-Susan Griffin in Listening to the Land
“The way we eat represents our most profound engagement with the natural world. Daily, our eating turns nature into culture, transforming the body of the world into our bodies and minds.”
-Michael Pollan The Omnivore’s Dilemma
Being able to feed ourselves is one of the greatest acts of self-sufficiency. The direct experience of growing food connects us to our most elemental needs. We learn about the life cycle of plants, the specifics of our ecosystems, and our capacity to live autonomously from an industrialized agricultural system dependent on oil. In my city of San Francisco, and other towns where property is such an expensive commodity, few people have access to backyards or traditional gardens. But there are window boxes, community gardens, abandoned lots, rooftops, fire escapes and even medians where we can begin to grow edible plants and fruiting trees. We may not be able to grow all of what we eat, but each time we use herbs growing outside of our windows, or cook tomatoes potted on our porches, we move one step closer to food security. Plant some seeds in a pot, check out a gardening book from the library, ask a neighbor for a cutting. Because growing what we eat is not only a political gesture, it is also an act that connects us to the natural world, taste by taste.
Source has just put out our second zine, this one on growing food in the city. If you live in the Bay you can find it at these stores but here are a few quick tips and ideas to inspire.
container gardening.
you can grow vegetables and dwarf fruit trees in almost any kind of container. old buckets, barrels or cans with drilled holes, ceramic pots from thrift stores, even baskets will work for your container garden. simply be sure that there are drainage holes in the bottom and most books recommend a layer of rocks or broken pottery at the bottom to increase drainage. use a soil mix that is nutrient rich with compost. You Grow Girl by Gayla Trail is a great resource for the beginner.
window boxes.
when installing your window box, be sure it is well secured (you can buy rust resistant screws and brackets at most hardware stores.) also be certain that there are drainage holes and leave some space between the top of the soil line and your window box to keep the soil from washing away. instructions on how to build a window box are available here.
rooftop gardening.
the key to rooftop gardening is good drainage, lots of water and stakes to help with the wind. to get you started The Rooftop Gardens Project has an 80 page Guide to Setting Up Your Own Edible Rooftop Garden that is free to download.
