Something to chew on

Seems every time I turn my head there is an article about growing food. Sometimes food growing is shown in good light, sometimes not. Many of them give me the feeling gardening isn't simply about plants, but as much about the people cultivating them.

Image from Edible Estates

Most recently, I've seen a rash of newspapers covering HOA feuds and court and cases proving local governments are not necessarily wild about literally seeing food growing.  Of course, that's not the case everywhere.

Think about it, decreasing grass and increasing organic food crops can help heal our water supplies by reducing chemical run off while increasing ground water absorption. I say three cheers for that! And another three cheers for: Less mowing! Yay! Less of a burden on municipal water filtration! Yay! You get food from your yard! Yay! You can share with neighbors! Yay! (Wait, that made 4 cheers.)

Image from Flickr user edibleoffice

All sorts of people are involved and affected by food production. It's reaching way beyond farms and scaling down to the individual. Fritz Haeg's Edible Estates has been at the forefront of the front yard food movement. Yesterday the New York Times used the word permaculture in a pretty lengthy piece about creating a landscape of sustenance. No matter where gardens are garnering attention, one thing is for sure - the practice of growing food has a surprisingly large impact.

<
Image from Flickr user waltarrrrr

Each time food gardening is in the spotlight I grow increasingly convinced that growing food is a viable way to grow community. After all, if an act so simple as planting a seed can divide communities, the reverse should also hold true, right?

How about you? Have a recent run-in with rhubarb or do the neighbor's tomatoes taunt you? Do you think growing food brings you closer or further apart with others in your community?

Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise.  When mud pies aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.

Comments

[Beth]

My husband and I live in a beautiful old row-home in a struggling part of Baltimore. Unfortunately, the houses on either side of us are now abandoned. In a lemon-into-lemonade moment, we decided to extend the tiny little garden in our backyard and guerrilla garden the yards on either side. We were a little cautious and worried about what other neighbors would think, but to our delight we've gotten nothing but positive feedback. Every time I work in the garden, someone is coming over to ask a question or tell a story about gardens past. The neighborhood children are into helping us weed and love seeing where the food comes from. We are getting soooo much veg and sharing it with neighbors. We've begun talking about working with our neighborhood association and the city to put a big garden in a huge empty lot at the end of the block!

[Renee Garner]

that is fantastic to read! I love how plants can band people together, and what a great experience for the kids to have!

[meg w]

i say, the more cheers for growing your own food, the better! and besides, think how boring that cute little green house would look if all that was in front of it was grass. this is much better! (i can't wait until i have my own yard... until then, it's potted herbs & balcony tomatoes for me!)

[ByYourSide2009]

I say YAY, to growing your own food!! Front yard back yard, I don't care!! Because of scheduled surgeries this summer we didn't plant our garden this year and miss it so much!! I have become a stalker of the local Farmers' Market though!! Can hardly wait for next year, so we can plant our garden!! I have a friend debating planting some of her food in her front yard, they just moved to The Dalles in one of those new communities. There is nothing stated in the list of "rules," so I told her to go for it, so long as it is kept nicely who cares!! Not to mention she is a master gardener and her neighbors will benefit from TONS of free freshness!!
~Michele

[ByYourSide2009]

I say YAY, to growing your own food!! Front yard back yard, I don't care!! Because of scheduled surgeries this summer we didn't plant our garden this year and miss it so much!! I have become a stalker of the local Farmers' Market though!! Can hardly wait for next year, so we can plant our garden!! I have a friend debating planting some of her food in her front yard, they just moved to The Dalles in one of those new communities. There is nothing stated in the list of "rules," so I told her to go for it, so long as it is kept nicely who cares!! Not to mention she is a master gardener and her neighbors will benefit from TONS of free freshness!!

~Michele

[cara]

!!!!!