A hollow victory for urban gardening movement
When I first heard about current plans to build a "Victory Garden" in Civic Center Plaza -- which will be officially planted tomorrow at 10 a.m. in a ceremony featuring Mayor Gavin Newsom and Alice Waters, the pioneering restaurateur who founded Slow Food Nation -- I thought it was a really cool idea. Here was the city of San Francisco giving some of its most prime and high profile real estate over to the urban gardening movement, which seeks alternatives to the fossil fuel dependent industrialized food system.
And the Victory Garden concept is great, conjuring up the collective commitment to our national interests that inspired patriotic citzens to plant gardens during the two world wars. Sure, the logistics of tending and securing the garden might be tough, but Newsom seemed to be making a commitment to put city resources behind this important symbolic statement.
Then I heard that they're going to rip out the garden in a couple months, in my mind reducing the garden to a mere photo op for our jolly green would-be governor. Ick. Just what this country needs, another hollow gesture toward environmental sustainability rather than the bold collective action that we actually need to tackle serious problems like climate change, resource depletion, and a wasteful, polluting, and ineffective global food system.
"While we would love for the garden to be permanent,it is true that the Victory Garden is temporary, and is being used as a demonstration and educational centerpiece for Slow Food Nation, taking place over Labor Day Weekend," event spokesperson Naomi Starkman wrote to me when I asked about the temporary garden (the mayor's press office still hasn't responded to my inquiry).
She said the Victory Garden project will seek out about 15 diverse households to plant more permanent gardens, something that it will be incorporate into the event in August. And she sees value to even having a temporary garden in Civic Center Plaza, for which her group is covering the roughly $180,000 in costs.
"The goal and mission of the Victory Garden is to spur to action the future of urban food production. By having the support of the City, and presenting a garden in City Hall's backyard, we intend to inform, educate and inspire citizens to learn to grow their own food and to get involved with local organizations doing just that. It is a huge civic statement that we hope translates into city-wide programs, indeed, into a national trend for cities to support this type of agriculture," Starkman wrote.
Indeed, if Newsom and other city officials wanted to make a real commitment to support this effort, they would pursue a citywide program of supporting community gardens (which keep getting ripped up these days) and doing a survey of what surplus city properties could be turned into gardens that might still be there after the television crews have gone.
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Comments (6)
Right On! We should all contact Alice Waters through Slow Food Nation
http://slowfoodnation.org/contact-us
and ask her to insist that the garden be situated in a permanent location.
This absurd and typically hollow Gavin Greenwash moment should be challenged vociferously!
Posted by Eric Brooks | July 11, 2008 01:09 PM
Let's all show up in our slug and snail costumes and eat all of the seedlings.
Of course, as the City prepares to radically upzone most of the sunny east side, how many yards and parcels will be permanently relegated to eternal shade?
And if my garden is any indication, the amount of pruning and composting of plant material--that is fixed carbon from the atmosphere--if multiplied citywide, would represent a significant portion of the City's carbon sequestration budget.
To what extent would upzoning exacerbate climate change due to eliminating carbon sequestration sites?
Can't wait to see THAT in a photo op.
-marc
Posted by marc | July 11, 2008 02:13 PM
What baffles me is that the mayor is supporting this project, but at the same time siccing his Real Estate Department on the nearby Heart of the City Farmers' Market.
While the department has backed off taking over the market for now, the last I heard, the proposed changes to the lease (for the use of the plaza) may make it necessary for the non-profit that runs the market to raise booth fees for farmers. Especially with gas prices increasing, this could be a real hardship. I'd hate for some farmers to drop out or have to raise prices.
The way I see it, this market is providing a valuable service in a low-income area with not much in the way of grocery stores, and we shouldn't be jeopardizing it in any way. In my experience, both selling at farmers’ markets and operating them is really hard work, and if anything, we should be making it easier for them to operate in this city, not more difficult.
If you live or work anywhere near the market, go buy some produce and support the farmers. It's open almost all day Wednesdays and Sundays.
In the interest of disclosure, I should mention that I don't work at this market but do volunteer at another San Francisco farmers' market.
Posted by Karen | July 11, 2008 04:05 PM
At my sustainable landscaping company Second Nature Design, www.secondnature.bz, we delawn, reintroduce climate/soil appropriate plants: natives and edibles in particular, crack and reuse concrete/exchange for pervious material-- enough with the stormwater runoff, recycle for decorative purposes, provide water for wingeds, and more. The idea is to do it once and do it correctly, minimize energy use. This staged Victory Garden is a heart- carbon- break Voice up, show up to ensure the Victory Garden remains. On another note, I want to know if folks are interested in prototype front gardens that will be economical, low-maintenance, provide habitat, look good, work in the many City micro-climates? Write and let me know. Green wishes, Alma
Posted by Alma | July 12, 2008 06:38 AM
It would also be prudent for Mayor Gavin Newsom not to mess with the U.N. Plaza, Farmer Market - so that we could make a comparative study with his newly planted organic garden, however small, and what can be purchased in plenty at the U.N. Plaza.
We should also address this Spin opportunity for the Mayor to plant this garden just to prop up his imagine which is not organic - he is so fake - his hair and the words that he spews. And remember this is an interim show case - that stops when his ratings - plum.
I am not for wasting space and money on land that brings in the bugs, the rats, allows the dogs to pee on veggies - while all the time the Mayor says everything in the garden - he did not plant and less cares for is - organic
Posted by Francisco Da Costa | July 12, 2008 10:41 AM
Marc has a good point here -- while I understand the need for urban infill housing, you upzone the neighborhoods and you destroy backyard gardens and green space. Taller building mean less sun on the ground -- and in San Francisco, it's tough enough to grow vegetables that need sun as it is. (My poor tomatoes have suffered from fog and shadows for so long that I don't even try anymore.)
Posted by tim redmond | July 12, 2008 09:59 PM