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'Make a garden before you build a house' is a site-specific work carried out in the intermediate space between the JvE buildings in Maastricht. The garden is unearthed by artist Nickie Sigurdsson and maintained in cooperation with participants, five Indian runner ducks, private seeds savers, and with generous support and guidance from Wim Storken and Yvonne Velthuis. | 'Make a garden before you build a house' is a site-specific work carried out in the intermediate space between the JvE buildings in Maastricht. The garden is unearthed by artist Nickie Sigurdsson and maintained in cooperation with participants, five Indian runner ducks, private seeds savers, and with generous support and guidance from Wim Storken and Yvonne Velthuis. | ||
[[File:Gardenfullview.JPG | [[File:Gardenfullview.JPG|thumb|Thumbnailed image]] | ||
"Something that we never did during my studies in agriculture was questioning the act of cultivation itself. I have a lot of doubt about (call it) farming although I have a lot of desire towards peasantry as well. Both doubt and desire is hard for me to orientate myself in sometimes. I come to think of the cottage core movement circulating on the internet, where youngsters aesthetisize and dream of a queer community in the countryside opposing capitalist hegemonies once and for all. In reality they rarely take the step. I can relate to the romanticisation wrapped in inaction. Still, it is not an easy step to take, there are many obstacles which are very real when you don’t have any savings for example not to mention access to land. Anyway, something that I felt the urge to do was to embody the act of cultivating something as a way to carry thoughts through action, and identify the questioning which would undoubtedly emerge if I allowed it. | "Something that we never did during my studies in agriculture was questioning the act of cultivation itself. I have a lot of doubt about (call it) farming although I have a lot of desire towards peasantry as well. Both doubt and desire is hard for me to orientate myself in sometimes. I come to think of the cottage core movement circulating on the internet, where youngsters aesthetisize and dream of a queer community in the countryside opposing capitalist hegemonies once and for all. In reality they rarely take the step. I can relate to the romanticisation wrapped in inaction. Still, it is not an easy step to take, there are many obstacles which are very real when you don’t have any savings for example not to mention access to land. Anyway, something that I felt the urge to do was to embody the act of cultivating something as a way to carry thoughts through action, and identify the questioning which would undoubtedly emerge if I allowed it. | ||
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written by Nickie Sigurdsson | written by Nickie Sigurdsson | ||
[[File:Garden view in January 2021.jpeg | [[File:Garden view in January 2021.jpeg|thumb|Thumbnailed image]] | ||
== Early disclosure == | == Early disclosure == | ||
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Before I did anything in the garden, I observed what was growing there in January 2021. I observed that the plot had been used for remnant of art projects, especially sand and limestone were omnipresent. Someone also told me that the metal workshop had “leaked” metal waste in the ground whenever people would work outside. | Before I did anything in the garden, I observed what was growing there in January 2021. I observed that the plot had been used for remnant of art projects, especially sand and limestone were omnipresent. Someone also told me that the metal workshop had “leaked” metal waste in the ground whenever people would work outside. | ||
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*strawberries – rich soil, is ok with shadow | *strawberries – rich soil, is ok with shadow | ||
*moss – soil moist covered by foliage the wines. | *moss – soil moist covered by foliage the wines. | ||
I got that the soil was rich, but “disturbed” in the sense that several minerals had been added to it. It was moist, which explained the snail invasion. The blood sorrel revealed that the soil seemed to be relatively acid, while Greater celandine indicated that the topography was similar to that of a forest. | I got that the soil was rich, but “disturbed” in the sense that several minerals had been added to it. It was moist, which explained the snail invasion. The blood sorrel revealed that the soil seemed to be relatively acid, while Greater celandine indicated that the topography was similar to that of a forest. | ||
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== Establishment == | == Establishment == | ||
[[File:disturbance.png|thumb|Thumbnailed image]] | |||
[[File:disturbance.png | |||
I decided to use a system of ‘raised beds’, a soil layout designated to cultivate a dense population of plants and accumulate organic matter. The system is e.g used in urban farms in Cuba known as Organopónicos. | I decided to use a system of ‘raised beds’, a soil layout designated to cultivate a dense population of plants and accumulate organic matter. The system is e.g used in urban farms in Cuba known as Organopónicos. | ||
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== complications == | |||
*Many plants did not do so well either due to the lack of sun | |||
*tomatoes died early because of the moist summer. I would recommend also trimming the wine a bit during summer if tomatoes are grown outside. | |||
*The area in front of the metal workshop might have some toxicidisies, it would be good to have it checked perhaps or grow plants that remove toxicities. All the crops I planted dwindled and died in some way. It could also be nematodes. | |||
*Spaces for preculture: The green house works from April for preculture which is quite late. I suggest direct sowing most of the seeds when the soil is warmer than 5 degrees, it will be easier like this. | |||