Faculty of Art

Photography

Nancy Elizabeth Gomez

Recipe For A Garden

Recipe For A Garden sets out to explore a variety of the options available for growing a garden in the context of an urban apartment. From balcony flower boxes, to indoor herb gardens, and the magic of hydroponics, each method is attempted and examined for its feasibility, difficulty, and cost. At the same time, the book serves as an intimate window into the home of our gardener as you travel through an entire season’s worth of growing, with all the joys and horrors of trying to subsist at the hands of Mother Nature.Completed with over 50 immaculate photographs composed entirely from plants grown across Gomez’s work on various apartment gardens, this book is a beautiful representation of what can be achieved with a dedicated pursuit of making the world a better place. A true testament to the beauty of a natural world that can be found at your own back door. The book inspires even the smallest attempt at sustainability with its down-to-earth perspective and its author’s true dedication to nature. If you’ve ever wanted a personal garden, to enjoy better food, or just to make the planet a little greener, then this book will be the kick you’ve needed to try it out. And if you’ve never wanted to do those things, then this is an absolute must-read! The first step is learning how beautiful nature is. The second step is learning to love it.

“As a photographer, conscious of the environmental footprint of my practice, I am aspiring to live a more eco-friendly life. Last year, I started thinking about growing my own amateur garden in the hostile environment of my 5th-floor balcony, to see how hard it would be and whether truly anyone could do it. Recipe For A Garden is a project that investigates how small-scale urban gardening can challenge dominant narratives that cities are ecologically barren spaces. Through the photographic documentation of a small balcony garden, my work proposes that meaningful ecological relationships can exist even within dense urban environments. By focusing on the gradual processes of growth, care, and seasonal change, my book encourages viewers to reconsider cities not as ecological voids but as spaces where forms of environmental stewardship can still emerge. Ultimately, the project aims to inspire small acts of cultivation that reconnect urban residents with nature.”