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Gardening is the art of growing Plant s with the goal of crafting a purposeful landscape. Residential Gardening most often takes place in or about a residence, in a space referred to as the ''' Garden '''. Although a garden typically is located on the land near a residence, it may also be located in a Roof , in an Atrium , on a Balcony , in a Windowbox , or on a Patio . Gardening also takes place in non-residential green areas, such as Park s, public or semi-public gardens ( Botanical Garden s or Zoological Garden s), Amusement and Theme Park s, along transportation corridors, and around Tourist Attractions and Hotels . In these situations, a staff of Gardener s or Groundskeeper s maintains the gardens. Indoor gardening is concerned with the growing of Houseplant s within a Residence or building, in a Conservatory , or in a Greenhouse . Indoor Garden s are sometimes incorporated as part of Air Conditioning or Heating systems. Water gardening is concerned with growing plants adapted to pools and ponds. Bog gardens are also considered a type of water garden. These all require special conditions and considerations. A simple water garden may consist solely of a tub containing the water and plant(s). GARDENING COMPARED TO FARMING In respect to its food producing purpose, gardening is distinguished from Farming chiefly by scale and intent. Farming occurs on a larger scale, and with the production of saleable goods as a major motivation. Gardening is done on a smaller scale, primarily for pleasure and to produce goods for the gardener's own family or community. There is some overlap between the terms, particularly in that some moderate-sized vegetable growing concerns, often called Market Gardening , can fit in either category. The key distinction between gardening and farming is essentially one of scale: gardening can be a hobby or an income supplement, but farming is generally understood as a full-time or commercial activity, usually involving more land and quite different practices. One distinction is that gardening is labor-intensive and employs very little Infrastructural Capital , typically no more than a few tools, e.g. a Spade , Hoe , Basket and Watering Can . By contrast, larger-scale farming often involves Irrigation System s, chemical Fertilizer s and Harvesters or at least Ladder s, e.g. to reach up into Fruit Tree s. However, this distinction is becoming blurred with the increasing use of power tools in even small gardens. In part because of labor intensity and aesthetic motivations, gardening is very often much more productive per unit of land than farming. In the Soviet Union , half the Food Supply came from small peasants' garden plots on the huge government-run Collective Farm s, although they were tiny patches of land. Some argue this as evidence of superiority of Capitalism , since the peasants were generally able to sell their produce. Others consider it to be evidence of a Tragedy Of The Commons , since the large collective plots were often neglected, or fertilizers or water redirected to the private gardens. The term Precision Agriculture is sometimes used to describe gardening using Intermediate Technology (more than tools, less than harvesters), especially of Organic Varieties . Gardening is effectively scaled up to feed entire Village s of over 100 people from specialized plots. A variant is the Community Garden which offers plots to urban dwellers; see further in Allotment (gardening) . GARDENS AS ART Garden Design is considered to be an art in most cultures, distinguished from Gardening , which generally means ''garden maintenance''. In Japan , for instance, Samurai and Zen Monk s were often required to build decorative gardens or practice related skills like Flower Arrangement known as '' Ikebana ''. In 18th century Europe, country estates were refashioned by landscape gardeners into formal gardens or landscaped parklands, such as at Versailles , France or Stowe , England. Today, landscape architects and garden designers continue to produce artistically creative designs for private garden spaces. See also: SOCIAL ASPECT In modern Europe and North America , people often express their political or social views in gardens, intentionally or not. The Lawn vs. garden issue is played out in Urban Planning as the debate over the " Land Ethic " that is to determine Urban Land Use and whether Hyperhygienist Bylaw s (e.g. Weed Control ) should apply, or whether land should generally be allowed to exist in its natural wild state. In a famous Canadian Charter Of Rights case, "Sandra Bell vs. City of Toronto", 1997, the right to cultivate all native species, even most varieties deemed noxious or allergenic, was upheld as part of the Right Of Free Expression , at least in Canada . Gardening is thus not only a food source and art, but also a right. The Slow Food movement has sought in some countries to add an Edible Schoolyard and Garden Classroom s to schools, e.g. in Fergus, Ontario , where these were added to a public school to augment the Kitchen Classroom . In US and British usage, the production of ornamental plantings around buildings is called '' Landscaping '', ''landscape maintenance'' or ''groundskeeping'', while international usage uses the term ''gardening'' for these same activities. RESTRICTIONS Governments of most countries are restricting imports of plant material. In the past, someone could send such things as lily seeds and bulbs to friends in any country. Today, most of those avenues are closed. While it's a good measure to limit the spread of disease and pests, it also limits the exchange of new genetic material. HISTORY Gardening for food extends far back into Prehistory . Ornamental gardens were known in ancient times, (the Hanging Gardens Of Babylon ), and Ancient Rome had dozens of gardens. See the History Of Gardening . NOTABLE GARDENERS
SEE ALSO LINKS TO GARDENING An Introduction to Gardening (Green Journey) |
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