04/26/05


South Central Farmers

There’s a farm in the middle of the city! A real farm; where people grow food to eat and plants to heal. A place where people feel connected to the earth and to their community.

This year when I heard about a farm event to commemorate Earth Day at 41st and Alameda in L.A., it seemed like maybe here was a way we could begin to learn about real alternatives to the way we live, and find some real answers to our questions of what to do to change and save our planet. I knew that poor people in the middle of the Industrial section of Los Angeles, mostly immigrants who grew up close to the land in their own countries, would somehow have a greater grasp of the importance of maintaining real connection to it than people who are several generations removed from that reality. I wasn’t disappointed.

In the middle of South Central L.A.’s gray Industrial section, surrounded by warehouses and truck parking lots, there is a community run farm. In an unused section of land taken over by residents of the community after the inner-city riots 13 years ago, 360 farmers and their families farm divided plots and grow foods indigenous to their native lands of Mexico and Central America; healing plants, and just about any fruit and vegetable you can think of. These family plots, green and lush, supplement the caloric intake of the farmers and their families while additionally providing their surplus to the local residents. Additionally, the children are taught the art of farming by their elders, providing these kids with a rich tradition sorely lacking to most of city bred kids, giving them a sense of our connection to the earth and teaching them real skills by working the land.

This is a very cool place; a place I had never heard of, and judging by all the people I heard say, “Wow! This place is amazing! How come I‘ve never heard of it?”….I can safely say that I wasn‘t alone. We were given tours of the plots along with indigenous lore of some of the plants, lessons on inventive ways of creating scarecrows with strips of video tape stretched over the greenery, shown fencing created by recycled materials from the neighborhood, and fed salad made with greens grown on the farm using organic growing techniques.

This wonderful place, created with labor and love, is in danger of being taken away from the people who have worked it for so long to make way for a development project. The farmers who have created it and loved this land all this time need the communities awareness and support to help them win the battle and continue with this wonderful project; a true sustainable example of how we can begin to create a new consciousness and way of life.

The farm is on the corner of 41st and Alameda, and people are working it every day if anyone wants to go see it, talk to the farmers or buy produce.

Additionally, the South Central Farmers can be reached at 818-255-1483, written to at:
7309 Clybourn Ave. Suite #1
Sun Valley, CA 01352

Or at their web site,
www.saveourgarden.com.
There is also an online petition at:
www.petitiononline.com/lagarden/petition.html