A guerilla gardener in South Central LA | Ron Finley

Summary

In this inspiring talk, a South Central Los Angeles resident shares how he transformed his neighborhood by planting a public 'food forest' in an area plagued by food deserts, obesity, and vacant lots. After facing opposition from the city, his community gardening initiative gained widespread support, highlighting the power of growing local, healthy food. He emphasizes that gardening can improve health, bring people together, and empower underserved communities. His call to action encourages people to become 'gangsta gardeners,' using gardening as a tool for change and sustainability in urban environments.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker lives in South Central Los Angeles, a food desert characterized by fast food outlets, liquor stores, and vacant lots.
• 🏙️ Renaming South Central to South Los Angeles did not change the core issues of the neighborhood, such as lack of access to healthy food.
• 🍔 The speaker highlights that drive-thrus are causing more harm than drive-bys due to poor diet-related health issues.
• 🌿 To address this, the speaker planted a food garden on a strip of land in front of his house, called a 'food forest', to provide healthy options for the community.
• 🌱 The speaker co-founded L.A. Green Grounds, a volunteer group that plants gardens in urban spaces to make healthy food accessible.
• 🚫 The speaker faced a legal battle with the city when asked to remove his garden, but community support and media attention led to a victory, allowing the garden to stay.
• 💡 He emphasizes that food can be both the problem and the solution, advocating for urban gardening to empower communities.
• 👩‍👦 The speaker’s gardens became a tool for education and transformation, showing the benefits of growing one's own food to local children and residents.
• 🔧 The speaker wants to create more community gardens, turn shipping containers into healthy cafes, and involve youth in growing food to provide sustainable livelihoods.
• 💪 He advocates for a cultural shift, encouraging people to become 'gangsta gardeners' by using gardening as a tool for social change and empowerment.

Q & A

What issue is the speaker addressing in South Central Los Angeles?

The speaker addresses the issue of food deserts, where there is a lack of access to healthy food, leading to high obesity rates and other health problems in South Central Los Angeles.

Why did city planners rename South Central Los Angeles to South Los Angeles?

City planners renamed South Central Los Angeles to South Los Angeles in an attempt to change its image, but the speaker points out that the underlying issues, like lack of access to healthy food, remain unchanged.

What prompted the speaker to start a garden in front of his house?

The speaker was tired of seeing the health issues caused by poor access to healthy food in his community and wanted to provide a solution by growing fresh, pesticide-free food in a public space.

What is the significance of the garden being planted on a parkway?

The parkway is city-owned land that residents are required to maintain. The speaker used this responsibility to creatively plant a garden, turning a neglected piece of land into a productive food source.

How did the city initially react to the speaker’s garden?

The city issued a citation demanding that the garden be removed, but after media attention and public support, the speaker successfully fought to keep it.

What is the speaker's view on people taking food from the garden?

The speaker encourages people to take food from the garden because he wants them to reclaim their health by eating fresh produce. He sees this as part of his mission to help the community.

How has the garden impacted the speaker's neighborhood?

The garden has become an educational tool and a catalyst for neighborhood transformation. It has taught children and adults about the value of growing and eating fresh food, and it has fostered a sense of community.

What role does the speaker believe gardening can play in inner cities?

The speaker believes gardening is both a therapeutic and defiant act in inner cities. It allows people to take control of their health, beautify their environment, and reclaim their neighborhoods from systemic neglect.

What is the speaker’s long-term vision for community gardening?

The speaker envisions entire blocks of shared gardens and turning shipping containers into healthy cafes, creating sustainable jobs and teaching kids pride in growing their own food.

What message does the speaker give about sustainability?

The speaker emphasizes that sustainability must be sustainable, meaning that solutions need to be long-lasting and involve community participation, not just free or temporary fixes.