“In our society growing food ourselves has become the most radical of acts. It is truly the only effective protest, one that can – and will – overturn the corporate powers that be. By the process of directly working in harmony with nature, we do the one thing most essential to change the world – we change ourselves.” ― Jules Dervaes
It’s easy to look around at our society and feel pessimistic, even despair. Lord knows I’ve been called a pessimist, and in terms of my outlook on how our society is functioning now and where I see it headed in the future, I live up to that accusation. But even now in the dog days of summer, with a second year in a row of failed rains and record heat temps our harvest is steadily growing. Fruit on the trees fills our hearts as it fills our bellies with the satisfaction that can only be understood by a person who knows the marvel of producing ones own food.
#Guavas, #starfruits, #sugarapples, #figs, #avocados, #mulberries, #passionfruit and #bananas arch down to the earth from their burdened branches as if to say to us, “you fed us, now let us feed to you”. There is joy and serenity in the gardens and food forests that we’ve planted around our little house. A secret garden hidden and surrounded by the hustle and bustle of modern life and it’s suburban sprawl that claims more and more land every day. It’s easy to feel like we’re alone, either too crazy or foolish to reject all the benefits of modern life’s conveniences.
But we are not alone. Though we intrepid urban and suburban growers are few in number, our gardens, ties and communities are growing. We are inspired daily by friends and strangers alike, both near and far trying new techniques, experimenting and sharing their experience and knowledge. We follow hundreds just in Florida alone but here’s a few we love to learn from who inspire us to keep trying, keep planting and keep rebelling.
