The Beauty of City Gardens

It’s amazing to think that in a city as large as Seattle gardens can flourish. My ‘Anthropology of Food’ class had the chance to explore the University of Washington area and view surrounding gardens. The garden plots aren’t large in comparison to large farms in flat lands down country roads. However, in a city such as Seattle, the idea that a garden can survive and supply food to people is truly amazing.

There is also the idea of the guerrilla gardens, which is by far a very progressive idea that will hopefully inspire more people. Earth conscious citizens began plotting plants and growing gardens outside of a sanctioned plotting area, to help grow awareness of the need to begin growing food locally and organically.

Both the guerrilla gardens and the p-pods (the plots of gardens within and around Seattle) are inspirational. They show people that changes can be made, big or small. That even in a large city such as Seattle, there is no excuse not to grow food organically. To utilize any open space for gardening and food is a far more productive action than to grow grass and weeds.

Gardens full of flowers are beautiful, but plants that can be used for food and aesthetic reasons are just as beautiful and add more to ones environment.