New subversive plots
Subversive Plots from the kgb
Two years ago Roger wrote an article that got me so worked up I was spurred into thought and action. His article was called 'A Subversive Plot' (http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0418-31.htm)
From it I quote (without permission, but I am betting he won't mind)
"Welcome to my neighborhood and my not-so-private fantasy.
The green rectangle represents current kitchen gardens (i.e. mine), the red rectangles future ones (i.e. my neighbors'). I'm going to have to ask for your utmost discretion because my neighbors don't know yet that they will be planting these food gardens. "
Because of this article I started kitchen gardeners bluegrass or kgb to promote the home growing of food. The group, as it developed and withered, did not achieve what I had hoped but its scions might. My wife and I are resurrecting kgb as the Edible Gardening Club, which will meet at The Arboretum where she works. I am hoping this will be more successful, in part because of the support of people like Brook Elliot and Roger Postley.
The other scion was planted in our street. This year a third of my Hamilton Park neighbours will be growing some food in their backyards. Many of them did so before, so I am not going to take any credit for that, but I would like to think that Roger's vision helped me, even in a small way, to cajole, bribe and encourage some to start a garden and others to grow more than they did last year. It would also be remiss of me not to mention that my two new neighbours, who are big time gardeners, also cajoled, bribed and encouraged me.
The third scion, my son (aged 9) has his own mini home delivery greengrocery business, from which 50% of the proceeds are given to a local food charity. Though we suspect with the success of gardening he won't sell as much this year.
On our street in addition to the Annual Picnic and Ice Storm Soup Supper, we have celebrated two kitchen garden days, two seed starting partings, and one seed saving party. We share seeds and plants in the most wonderful serendipitous ways. Often bunches of seeds and plants are passed from neighbour to neighbour each taking their share before passing them on. We will be making tomato cages again, though probably not needing the 4 rolls of wire that Warren had to eventually purchase.
What have I learned? That its best to act locally. Connect with your neighbours. Cast your bread upon the waters. Give and ye shall receive. Use any, and every opportunity, to speak about growing food, while at the same time trying to keep from sounding too preachy and evangelistic. Be willing to ask for help,eg loan a truck, as well as offer to help eg till someone's yard.
In fact in his NY Times article, 'Why Bother', Michael Pollan hinted at this very thing, connecting with your neighbours.
Two years ago Roger wrote an article that got me so worked up I was spurred into thought and action. His article was called 'A Subversive Plot' (http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0418-31.htm)
From it I quote (without permission, but I am betting he won't mind)
"Welcome to my neighborhood and my not-so-private fantasy.
The green rectangle represents current kitchen gardens (i.e. mine), the red rectangles future ones (i.e. my neighbors'). I'm going to have to ask for your utmost discretion because my neighbors don't know yet that they will be planting these food gardens. "
Because of this article I started kitchen gardeners bluegrass or kgb to promote the home growing of food. The group, as it developed and withered, did not achieve what I had hoped but its scions might. My wife and I are resurrecting kgb as the Edible Gardening Club, which will meet at The Arboretum where she works. I am hoping this will be more successful, in part because of the support of people like Brook Elliot and Roger Postley.
The other scion was planted in our street. This year a third of my Hamilton Park neighbours will be growing some food in their backyards. Many of them did so before, so I am not going to take any credit for that, but I would like to think that Roger's vision helped me, even in a small way, to cajole, bribe and encourage some to start a garden and others to grow more than they did last year. It would also be remiss of me not to mention that my two new neighbours, who are big time gardeners, also cajoled, bribed and encouraged me.
The third scion, my son (aged 9) has his own mini home delivery greengrocery business, from which 50% of the proceeds are given to a local food charity. Though we suspect with the success of gardening he won't sell as much this year.
On our street in addition to the Annual Picnic and Ice Storm Soup Supper, we have celebrated two kitchen garden days, two seed starting partings, and one seed saving party. We share seeds and plants in the most wonderful serendipitous ways. Often bunches of seeds and plants are passed from neighbour to neighbour each taking their share before passing them on. We will be making tomato cages again, though probably not needing the 4 rolls of wire that Warren had to eventually purchase.
What have I learned? That its best to act locally. Connect with your neighbours. Cast your bread upon the waters. Give and ye shall receive. Use any, and every opportunity, to speak about growing food, while at the same time trying to keep from sounding too preachy and evangelistic. Be willing to ask for help,eg loan a truck, as well as offer to help eg till someone's yard.
