrate how humans can connect with plants and animals, creating spaces of care and collaboration in the heart of the city.

"Through ethnographic research, it became evident that these gardens are more than patches of green—they are dynamic ecosystems where humans and plants interact as cohabitants rather than separate entities. By decentralizing the human perspective, we gain insight into how other Earth beings contribute to sustainable urban life."

Urban Green Spaces as Ecosystems

Community gardens are more than patches of green—they are living ecosystems. Plants, insects, birds, and humans work together to sustain life, blurring the line between urban and natural landscapes.

Community Through Care

Care is at the core of these spaces. Gardeners come together not just to cultivate plants, but to nurture relationships—with each other, the outside communities, and the Earth. These gardens become spaces where people find belonging and shared purpose.

"Using sensory methods such as PlantWave, participants listened to the sounds of their plants, strengthening their emotional connection to them as living companions rather than passive greenery."

The Music of Plants

"This music was created from the electrical signals of plants, offering a sensory way to connect with nature. "

"Participants not only listened to plant-generated frequencies but also engaged creatively by drawing or writing responses in a research notebook. These spontaneous expressions—poetry, associations, and illustrations—offered a deeper understanding of human-plant relationships beyond verbal interviews."

PlantWave

PlantWave is a device developed by Data Garden that translates real-time electrical signals from plants into music. It allows people to experience plant-generated sounds, fostering a deeper connection to nature. More information can be found at PlantWave's official website.

The use of PlantWave in this research was conducted in accordance with their policies and solely for interactive, non-commercial educational purposes. All rights to PlantWave’s technology, methodology, and intellectual property remain with Data Garden. This study acknowledges PlantWave’s innovative work in expanding human engagement with plant life through sound.

"By introducing PlantWave, the research highlighted how plants are active, living beings that people can connect with. It also emphasized the importance of sensorial engagement when exploring human-plant relationships."

A Note of Gratitude

"This research was made possible through collaboration with the gardeners of Het Zoete Land, Groentepark Bontekoe, and Ons Buiten. Their openness and dedication provided invaluable insights into how community gardens cultivate not just plants, but relationships that bridge the human and more-than-human worlds. Their commitment to these gardens brings hope for more connected and sustainable urban living."