Places

Well I’ve already been able to harvest my first onions of the year and I was very excited about International Environment Day on June 5, 2005 – which is actually my anniversary. I started this piece a while back, but got stuck traveling and doing my day job. While I don’t have a big plot of land which I work, I do get some mean tomatoes, cucumbers, squash variants and a BUNCH of peppers. I like me some vegetables and am now two weeks into a local farmer’s market where I can supplement with other organic goods.

The main reason I like gardening and the farmer’s market on Saturdays, outside of getting a REAL hobby, is that it is organic, a social event and encourages biodiversity. Here are 3 main benefits of buying organic or growing your own, instead of wholesale support of traditional/high volume commercial agri-business:

• Diversified growing of plant types aids in the recycling of soil nutrients
• Organic gardening doesn’t eradicate insects wholesale and improves all food chain levels
• Monoculture or only growing 1 thing consistently creates an environment that is conducive to disease pathogens.

Don’t have space of your own? There has to be a community garden you can participate in. Pretty straight forward concept. Each gardener is assigned a specific plot. It isn’t just a gardening experience you can also actually make it somewhat of a social event, I haven’t done one in like 10 years, but could be something you might enjoy.

Remember, the first part of community gardening is COMMUNITY! There’s the topical link. It also encourages shared responsibility which is a good thing. Gardeners are required to jointly maintain all common areas, paths, and borders of their garden. In addition, gardeners are expected to participate in group workdays, including their garden’s opening in spring.