St. Louis’ community gardens
Community gardening provides a rich experience. People who join their local garden group learn about plants or share their own knowledge and gain through both. They grow better tasting food and save money on groceries. Best of all, they enjoy the fellowship of working cooperatively on a shared passion. The gardens themselves become a beautiful community focal point, inspiring pride in the participants.
On guerrilla gardening : a handbook for gardening without boundaries
Richard Reynolds.
New York : Bloomsbury, c2008.
"When Richard Reynolds began gardening secretly outside his council block in south London, he had no idea he was part of a global movement committed to combating the urban forces of litter, pollution, vandalism and, worst of all, apathy about public spaces. At first Reynolds was content to work alone, recording his experiences on his weblog." "The council "responsible" for the spaces took no interest, not even when Reynolds entered one of his plots for the Southwark in Bloom competition. But word of his nocturnal endeavours quickly spread, as guerrilla gardeners from all over the globe wrote to Reynolds with their tips for making seed bombs, planting grime-resistant flowers and avoiding arrest, and donating plants of their own - such as the eight-foot Christmas tree that now stands proud on a roundabout near Elephant and Castle." "On Guerrilla Gardening is his manifesto, a call to arms that charts the revolutionary history of guerrilla gardening from its roots in 1970s Manhattan, and proffers advice on tactics, equipment and recruitment. It is also a manual for a very particular form of gardening, whose "weeds" are crisp packets and whose "wildlife" is drunks. This is a book for all would-be activists, green-fingered or otherwise, who believe we should seize control of our shared environment - and start cherishing it once and for all."--BOOK JACKET.
Guerrilla gardening : a manualfesto
David Tracey.
Gabriola Island, BC : New Society Publishers, c2007.
"If you've ever wandered past a scrubby vacant lot and imagined how beautiful it could look with flowers or food crops or trees, you may have the heart of a guerrilla gardener. To the delight of many urban dwellers, random acts of gardening, with or without permission, are springing up everywhere. The appeal is great - a convivial way to be a wee bit naughty, get your hands dirty and beautify your neighbourhood." "Guerrilla gardening can be as simple as picking up broken glass and litter or pulling our a few weeds. It can be as involved as organizing a community garden on unused railway land or helping city officials see the appeal of a new park. What began as a non-violent environmental call to arms for inner-city renewal has become the people's choice for urban beautification around the world. Boulevards, railway land and back alleys have all benefited from the efforts of these modern-day Johnny Appleseeds."--BOOK JACKET.
City bountiful : a century of community gardening in America
Laura J. Lawson.
Berkeley : University of California Press, c2005.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 303-345) and index.
St. Louis gardeners have organized many gardens throughout the city. Some are formalized efforts with boards, budgets, regular funding and permanent locations. Others are informal groups of people who meet only when necessary to get the work done, chipping in from their pockets to buy needed supplies for their adopted plot of land. All share a vision of their garden space, and all work together to reach their goals.
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This non-profit organization provides leadership and funding to the many community gardens in the St. Louis region. There are more than 150 gardens operating today, created with their help. |
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Gateway Greening |
In a community garden with many small plots, one plot is assigned to one person for the season. The “owner” decides which favorite food or flower to grown. It’s always fun to see the variety of plants people choose for their beds, plants that reflect individual tastes. Some gardeners specialize in one kind of plant, another will pack in as many types as possible over a season. Still others will try a mix of edibles and ornamentals.
The City of St. Louis has been generous in donating land for community gardens. Most gardens have resources available to all such as compost, mulch, fertilizers, and a watering system. These readily available supplies make gardening easy!
Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff.
