The fact that the human body is a living and processual entity as well as an important one in organizing implies that the physical presence of organizational members is a relevant aspect within organizing. Its impact on the resulting power relations is of particular interest for alternative organizations. Specifically, the agentive character of flesh is central in the construing of organization’s invisible structures built by moving bodies. This paper presents an ethnographic study of a community garden. We argue that an organization where participation is voluntary and implies many bodily activities, paired with a method that has presence as a main characteristic is fitting for the endeavor. We find that an ethos that centers sensorial activities increases horizontality. Moreover, we find that the existence of a welcoming routine allows for the integration of new members in a way that the organization may produce sensitively rich experiences and give access to more power to newcomers. These findings are conditioned by power being coupled with physical presence in organizational activities.
