My neighbor Russ is the driving force behind LA Farm Hands (Check out their website: http://www.lafarmhands.com ). As the Garden Designer and Farm Community Coordinator, Russ recently invited several of us to help plant at a garden in Eagle Rock. LA Farm Hands "advocates local, urban agriculture " in numerous ways including school gardens, private gardens, their Urban Farm "where individuals and communities can grow and share produce from local gardens", along with educating and raising awareness of sustainable methods in an urban setting.
I was excited to try my hand out at planting on Saturday morning. Although my aunt is a rockstar gardener and my parents put lots of effort into their yard, those gardening genes skipped me. Don't get me wrong. I love me some plant life. It's just that I fail miserably in the caretaking/cultivating side of things. But after recently reading Michael Pollan's Food Rules, I was challenged to rethink my approach to produce. I really like the idea of sustainability, having farms in urban areas (city people need fresh veggies too!), and planting food that will later end up in my kitchen.
So, I took a couple hours out of my weekend to plant some beans, tomatoes, and the like, and of course to give them a good soaking. I was very impressed with the whole process and even got to meet a family who wants to turn part of their yard into part of the Urban Farm. I was telling their 4 year old what compost was, and he quickly assured me he already knew what it was. He said their tree had been sick, so they tried putting compost around it, but it didn't help. Man, that kid put me to shame!
If you're in the L.A. area, I'd highly recommend them as a source for fresh, organic produce. I'm planning to sign up and share the produce with my roommate. Also, they're always looking for more people to be part of the Urban Farm, so if you'd like to convert part/all of your yard into a garden, visit the website for more details.
I feel like it's only appropriate to watch a little Green Acres...who says you can't have both?
