From Windowsills to Rooftops: The Cultural History and Modern Uses of Domestic Plant Cultivation in Estonia

Abstract

This study examines the historical development, cultural meanings, and contemporary practices of indoor, balcony, and rooftop gardening in Estonia. Combining historical sources, folkloric data, horticultural literature, and qualitative interviews, the research highlights how urban plant cultivation reflects broader social, environmental, and aesthetic transformations across the 19th–21st centuries. The study demonstrates that urban gardening in Estonia is shaped by intertwined cultural, ecological, architectural, and personal factors .