Gardener’s confession A study of the botanical and communal garden in Tromsø

Abstract

During the three months of the summer 2022, the gardeners, interns, and volunteers of the botanical garden in Tromsø and the community garden Holt agreed on being filmed and participated in a project that examines the importance of these two gardens in the city of Tromsø located in Northern Norway. The botanical garden in Tromsø and the community garden Holt are different gardens with different functions but with the similar interest and passion for gardening. Through the personal narratives collected from the gardeners, interns, and volunteers in both gardens and through the audiovisual recordings of the processes in the gardens, this study investigates the significance of the two gardens and the gardening activities. It explores the connection of the participants to nature, the passion that gardening evokes in them, and the dedication required to cultivate a garden even when the conditions are not ideal. By analyzing the stories of the subjects, this thesis clarifies the multifaceted benefits of gardening and its importance to the individuals and communities. It presents the significance of these gardens and its influence on the lives of those who cultivate it and those who visit it.