This is just an amazing article from Mother Jones. “There’s been a growing body of research that suggests that urban farming and greening not only strengthen community bonds but also reduce violence. ” Make sure you click the link and read this inspiring article. Not to mention look at these phenomenal photographs. Here is a beautiful photo to wet your appetite for social justice in the form of urban horticulture!
Things like this are just so inspiring—that food can change lives the same way sports, art, music, and other “urban culture”-types can. Urban farming doesn’t just belong to the white middle-class yuppies like myself. Urban farming belongs to everyone in a city, including those we often forget about (or willfully ignore). Here’s an excerpt from this article, describing how food changed the life of an ex-con:
“For Daniels, who spent eight years in prison—first for attempted murder, then for possession of cocaine—his life now revolves around food. In prison, he learned to cook, and when he was released he got a job at Growing Home. He tends the beds of Asian lettuce and Swiss chard (two foods he’s come to savor), the tomatoes and beets, the carrots and spinach. He covers the arugula to keep away the flea beetles. He’s learned about genetically modified food and chemical-free farming. He takes solace in prepping the beds, turning the compost, then adding and raking in alfalfa meal and potassium. He’s now learning how to keep bees.”
Glad you liked it!