Gardeners’ photovoice on underutilised crops’ diversity. A photo essay by Alexandra Czeglédi published in Tabula, the online journal of the Museum of Ethnography.
A photo essay showcasing the work of Hungarian gardeners in the RADIANT project has been published in the online journal of the Museum of Ethnography.
This photovoice experiment, part of ethnographic fieldwork, highlights their dedication to underutilized crops and participatory on-farm testing.
Abstract:
This study investigates the applicability of the photovoice methodology in ethnographic research conducted among small-scale agroecological gardeners growing underutilised crops. It shows how the visual methodology was incorporated into ethnographic fieldwork after one gardener had become attentive to the importance of photo essays created by gardeners and farmers. The development of photovoice methodology drew on disciplines such as feminist theories and critical pedagogy. Today, it is used in various fields of research, including environmental anthropology, to amplify the specific perspectives and voices of social groups. In contrast to traditionally applied qualitative methods, the gardeners I worked with took on the role of researcher, documenting their everyday gardening work, and this way forging micro-narratives about the diversity of underutilised crops via their photographs. Through collective reflections and a joint digital exhibition, the photovoice method facilitated the co-creation and dissemination of agroecological knowledge among gardeners, farmers, activists, and researchers.