A pedagogy of provisioning: Urban agriculture as a mechanism for community renewal

This dissertation explores the significance of urban agriculture in an inner-city neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The purpose of the study was to identify how urban agriculture functions as a mechanism for teaching and learning that supports the collective welfare of a neglected neighborhood. The researcher explored how garden development is taken up in a culturally relevant fashion to function as a healing mechanism for the neighborhood space and its residents.;Urban agriculture is often understood by supporters as a key element in effecting the transformation of neglected urban landscapes. As a mechanism for the transmission of cultural values and beliefs two areas of primary importance to African-American community leaders were identified. First, "Africentric" spirituality was found to be linked to creative visioning for social change. Second, the roots of the values and belief systems of the participants were historically rooted in the "Tuskegee Idea" of learning by doing and the imperative to share this learning with others. It was found that these areas constituted the foundation for indigenous knowledge exchange in this neighborhood.;The presence of the gardens were found to engender new feelings people had about the neighborhood space, enriching community consciousness and overturning previous negative images. Of special significance is how moral agency was conveyed through spirituality and intersected with community renewal efforts.;Sustaining these projects is an ongoing concern in the urban agriculture movement. Education is key to the continuation of many of these projects. This study will aid those in urban planning or agriculturally related work because it presents the cultural and historical legacy of growing food in the African-American community. For adult educators accustomed to text-based learning initiatives, this study uncovered the importance of public demonstration of positive intentions through growing food in urban gardens.