Edible landscapes at home: negotiating food, identity, and domestic ecologies in urban dwellings

Source abstract

As urbanization intensifies, more city dwellers are transforming their balconies, rooftops, and courtyards into edible landscapes in response to ecological and food-related concerns. This study investigates how these practices reshape spatial identities, material culture, and ecological ethics within urban homes. Focusing on 12 households engaged in small-scale urban food cultivation in Shenyang, the research uses qualitative interviews, site observations, and visual ethnography to explore the roles of edible landscapes. The findings reveal that these landscapes provide food and function as mediums for self-expression, intergenerational memory, and eco-conscious domesticity. Edible landscapes are understood as a form of ecological homemaking, where food, place, and identity are co-constructed. The study also highlights how these practices challenge traditional distinctions between public and private green spaces, offering new insights into how urban residents navigate ecological concerns within their homes. Ultimately, this research contributes to the discourse on urban sustainability, emphasizing the significance of household-scale ecological practices in fostering cultural and environmental transformation.