Looking For The Perfect Third Place? A Garden May Be The Answer

Most of us enjoy two special places. The first place is where you live and the second place is where you work. While not everyone is lucky enough to have a residence and a job, most of us are – and sometimes a third place is available too.

A “third place” refers to some additional social setting that is not one of the first two places, a spot that we frequent and feel comfortable. For some people, cafes and pubs fit this role – and this is especially true in Europe. Here in the States, Starbucks was developed with that role in mind. But a garden can be a “third” place too.

What Is A Third Place?

The third place theory was a concept developed by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, who described the phrase in his book The Great Good Place. The idea appealed to many and the concept resonated around the world.

A third place - or third space - is where people meet old friends and make new ones. These are locations that build neighborliness, generating feelings of involvement with society, expanding acceptance of diversity, and fostering civility and feelings of trust. They provide a cozy and inviting atmosphere outside of home and work where people can socialize and build communities.

Benefits Of Third Places

Third places are good for the mental health of individuals. They also benefit the community by fostering a sense of inclusion among the residents. Indeed, under the third space theory, third places are critical elements of society, essential for building strong communities.

Today, many city planners agree, even including the concept in their urban designs with public parks, public parklets, and small, green gathering areas sprinkled around the city. Third places that are public help connect new residents to a neighborhood and alleviate some of the social isolation that comes from increased urbanization and population mobility.

One of the attractions of a third place does not apply to home or work. In a third place, everyone is equal and free of obligations. Old friends are recognized but newcomers are welcomed, with the focus being light and lively socializing. Third spaces are ideally located close enough to a person’s home that they can walk there, which means you are meeting neighbors who can turn into friends. Connections one makes through shared interests, activities, or hobbies, can lead to real friendships being developed.

What makes a good third space? Third places can be cafes, pubs, religious places, public gyms or parks. The latter option has a lot of particular advantages.

Why Gardens Are Ideal Third Places

Can a garden be a third place? It can, and some people think it may be the perfect third place. Gardens, with their mix of trees, shrubs, and flowers, encourage connections between flora and fauna, including pollinators. But they also offer peace, tranquility, and the chance to connect to the humans who enjoy them.

Haven’t you ever run to a botanical garden or public park to escape from the chaos of everyday life? And the odds are, you won’t be alone there and will soon get to chatting with others. The serenity of the natural setting encourages social interaction and interpersonal bonding.

This is especially true in a public or community garden staffed by volunteers, where fellow gardeners meet to engage in garden work, interact with nature, and enjoy the fellowship of the moment. Gardens that are maintained by community groups really bring volunteers together, offering natural beauty, person-to-person interaction, and community engagement. Taken together, establishing a community garden as a third place builds community resilience.