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Guerilla Gardening in South Central Los Angeles

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South Central Los Angeles is a food desert - an area filled with liquor stores, fast food chains and vacant lots. Tired of driving 45 minutes to buy food that is not chemically treated, Ron Finley decided to turn some of those unused plots, starting with the patch in front of his house, into a food forest. With obesity rates 5X higher in South Central than in Beverly Hills, a neighborhood only 8 to 10 miles away, Finley realized that food is the problem, but is also the solution. "The drive-thrus are killing more people than drive-bys." Finley and a group of volunteer gardeners from all over Los Angeles are changing that, one lot at a time. "Growing your own food is like printing your own money."

Be The Change

Learn more about LA Green Grounds, the all-volunteer group turning turf into edible gardens in South Los Angeles.

Listen to Robyn O'Brien's riveting talk on her unlikely crusade for food safety. Dubbed "food's Erin Brockovitch," O'Brien seeks to protect American families from the additives found in our food supply.

Get gangsta' with your shovel - plant something edible this Spring.

Reflections (41)

Rees

This was 2013. The comments are not dated. So what is current and presently relevant? This presentation was 2011. Thatâ€™s 10 years ago. Are the comments that old?

Al Perry

I am about to retire in Alabama. My family has a 40 acre piece of land. I want to help myself and the community get off the processed poison and onto God's food. You can't tell me White folks can make something better for you than
God medicine.

Isabel

This is incredible! Pancho told me yesterday that greening the neighborhood with wonderful food is the most successful way to bring peace somewhere :) <3

Michelle

I am so grateful to see people who do this kind of thing.
I also am like this in N. Cal and have recently joined the Methodist Church
because they like to feed people. My dream is for the Methodist to get involved in
local food production to use on their tables. Blessings....

Shelia

I was so pleased to see a man who knows where his food comes from. I am so inspired to share his message to as many as possible. Inspired to share my garden with others in my area. Inspired to limit my time in the grocery store and to used the food I have purchased to make it stretch. I will share as much with my grandchildren as possible.

indira

Loved his down to earth (pun of course) approach to the problem and it's solution. The message he gives is in plain speak that arises from his passion and in a language that reaches out without the fluff of some business guy!

Michelle Fincher-Brown

What inspired me about this video? So, many things. First, the fact that I've been thinking about doing this in my neighborhood for quite sometime; have not done anything, because it seems like a daunting task. Second, that Ron is doing it, and it's catching on. Third, how can i get in touch with his organization for info, inspiration, suggestions, etc.

R.B.Dympep

What a powerful motivation to do something for the community and the concern for healthy food and food security. The concept of opening farmers' market in the vicinity where they can bring their own home grown crops and pass on to those in need at affordable price is quite encouraging. It's true, sustainability has to be sustained but not free distribution of the produce but at a price. To secure a needed commodity with payment is much much more sweeter and with satisfaction as it comes at a price from a well-earned money. May such tribes exist in all countries of the world. Thanks to Ron Finley & his team of volunteers.

Shirley Marsh

'The Power of One' - a wonderful man with a powerful mission! Hope the ripples spread far and wide Finley! I'd like to see agriculture feed it's own people first and any surplus sent to export. In Australia our farmers are having to plough produce into the ground and bulldoze their fruit trees and vines because the supermarkets only buy cheap, contaminated foods that have come from halfway across the world. Not good nutrition; not good for health; not good for local industry. So sad.

Jim

I have an idea and that idea is to bring this man center stage in all of America. I want this man to speak for me and with me on the merits of self nourishing. This man is and may well be the center point of change in our country. The power of your own food, the people you share the time with to plant and tend, harvest, and celebrate the taste and communion of your liberated success. We have buried our souls in the rubble of modern America and as well the children to come. If it grows in your yard touch it. These plants are saying I'm here to help you. Thank you Mr. Ron. 64 years and still loving my mother, EARTH!

Mary Jo

Passion! Persistence. Caring. Making a difference that involves others and can ripple out endlessly.

Monica

WOW! That's wonderful. Congratulations on such an awesome initiative. Best of luck to you and everybody joining you on this!

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Guerilla Gardening in South Central Los Angeles

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