Monday, July 14, 2008

Another step in the food revolution?

Not a Community Garden, but a Garden of Communities--the words of SF Victory Garden designer John Bela. Just two weeks ago this was a 10,000 square foot lawn, now it is a gorgeous vegetable, herb and native plant garden created by hundreds of volunteer hours from all over the Bay Area--whether people gathered to help with the community planting day, or helped propagate the plants, or fought to convince the Mayor that this would be an incredible idea, this garden has already touched so many people in the Bay. It is an inspirational transformation.

I'm so glad I showed up to the opening--there was a palpable energy in the air. The celebration continues, I can't wait to see what happens in this place and to the people that visit it in the months to come. Yes, it is temporary, yes there's much you could criticize, but I think it's more important to focus on the possibilities of this space, the potential to change the way people view space, their food, and their community. If anything, there's a poignancy to the place--as I walked back to the BART station just a block away, and you see one of the biggest populations of the homeless in the City. One essential take away from the Victory Garden: as Alice Water's said at the ceremony,good, clean, fair food is a right not a privilege.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

whoa! i am so glad i decided to peruse your blog tonight -- i have to check this out!
ashley, you are such a great photographer!