Sí se puede!

Last night, I avoided the cold weather here in the Northeast by ducking into a film at Galapagos Arts Space, an innovative LEED-certified cultural venue in Brooklyn. The movie was "The Garden", a 2009 Oscar-nominated documentary by Scott Hamilton Kennedy. The film is a testament to the power of public policy and community action when it comes to the issue of environmental justice.

In this case, the story revolves around a 14-acre urban community garden that was started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992. Since that time, the South Central Farmers have worked together to cultivate food in one of the country's most blighted neighborhoods. As one commentator in the film noted "People. Land. Food. Happiness." It's a simple equation...until the farmers (372 families in total) receive an eviction notice.

"The Garden" is an unflinching look at the struggle between these urban farmers, the City of Los Angeles and a powerful developer who wants to evict the farmers and build warehouses where food has grown for over ten years. Local politicians and celebrities visited the garden, adding their voices to the farmers' fight. (The film includes some great footage of visits from Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich and actress Daryl Hannah.) By engaging local musicians, the farmers held a fundraiser to attempt to buy back their land from the developer. The film provides some great replicable examples of community members rallying together to spread the word about environmental and social inequity.

"The Garden" left me thinking about what rights we have for the land we cultivate. If land is gifted to a community, at what point can it be taken back? What value is placed on the produce grown on the land? Is there no value to the human connections and well-being gained by the presence of a communal activity that puts food on the table? Community gardens are an integral part of our towns and cities - future generations must learn to respect and tend the land upon which we're able to grow healthy, organic food.

I hope you'll take a look at "The Garden" and start noticing the people who tend the land at your local community garden. If you've never stopped in to say hello, give it a try. Gardens are a great place to (re)connect to nature and make new connections with fellow environmentally-minded neighbors and friends. Perhaps it's time to develop your own community garden..."Sí se puede!"

Michael Crowley
Program Director, "How Green is My Town?"