In fact in his NY Times article, 'Why Bother', Michael Pollan hinted at this very thing, connecting with your neighbours.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kate on -
Great stuff John. I am thinking of doing what Pattie at Foodshed Planet has started doing - openning my garden to any neighbours or passers-by to come at a specfic time and garden with me. Not a preaching session (well, not straight away!!) and a chance to informally connect without anyone committing to anything - something I find that people are sometimes scared to do up-front. She has found that lots of people just need an excuse to get started and that the local children are the first to try it, often accompanied by parents who at first stand back but soon start taking an interest. As most of my vegetable garden is at the front, this would be useful in attracting notice. Like the prospective attendees, I am a bit scared too of making such a commitment. Mostly because I don't want my little seedlings and other parts of my garden trampled by anyone or pulled out by well-meaning weeders!
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Permalink Reply by Ian on -
It's a great idea Kate but beware. Sylvia decided to help me in the garden the other day and weeded a tiny part of a bed where I want to plant melons that she has requested.
The melon plants are coming along and are just about ready to go in the ground, probably tomorrow.
However, the bed was already planted with strawberries and a single row of parsnips, identified by a length of twine. Sadly, she weeded the plot beautifully right up to the strawberries and under the twine! I shall be sowing some more parsnips soon!
Ian
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Permalink Reply by Penelope on -
I'm listening to an NPR program about water, about a film about water that's recently produced. Pretty scary stuff, the politics, privatization, pollution, plastic bottles, dams, etc.
anybody seen this film?
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Permalink Reply by Penelope on
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the name of the film is "Flow" about water and other ecological issues.
i'm wondering -- the mayor sends out messages in his newsletter about how us lowly homeowners should conserve water and don't use to much water on our gardens -- yet all the people in the new, expensive housing developments who make 4 or more times the money I make, water their useless grass and shrubs and hit stupid golf balls around expensive greens that gobble up tons of water. there are 4 golf courses in this little desert space and i'm supposed to feel guilty watering a few tomato plants and doing my laundry.
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Permalink Reply by Heather Wood on -
Speaking of sharing in serendipitous ways, I thought you might find this interesting.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/dining/07urban.html?ref=dining
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Permalink Reply by Penelope on
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Great article. I used to live and work in East New York Brooklyn back in the 1960s. I remember reading about vacant lot gardens in the East Village too, another stomping ground for two years. and you notice the names of the gardens all have to do with aesthetics -- beauty, feelings of joy, health . . .Nice.
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Permalink Reply by Gail on -
To encourage our Ozark area gardeners, on Mother's Day, when usually we were each given one carnation (whatDO you do with one carnation?) I suggested, and purchased with funds from our pastor, for my church women, 4 packs of veggie plants, with a few herbs and ornamental annuals as well. Each could pick one pot as they left the Sunday meeting. It was verywell received, and many thanked me for being more practical. So we should all have tomatoes, cabbages, herbs, and melons this year, not just me.
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Permalink Reply by John Walker on -
Great Idea,
I don't know how many plants and seeds I give away each year, but it seems a lot. Part of it is that I get given so much, I can't plant it all.
Let's all cast a little more bread upon the waters.
pax
John
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Permalink Reply by Gail on
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I always grow more seedlings than I can possibly use, and plant heritage and unusual plants that can't be found at Walmart, etc. I have sold some, given away many more, and sold and given away my wonderful cukes and tomatoes. Most people in my area have land on which to garden, if they made a little efforto to used raised beds (on top of our rocky, clayey soil) and amended them with the plentiful composting materials availabe free from farmers and sawmills. If I can encourage them a bit by providing wonderful seedlings, I am happy. They often come back for advice (I am a long-time Master Gardener) which I can often provide, or at least refer them to a good source.
What a wonderful hobby (when it isn't freezing late, blowing destructively, or lacking rain). Gaill
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Permalink Reply by Ruthie on -
This year was my first starting things from seed, and needless to say, I started WAY too many tomatoes. Some have been sold, some have been given away, many more will be planted wherever I can find room for them and EVERYONE is getting salsa for Christmas! (its amazing how garden fresh salsa is enough of an encouragement to make people want to plant their own tomatoes, and before you know it, everything else that goes in the salsa.)
Great idea giving them away for mother's day.
Ruthie
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