Random Acts of Guerrilla Gardening

Gardening
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We’ve all heard of committing random acts of kindness (what a glorious thing), but what about random acts of gardening? Guerrillagardening.org, based in London, provides plenty of inspiration, as well as tips and a community forum on transforming neglected public spaces into flourishing gardens, renegade-style, after dark. Their motto is “Let’s fight the filth with forks and flowers.” Be sure to check out founder Richard Reynolds’ videos on the Guerrilla Gardening YouTube channel, featuring a great little interview with Richards’ guerrilla gardening 93-year-old grandmother. Inspirational! (Thanks, Laura!)

2 thoughts on “Random Acts of Guerrilla Gardening

  1. Bob Pippin says:

    Hi,
    I guerilla garden in Virginia. When the state puts in a new off/on ramp, I bomb it with seed balls, just to make it a little nicer looking for people on their way to and from wherever. The state just puts down contractors grass and hay. They let nature do the rest, but it takes nature a while to repair the damage to a hillside. I also bomb construction sites. This used to not be an issue, but with the economy, we have several places that were cleared, and even had storm drains put in, but they have sat for a few years untouched, and become an eyesore. Anyway, the reason I am writing is to tell you what I have done recently. I sent 50 seed balls, which contain native flower seeds and two to three black oil sunflower seeds each, in a flat rate ($5.35) postal box, and $10 to an organization called Ransomed Heart in Colorado Springs. I did this because I remember seeing Mt. St. Helens 2 years after the devastation, and it still looked so bleak. I thought by sending seed balls to someone in Colorado to plant in the spring, may not replace the lost homes, but may just make things look a little brighter this coming spring and summer. A little bit of color can really make a difference in such a bleak environment. I sent only drought hardy native seed, because they have the best chance of survival and should not be invasive. I included the black oil sunflower seed, so it would grow into a food source for birds and small animals. Squirrels, chipmunks, and other animals may take and bury the seed balls as food for next winter, but that is fine, because it will increase the seed balls chance of success and disperse the seed balls over a wider range. So, if you know a person or organization in the Colorado Springs area, then send them some seed balls and maybe a few bucks. They may not need the money, but I am sure they know someone who does.
    Signed,
    The Lone Granger
    “Remember, if we all have a green thumb, then we will have a green planet.”
    “Just plant something!”

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I'm a word nerd who loves to geek out on how emerging technology affects the lexicon. I was an editor on the first 40 volumes of MAKE, and I love shining light on the incredible makers in our community. In particular, covering art is my passion — after all, art is the first thing most of us ever made. When not fawning over perfect word choices, I can be found on the nearest mountain, looking for untouched powder fields and ideal alpine lakes.

Contact me at snowgoli@gmail.com or via @snowgoli.

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