The idea came to me a few nights ago while I was scrounging around the bodega for a snack. The owner had the radio playing on a soft rock station. In between songs the DJ- you might have heard of her- came on and gave a heart-felt speech about how to get through the recession. She ended by encouraging everyone to make use of any extra soil space to grow food for their families... wow.
So, where to start? Community Gardens!
Since I've been hanging around the permaculture crowd on my beat I've met quite a few gardeners. One such is Greg Todd who works with the Imani garden (Imani means "hope" in Swahili) in North Crown Heights Brooklyn. I went to check it out today, and Todd was happy to show me around. It's half an acre- maybe even less- with an enormous willow tree swathing more than half the area with its drooping limbs. There are mulch paths and planting beds lined with rocks. Wooden benches and a couple of picnic tables are spread around. Of course the planting season does not start for another month or so and all was quiet among the leafless trees and empty garden boxes; but soon enough the garden will be bustling. Last year the garden produced beans, squash, peppers, and other vegetables. This year the garden leaders hope to add a rain water catchment system to irrigate the garden. Here are a few pictures:
Planting boxes for vegetables- over the winter they're planted with grasses to hold minerals in the soil.
Stepping stones
Compost box.
