For about 6 years we planted and gave-away vegetables from a vacant lot in our city (we have one of the highest rates of urban blight of any city in the USA). It wasn't meant to be political, just to do something good for the community. We knew that putting the land to use would also help this part of town with its high level of vacancy. It was also helpful to engage kids and families as well as raise consciousness about local home-grown food
Something remarkable happens when we grow things. This pictorial documents up close, the transformation of sections of the lot from grass and dirt to organized growing beds, walkways, seeds, saplings, plants and vegetables! And in one area we created a soaking plant garden. It was lovely and made a lot of us more hopeful and happy.
Laying a path for the walkway
Garden beds with soil being placed.
One of the gifts of growing things is just watching change over time.
Of course when we organize to plant food and grow it helps the community. But also a lot of thinking happens as we plan, prepare and plant. A lot of good energy is created as we observe the alchemy of life growing from seed to plant and from abandonment to husbandry.
Saplings, planted and growing
Red and Green Lettuce Beds
Greens and Chard
Plants coming up...
Plants and walkway (more organized.
As I think about a new year, I ponder the possibility of returning to urban gardening in 2021. But even as I think about that, I remember the garden mostly for the positive energy and high possibility that it brought to our corner of the city. Maybe it is time to make a new years resolution to go back growing again.
Thanks for engaging with my post @rasbas