guerrilla gardening.

in his book "Guerrilla Gardening" David Tracey writes: "Every bit of land you see around you, from the lawn across the street to the street itself to the schoolyard at the end, is used in accordance to a decision made by someone. The decision may not have involved you at the time, but you're involved now because it makes a difference in the kind of world you live in and react to every day. If land matters, so too do all the things that may or may not grow on it."

no space is neutral. and no space is apolitical. urban (and suburban) design both signify and affect. when city planners and developers use land for parking lots rather than community gardens they are making decisions that have an impact beyond that one block of pavement. but we can also have an impact on our landscape. simply put, guerrilla gardening is "gardening public space with or without permission." (Tracey) it is recognizing that all sites have the potential to carry life. it is imagining cities that can feed themselves. it is engaging with our local environment (including the concrete and the fences.) it is autonomous action and community care.

guerrilla gardening re-defines what is natural and re-invents what is public.

if you're planning on doing some guerrilla gardening of your own, here are some things to keep in mind:

-when planting edibles, be aware that the soil in vacant lots often contains toxins. if you don't know the long history of that particular site it is best to plant in raised beds or use containers for growing vegetables and herbs.

-when not planting edibles, research what plants are native to your area. native plants will fair better and non-native species can easily become invasive.

-guerrilla gardening can be done in the daytime. unless you're messing with a site that is frequently visited by regular landscapers, or under surveillance, most people will assume that you are supposed to be there with trowel in hand. try to dress like a city worker and act like you belong.

-guerrilla gardening can be done almost anywhere- along fences, up poles, down alleys, in abandoned cars. if a site is inaccessible, you can always throw "seed bombs" by molding soil, clay and seeds together.

-topsoil can often be found for free on Craigslist and seed exchanges exist in many areas (as well as online.)

for more ideas, tips and resources:
-Guerrilla Gardening: A Manualfesto by David Tracey
-Primal Seed's guerrilla gardening site
-guerrillagardening.org has many photos and links