Ron Finely: A Guerilla Gardener in South Central LA

“Food is the problem and food is the solution.”

I love Ted Talks. And I love the Ted Talk by Ron Finely. I have watched it several times and passed it along to others and his delivery gets me every time. Just the title alone piques one’s interest.

Ron speaks about living in a food desert in South Central LA and what he and others have done through gardening to change lives. Here is the crazy act he and LA Green Grounds did to almost get arrested: they planted gardens. In a city which owns 26 miles of vacant lots, they created gardens of fruits, vegetables and plants on strips of government land, land which is up to homeowners to maintain.  Not only have the gardens flourished, but the community has as well.

“Growing your own food is like printing your own money. “

Take less than 11 minutes out of your day to watch his thought provoking – and amusing story. It will make you think and it will make you smile. And maybe it will encourage you to go plant something too…