It was a great experience. These people are really passionate about what gardening is and could be doing for everyone. They stressed the importance of having garden related questions included with the next census. Mapping gardens and having a true count of the yields could affect some very large amounts of money that would go towards programing such as Parks and Recreation activities, WIC programs that create food for those going to food pantries, programs such as the Cooperative Extension Master Garden’s program for doing outreach to deal with our nations growing problems of obesity, diabetes, loss of community and even to the very heart of our failing economy.

People need food. They need good food. They need exercise. Why should they be forced to buy these things at top dollar from corporations who don’t really care about their clients?  When they could be doing it for themselves. Where’s the funding for the preventative health solutions.
We need master gardeners in the inner city. We need kids in learning groups not gangs. We need the elderly to be visible and present in community, not locked up in gated communities or home bound waiting for meal on wheels to show up.
Gardening can do this.

I went to many lectures that focused on the benefits and needs of advocacy concerning the local production of food. People who can rototill are needed. Horticulture therapists could be helping those in facilities deal with stress. Land grant colleges could be “teaching people how to fish” and cutting costs by growing their own food. Housing authorities could be allowing the disadvantaged grow and can their own food instead of a two hour bus ride or taxi to a grocery that’s 3 miles a way. Convenience stores could expand to carry local fresh produce that is really good for you and keeps the money in the local economy.  We don’t need any more big box stores to take the place of locally owned businesses and paved paradises that your Grandma can’t walk you across to pick mulberries or buy an ice cream cone.

Gardening can do all this.

Again, I say. Food is Wealth.

Gardening can do this.