Urban Garden Under Attack in South Los Angeles

UPDATE 8/22/11: Change.org just got word that the hearing about Ron Finley's garden has been postponed until further notice. This is a great sign of progress, and we will update you with more information as it becomes available.

Most of South Central Los Angeles' parkways — plots of public land between the sidewalk and curb — feature nothing more than scraggly patches of grass. But not the parkway in front of Ron Finley's house. The stretch of land near the Crenshaw resident's home is an urban oasis brimming with fresh kale, tomatoes, squash, melons, and a bounty of other fruits and vegetables. Not only does the garden beautify one of the most economically depressed communities in all of L.A., it serves as an education spot for children and even provides neighbors with fresh fruits and veggies.

"It's fresh, healthy, organic food rather than the GMOs and no-flavored stuff at the store that you don’t know where it came from or how far it was trucked," says Finley.

The garden certainly sounds too good to be true. And if the city gets its way, it just might be: Depending on the results of a hearing scheduled for this Friday, August 26th, Finley may be forced to turn his garden back into grass.

Finley started planting the Crenshaw produce patch back in December with the organization he helped create, L.A. Green Grounds, which works to establish gardens throughout South Los Angeles. Finley's fruits and veggies quickly burst into bloom, but in May he received some bad news: City officials issued him a citation for violating city code. Depending on what happens during this Friday's hearing, Finley could be forced to level his garden and replace it with a traditional grass parkway.

Finley received a citation because under city law, parkways cannot be used for agricultural purposes unless residents obtain a permit. Not only are these permits exceedingly difficult and time-consuming to attain, they're expensive: Permits cost upwards of $400 — not exactly chump change for a garden that will make no profit.

"It's just stupid to me, especially in L.A., which is always having water shortages," Finley says. "You want people to waste money watering grass and mowing grass. It makes no sense. You can be feeding people."

And that's why Finley and his supporters are putting up a fight. Another member of L.A. Green Grounds, Anne McKnight, started a petition on Change.org asking city officials to let Finley's garden stay. More than 700 folks have signed on so far. McKnight says that supporters will continue to raise awareness about this injustice in the Los Angeles community and will deliver petition signatures to Department of Public Works officials at Friday's hearing.

The activism is already starting to pay off: According to the Los Angeles Times, Finley and L.A. Green Grounds recently found an ally in Councilman Herb Wesson. Wesson committed to introduce a motion to save the Crenshaw garden and implement regulation changes that would make it easier for urban gardeners to utilize the city's vacant land.

And therein lies Finley's real goal: Yes, he wants to save his own garden, but creating city codes that embrace urban gardeners rather than penalize them is what's really necessary to promote food justice in South L.A. "For my little rag-tag bunch of renegade gardeners to be a part of this — it's going to be exciting to see that happen," says Finley. "It would be beautiful if this case sparks a lot of that conversation."

If you would like to help save Finley's garden and make L.A. a more welcome place for urban farmers, please add your name to this petition.

Photo credit: I to Eye via Flickr