I think you’re right about that. For example, a couple of these guys, who were homeless when our friends met them, are among the most generous people I know.
How great is that!
And isn’t it sad that I guess I just didn’t realize that even homeless or drug addicts maybe would have liked to work in a garden. My “duh” moment.
I think there is something in all of us that draws us to working the land. This garden has been a great success so far and has become a treasured part of the community.
Wonderful! Growing food is great, but so is the sense to community that is so obvious in that clip. Just the thing a recovering addict might need to help with his or her addiction. And, good for everyone else, too. We need community as much as we need food.
Absolutely. These are all great people and they are a community in the truest sense. Two of the men shown in the video are friends of ours who were homeless when our other friends met them. One was a penniless alcoholic, living in the woods. The other was living under an abandoned building and had fallen through the cracks of the social services system mainly because he did not have any “i.d.”. Now they both have homes of their own, are leaders in the community and share their homes and resources with others in need. The one who was living in the woods has been clean and sober for years now, has a job and is one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. This entire community is awesome and these two men particularly represent what true community can do.
It’s been exciting to see this dream come to fruition. Our friends had to maneuver through quite a bit of government red tape but they were patient and now people in that neighborhood are growing their own food again for the first time in decades. I’d love to see a garden like this one in every urban neighborhood.
When we were volunteering for Rebuilding Together (back in Sonoma County) I started putting in vegetable gardens whenever we worked on people’s homes. Many of these people were elderly–and they felt unable to break through the turf and work the soil. In almost every case–we did it the first year and then they continued. Sometimes it was just a few tomatoes and some lettuce; we let them decide. In one case, the gentleman used a wheel chair–so we built raised beds. Before we knew it, his neighbors (who were more able bodied but had no property) chipped in and they created a community garden. Two years later, Rick and I visited and were astonished to see a huge garden all built, tended, harvested and shared by his neighborhood. From a few tomato plants, they grew a community.
Bill, my city is very favorable toward community gardens and will gladly let folks work city owned vacant lots into gardens. The caveat is they get to take it back any time for development. Who wants to put work into a community garden only to have it developed into an apartment building. It’s why I buy my land and then I can do any thing I want within reason and don’t have to move to another plot. I have two different city vacant lots and could have more but I’m thinking two is enough to keep me busy without being too much. I don’t want to outgrow hand tool gardening. Right now I’m developing 3600 square feet. When I’m done it will have 15 raised beds, an eight by eight shed, a sitting area in front of the shed, a cold frame, and automated irrigation. Yeah, were talking maybe a five year plan. It’s starting to come together extremely well. In the mean time I’ll keep dreaming.
It’s great that your city is supportive. When our friends began to put their garden in, they discovered that city ordinances didn’t allow it and didn’t allow chickens either. They had to get the laws changed to permit them to go forward. They got it done but it took a while. They discovered in their research that this neighborhood was originally populated by people who were moving to the city from out in the country. Of course they put in gardens and raised animals. The law was passed making it illegal in order to force them to buy their food from the store in the neighborhood, which was owned by someone well to do and well-connected politically.
It seems to me if you give most people the opportunity to be generous, they take it. What a wonderful program.
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I think you’re right about that. For example, a couple of these guys, who were homeless when our friends met them, are among the most generous people I know.
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How great is that!
And isn’t it sad that I guess I just didn’t realize that even homeless or drug addicts maybe would have liked to work in a garden. My “duh” moment.
LikeLike
I think there is something in all of us that draws us to working the land. This garden has been a great success so far and has become a treasured part of the community.
LikeLike
Wonderful! Growing food is great, but so is the sense to community that is so obvious in that clip. Just the thing a recovering addict might need to help with his or her addiction. And, good for everyone else, too. We need community as much as we need food.
LikeLike
Absolutely. These are all great people and they are a community in the truest sense. Two of the men shown in the video are friends of ours who were homeless when our other friends met them. One was a penniless alcoholic, living in the woods. The other was living under an abandoned building and had fallen through the cracks of the social services system mainly because he did not have any “i.d.”. Now they both have homes of their own, are leaders in the community and share their homes and resources with others in need. The one who was living in the woods has been clean and sober for years now, has a job and is one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. This entire community is awesome and these two men particularly represent what true community can do.
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Yay!!! What a great story. One with a happy ending.
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Dearest Bill,
Oh sure this is a GREAT initiative and oh so rewarding!
You and I know that by experience but this works for everyone.
Hugs,
Mariette
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It’s been exciting to see this dream come to fruition. Our friends had to maneuver through quite a bit of government red tape but they were patient and now people in that neighborhood are growing their own food again for the first time in decades. I’d love to see a garden like this one in every urban neighborhood.
LikeLike
When we were volunteering for Rebuilding Together (back in Sonoma County) I started putting in vegetable gardens whenever we worked on people’s homes. Many of these people were elderly–and they felt unable to break through the turf and work the soil. In almost every case–we did it the first year and then they continued. Sometimes it was just a few tomatoes and some lettuce; we let them decide. In one case, the gentleman used a wheel chair–so we built raised beds. Before we knew it, his neighbors (who were more able bodied but had no property) chipped in and they created a community garden. Two years later, Rick and I visited and were astonished to see a huge garden all built, tended, harvested and shared by his neighborhood. From a few tomato plants, they grew a community.
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That is beautiful and inspiring. We need more of that. Imagine how much good could come out of work like that.
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Bill, my city is very favorable toward community gardens and will gladly let folks work city owned vacant lots into gardens. The caveat is they get to take it back any time for development. Who wants to put work into a community garden only to have it developed into an apartment building. It’s why I buy my land and then I can do any thing I want within reason and don’t have to move to another plot. I have two different city vacant lots and could have more but I’m thinking two is enough to keep me busy without being too much. I don’t want to outgrow hand tool gardening. Right now I’m developing 3600 square feet. When I’m done it will have 15 raised beds, an eight by eight shed, a sitting area in front of the shed, a cold frame, and automated irrigation. Yeah, were talking maybe a five year plan. It’s starting to come together extremely well. In the mean time I’ll keep dreaming.
Have a great community gardening day.
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It’s great that your city is supportive. When our friends began to put their garden in, they discovered that city ordinances didn’t allow it and didn’t allow chickens either. They had to get the laws changed to permit them to go forward. They got it done but it took a while. They discovered in their research that this neighborhood was originally populated by people who were moving to the city from out in the country. Of course they put in gardens and raised animals. The law was passed making it illegal in order to force them to buy their food from the store in the neighborhood, which was owned by someone well to do and well-connected politically.
LikeLike