Citizen Farmers by Daron Joffe

Author:Daron Joffe
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABRAMS Books
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

PUT MORE FUN IN YOUR GARDEN

Gardens are inherently living, breathing entities filled with vibrant activity. Why, then, do some of them feel like please-don’t-touch museums? If your school or community garden is starting to feel this way, there’s a chance you may have beaten the fun out of your garden (or never built it in in the first place). If you haven’t heard laughter in a while, or you realize no one is ever out there enjoying the garden, then you may be a quart low on fun. Here are some ways to put some smiles in the aisles:

1. LOOSEN UP. If you’ve gotten a bit hung up on perfection (perfect beds, perfect rows, perfect image), you may not have left room on the edges for creativity, and the kinds of people (of all ages) who like to have a little fun may not feel comfortable. Now, by “loosen up,” I don’t mean it needs to be a free-for-all, but perhaps encouraging more open-ended, non-master-planned experimentation will get the creative juices—and people—flowing again. Make sure you truly welcome children as well. Wide paths so they can run a bit, butterfly nets, a place to dig, and kid-size tools all send the message that this is a happy, inviting place.

2. ADD SOME ART. Art personalizes gardens in unique and exciting ways, displays cultural diversity, and provokes conversations that build community. The off-season, when you’re not as busy hoeing and growing, is a great time to shift your focus to creating focal points such as:

• Sculptures and statues made by local craftspeople and artisans

• Trellises and ladders, perhaps repurposing urban detritus like old window bars

• “Hardscapes”—walking paths, low stone walls, or mosaic murals using pottery fragments and colored stones

• Living art—select your plantings to create a visually pleasing palette

3. GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR GATHERINGS. If your garden chore assignments are starting to feel ho-hum, try high-energy teams and challenges. Wholeheartedly embrace the people who step forward to lead these kinds of things, and stay upbeat in your communications. Why simply help harvest lettuce when you can have a Halloween “beheading”? Why not bury some hidden treasures for when you ask folks to come help dig holes for fence posts? Why host a basic picnic when you can throw a Fashion Show Fiesta (“Wear your favorite greens!”) right there in the garden?

At my garden supply store, we host intimate gatherings in the gardens, often with a bonfire, potluck, live music, and workshops. We bring in local experts who teach about everything from pickling and pruning to composting and canning.

TOP 10

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.