Know Justice, Know Peas: How Simple Information Can (Literally) Grow Change
Before beginning our journey toward a mobile app for sustainable food growth, our primary mission was consultations and actual creation of these landscapes, known by terms as “no-till gardens”, “permaculture”, “ecological landscaping” and many more. What we encountered often, whether in Baltimore, Maryland or even the quaint but growing Traverse City, Michigan was one type of client more than any other.
People, from all walks of life, need help transforming their yards into productive landscapes. In just a few generations our society has gotten to the point where we need to reeducate ourselves on how to effectively grow food at home. We’re not just talking a token tomato pot on the porch (although any effort taken should be applauded). Despite the litany of websites and Youtube pages on gardening, some people just need a little nudge to get going.
What we would often find is a client who requests a site visit with the intent of hiring our gardening services. We focus so much on empowerment that our visits turn into hour-long talks and, by the end of the visit, the homeowner reneges and feels confident enough to begin on their own.
We need, collectively and individually, a nudge of inspiration when tackling new endeavors. Our time could have been seen as wasted from a business perspective, but we were glad knowing projects were beginning because of our advice. That was our own inspiration for the mobile app, to condense our visits into a free database of information and create a DIY-friendly design feature for anyone with a mobile device. You’ll hear more about this as we approach our launch date, but the point was:
Change is a process.
Self-reliance can be an overwhelming prospect, but it needn’t be.
Small solutions, tailored to your time and space constraints, can have a cumulative benefit on society as well.
Community gardens can be a great way for residents in densely-packed cities to engage with others and grow food, using vacant lots. Studies show these spaces have even a crime-reducing impact by providing “eyes on the street” and helping bond otherwise disconnected neighbors. Policy makers can even approach it from the benefits angle. Want to reduce crime? Transform that vacant lot into a garden!
Or, as Ice Cube might say, “Know Justice, Know Peas!”
