The Celery Fields: A Dynamic Sarasota WetlandscapeFalse DividesHistory of Change A Hill in Florida A “Wetlandscape”

The Celery Fields were originally sawgrass wetland that was

manipulated to become agricultural fields. After over one

hundred years of celery production and in

response to local flooding, the Fields were “restored” to

wetlands that serve as stormwater treatment. The entire

wetland area is human-planted and controlled.

After dredging, a giant hill of dirt was created. This hill is now one

of the main attractions of the Fields. It gives a spectacular view of the surrounding area. It is also

an opportunity to study large mounds, often created by

American Indian groups and how they modify the flat Florida

landscape. The Celery Fields hill is a striking and useful feature,

as the mounds would’ve been for Native people.

The Celery Fields demonstrate the false dichotomy between

nature and culture or nature and humans. The primary appeal of the Celery Fields is nature and

birdwatching, but this wetland is far from the original iteration. Even during the Paleoindian

periods, humans occupied this place. It has never been

“pristine”. These nature/culture interactions can be seen

throughout the landscape.

Wetlands, even human created ones, are an opportunity to study truly how dynamic a

landscape can be. The Celery Fields floods and dries,

changing throughout the seasons and over many years. It is a dynamic wetlandscape that cannot be simplified into

traditional maps which delineate between “water” and

“land”.

Hannah GilbertMarch 20, 2013

A “muckmobile” used to till the wet soil.

Celery Fields Location

The Celery Fields Hill

Wetland area with all native plants.

The view from the top of the hill shows both traditionally “natural” and “cultural” features. These features, which are commonly separated, meld together at the Celery Fields and challenge the traditional divides.

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