Food Not Lawns
By Christy Rice
Filed Under Green Living, The Big Picture |
After months of purchasing the same bag of frozen organic strawberries, I recently read the label for the first time: Product of Turkey. Humbled as my presumably small carbon footprint doubled its size, I couldn’t escape this haunting realization, “I’ve never been to Turkey-why should my berries be so fortunate?”
In a nation where a mere 0.3% of land is cultivated for organic farming, petroleum-powered planes and trucks are a requirement in the delivery of my organic goods. After all, I live on a city plot just north of Seattle where most farmland is now cemented. When I heard about the concept of the “urban homestead” though, I realized that those berries could have grown much closer to home.
Take the Dervaes family of Pasadena. Modern society would say they are the exception to self-sustainability; my heart says they’re the rule. Practically having dubbed the term urban homestead, they produce three tons of produce a year from their one-tenth of an acre garden, handcraft their own honey and wine, and bicycle-power their blender. They have a biodiesel truck, solar oven, goats, chickens, and a driveway lined with strawberries. The Dervaes’ slowly began cultivating this property in the mid-80’s, and now own their home and live off of the $25,000 a year they make selling their goods. Certain variables, such as renting a home or apartment-dwelling, could dampen dreams of self-sustainability, but the Dervaes’ emphasize that there are degrees to this lifestyle. Each small step is a significant part of the journey toward urban self-sufficiency.
Another pioneer of urban homesteading is H.C. Flores, permaculture designer and author of Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden And Your Neighborhood into a Community. Flores aims to transform lawns to gardens through “guerilla gardening.” According to Flores, “practicing ecological living is a deeply subversive act.” Flores is the major force behind International Seed Swap Day of Action on January 31st.
Following H.C. Flores’ lead are agricultural groups, aptly named Food Not Lawns, which are springing up across the country in grassroots fashion. Homeowners participating in Food Not Lawns learn how to cultivate food, and enjoy a share of the harvest, in exchange for the use of their land. From the Tri-State area to the San Diego coast, these groups are spreading the seeds of permaculture and urban homesteading knowledge with their local communities.
Jennie Grant began simply by learning the names behind her milk and cheese: Brownie and Snowflake. After becoming frustrated with the lack of good dairy choices at her local markets, Grant became the proud owner of two pygmy goats. This was completely illegal in Seattle at the time and Grant pushed her city council to change the laws to allow farm animals to be kept on smaller plots of land. According to Jennie, her goats “are happy, they have each other, they have enough space to do the things goats like to do. Every day they harvest blackberry bushes. Every day Snowflake gives a half gallon of delicious milk. I make cheese and I bring it to the neighbors.” Jennie Grant is not just creating amazing food, she’s creating a much deeper connection to her community.
There’s a movement afoot. People all over the world are reclaiming the ability to cultivate their own food and produce their own energy. City dwellers are buying land in the countryside or even leasing land on the side of the road in order to raise crops. Suburbanites are incorporating fruit trees into their landscaping plans and learning how to raise their own livestock. All this to enjoy the profound satisfaction of self-reliance.
We all can start somewhere. It’s true. For me, it started simply with some Turkish strawberries.
Ready to take the first steps towards growing your own food?
- Find practical advice from the Dervaes’ on urban homesteading at PathToFreedom.com
- Start planting local food bearing plants in your yard, on your terrace, or kitchen window sill
- Consider using a rain barrel to collect water or turn food waste into soil nutrients with a composter
- Get involved in your local chapter of Food Not Lawns, or buy the book and start your own
- Take a course at The Permaculture Institute or Solar Living Institute
- Check out the Dervaes family in action in this film by The New York Times Magazine…
Posted on July 17, 2008 |
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6 Responses to “Food Not Lawns”
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eCo Times reports the latest on sustainable lifestyle choices and the new green economy. This online magazine brings you the best in cutting edge green media, organic and Fair Trade product reviews, and insights into viable planetary solutions.
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Really well written article Christy - loved it. You’ve inspired me to give my little garden some more love!
Fantastic! I’m definitely going to start planning what I’ll plant next spring. Good way to be eco-friendly & neighborly.
Well written my friend. I am proud of you.
I have potted herbs on my window sill. I can’t wait to move out of my porchless apartment and really start planting.
Nice article, wish I had a little more land or I could just turn my roof into an organic garden.
Awesome article, very well written. You have inspired me to look more closely at labels and to start my own little garden. Great job!!