Here’s the scenario: the civic authorities have decided to install a home garden somewhere in the centre of the city. This is in a country with a very conservative attitude to its food culture, where tradition runs deep (although not as deep as to recognize that several staples of the cuisine arrived as interlopers from other lands, roughly 500 years ago.) And because your organization is based in that same city, and has a reputation for knowing about agricultural biodiversity and home gardens, the authorities have asked you to contribute in some way.
You don’t exactly know why the civic authorities are constructing the garden, although you suspect it has something to do with being seen to be green, to care about food and about diversity. And you don’t know what they want, either, or what kind of experience they are planning to offer the visiting public. A gawp at vegetables in the ground rather than in plastic? Surely not. The country hasn’t lost its agrarian roots that completely. Edumacashun? Yeah, but what is the message? You also don’t know what they want. Advice? Expertise? Something to give to visitors?
So you decide to offer them plants that might be found in a home garden far away, specifically, the nutritious African leafy vegetables that you’ve been promoting for better health, incomes and environmental sustainability. But you fear that the civic authorities might not be too keen. You fear they are likely to say something like: “Why should we plant your strange African vegetables in a garden here? What’s the point?”
What one, killer argument would you offer to persuade them?
Cultural exchange and ecological co-operation.
Or is that two arguments?
It’s two, but what do you mean by ecological cooperation?
If it’s about showing up as “green, caring about food and diversity,” can you also appeal to their desire to be viewed as caring about their diverse constituents? Do you have demographics on the number of Asians in the community? This gives them a small way to be inclusive without making major policy changes (insert disgusted look here). That seems to sway most civic authorities.
Interesting thought, but I don’t think it would work here. In Birmingham, it has …
Because you can, perhaps?
To represent the globalised world that we live in, and the globalised reality of agriculture: that every single plate of food that we eat comes from all corners of the earth. Pasta? Eggs from SE Asian domesticated chickens, plus durrum wheat from some place east (?). Pesto sauce: you ge tthe picture.
You suggested ALV already? I would be tempted to do an Italian HG – 20 kinds of zucca, a billion kinds of tomato, cicerchie, some CWR even, different kinds of snails (I am thinking of my friend’s HG – he has loads of snails which they eat!) all in one small space (and have some Italian chickens roaming around too!), and throw in a couple of those interesting ‘heritage’ fruit trees.
Why1? Because although Italians generally are foodies, they have no idea of the richness of their HGs. They may well think ‘well of course they have different veg in Africa’, whereas if you have a mosaic of colourful and wonderful Italian things – that will wow them. Have you seen the lovely community garden Gea Galluzzi was involved in in Santa Fiora in Tuscany? Why2? Because those fab varieties are disappearing as they are all kept by old folks.
However, if you are committed to ALV I will apply myself to coming up with a winning argument for that. :)
As for why they are doing it, any ‘lifestyle’ or cooking magazine you pick up these days has an article on city gardens, roof top gardens, herbs on your balcony, a pig in the bathroom. Blame the recession plus a desire to eat more 0-km veg and it is easy to see why. It is the 70s again. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Hmmm, well, it was just a couple of buzzwords strung together for committee speak approval but how about
Ecological co-operation: A willingness to learn about and foster plants, materials and other culturally significant artefacts and traditions from alternative cultures in the interest of conservation, propagation and mutual benefits.
The point is, look at what urban agriculture can acheive! Use it as a living, breathing, growing example of what others do with their garden space. It is a simple argument, but allows you to then list the many benefits of growing your own food, and will hopefully help those who visit make the leap that maybe it is possible in their own backyards.
Do the civic authorities have plans yet for the food grown in the garden?
Well, I don’t know if this would win–but here’s what I’d consider: find local cultural restaurants that use the items and get them to “sponsor” the plot. Cities love to demonstrate support for their local businesses. If you don’t have the necessary restaurants, you might get some buy-in from a historical group that serves the descendants of the group?
Get the decision-makers to take a look at what the people of Todmorden in Yorkshire, UK are doing… their Incredible Edible splash across this small town is inspirational – involving all members of the community growing all types of foods… http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/resources …