Thursday, January 26, 2017

Victory Gardens



Victory Gardens

During World War II Americans rallied to the call to action to prevent food shortages resulting from sending soldiers off to war. We are at war today and the enemies are many: food deserts, genetic farming, climate change, destruction of our soil water and air. It is time to act and start to rally around our victory gardens in our homes or neighborhoods.  There is an outcry from the public protesting Donald Trump’s cuts to agencies and programs designed to combat all of the above. What I am proposing is an action that is simple, effective and gets immediate results – victory gardens. Community gardens and collaborations with local farmers to buy and distribute fresh, affordable produce have sprung up in local areas all over the country. In the Portland neighborhood, Louisville Grows at louisvillegrows.org has established a Healthy House to support training and development of community gardens in this large food desert suffering from hunger, disease, unemployment, homelessness, violence and on and on. The one thing that anyone can do to start addressing these complex issues is to start producing one’s own food and join food coops. Where does hunger end? Outside your door or down the street. How do water and air pollution and climate change end? Outside your house or down the street. How do violence and disease end? Outside your house or down the street. Where do do we help children become connected to their environment and make healthy choices?. Outside your house or down the street.  If you live in Portland, get connected with Healthy House that is opening on March 26th. Take your children and participate in growing your own food and learning how diet affects health. On March 11, from noon to four, Louisville Grows will be collaborating with the Portland Library to disperse seeds along with training on how to plant them. Women are the nurturers and teachers of the next generation. Get busy women and “be the change you want to see.” Gandhi

No comments:

Post a Comment