"The Wild" : Community Gardens in Philadelphia

Mill Creek Farm (Philadelphia, PA)

In the empty lot - a place
not natural, but wild- among
the trash of human absence,

the slough and shamble
of the city's seasons, a few
old locusts bloom.

A few woods birds
fly and sing
in new foliage
- warblers and tanagers, birds
wild as leaves: in a million
each one would be rare,

new to the eyes. A man
couldn't make a habit
of such color,

such flight and singing.
But they are the habit of this
wasted place.  In them

the ground is wise.  They are
its remembrance of what it is.

                                                                                                         - Wendell Berry

Although community gardens are not environmental issues but in fact a solution for urban environmental problems.  I think it is important to include this post because it shows that humans are making progress.  I feel like this poem by Wendell Berry, titled, The Wild demonstrates how much progress humans have made.  Much like the beautiful birds see the potential in the lot, community gardeners have also displayed this feeling of optimism and wisdom in the land. These gardens transform unused lots from trash filled wastelands to farms which harvest fresh produce and supply the surrounding areas with good food.  In particular, the Mill Creek Farm(pictured above) was a vacated lot in West Philadelphia, resembling the lot described in The Wild when some women figured it would be beneficial to convert it into a small community farm.  These gardens serve a very unique and necessary function in urban communities.  For example, in less fortunate areas of the city, some kids have no access to grocery stores or fresh vegetables. By having access to fresh fruits and vegetables poor inner city  children will have better nutrition and overall health. They can also provide educational experiences for students who might have no agricultural knowledge. Projects like these can educate children in urban areas and help them to be good stewards.  Mill Creek Farm is just 1 of about 400 small community gardens in the Philadelphia area. It is nice to see success stories like this one in the environmental field where so much of the news seems to be negative.  If there is any interest in getting involved in a community garden in the Philadelphia area, here is a link with some additional information on how to volunteer http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/aboutus/volunteer.html