On Guerrilla Gardening

Guerrilla Gardening

Once in a while a book so exciting and inspiring comes along that far from being unable to put it down, the reader can't wait to put it back on the shelf get up and take action. On Guerrilla Gardening by Richard Reynolds is such a book. Rather than just write a straightforward review when there are already so many out there I wanted to show how it's inspired me to transform not only a tiny little strip of land outside my home but neglected patches throughout Glasgow.

Since reading it I have been inspired to turn my hand to a spot of Guerrilla Gardening. Early indications are that Satre was right when he said 'hell is other people', not that I'm going to let myself be put off by the cretinous actions of others. This is War! More conventional gardeners battle slugs and the cat next door whereas my foes are of the human variety. I'm determined to win and if they don't stop I'm going to start growing cress on their doormats.

Oh and for those that don't know Guerrilla Gardening is gardening illicitly on other peoples neglected land.

On this lens you'll find pictures, links and shops of interest as well as regular updates on all my first Guerrilla Gardening projects.

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

What to eat, what not to eat, and how to think abo more...0 points

Gardening Books

Guerrilla Gardening: A Ma...

Guerrilla Gardening: How...

On Guerrilla Gardening: A...

Food Not Lawns: How to Tu...

Grow Your Own Veg (Rhs)

My Guerrilla Garden : Before

Picture Taken Thursday 19th June 2008

Having been inspired by Richard Reynolds' book On Guerrilla Gardening and long been heartily sick of the communal area bin area behind my flats being turned into a vast dump by people too thick, anti-social and inconsiderate to put their rubbish in the bin. I decided the area could do with the Guerrilla treatment. As this 'before' shot shows I've got my work cut out.

My Guerrilla Garden: A Start

Picture Taken 19th June 2008

As you can see there is still tons to do but I've managed to clear some of the rubbish by putting it in the bins provided. Incredibly when the first picture was taken all the available bins were empty!

On the plus side I have managed to cut back that peculiar tree/bush thing. It has to go -chiefly because it gives me the creeps but also because the roots seem to be growing into the building which probably isn't terribly healthy. Besides I need all the space I can get for more exciting things like, flowers and herbs.

My Guerrilla Garden: In The Dark

Picture Taken June 24th 2008

Well I've finally got the rest of the rubbish and the scary tree cleared. I've put down some compost planted a multitude of night scented stock, wildflowers, lavender, jasmine, Virginian stock, nasturtium, pansies and impatiens.

You can't see them yet because it's dark and most of them are still seeds. There is still much more to follow.

My Guerrilla Garden : In The Light

Picture Taken June 25th 2008

As you can see things look a bit better. An aggressive leafleting campaign of the neighbours has got them using the bins again so the path is pretty clear, though a combination of rain and stray paper has left it's mark. I've put some good compost down on a section planted hundreds of seeds a Jasmine vine, some lavender and an unidentified plant which despite the labeling I think might be a houseplant. The far corner still needs gutted and is bizarrely ankle deep in a red clay like substance which I don't have the means to dispose of yet.

My Guerrilla Garden: Meet The Lavender

Picture Taken June 25th 2008

I wish I could convey to you how lovely this smells. It's even managing to overpower the smell of the bins -long may that continue.

My Guerrilla Garden: Getting There

Picture Taken 26th June 2008

As you can see I'm slowly getting closer to something resembling a garden. Since my last update I've planted daisies, alpine plants, cress and ivy. I've still to take delivery of some cuttings from my mothers garden and I'm quite keen to get some foxgloves and mint in then all I need to do is keep it watered and wait for my seeds to sprout.

My Guerrilla Garden: New Stuff

Picture Taken 1st of July 2008

Things are looking a good bit greener thanks to a fine selection of plants donated by my mother. I've also added a black cutleaf elder at the front which is reputed to ward off evil spirits.

My Guerrilla Garden: Seven Weeks On

Picture Taken 05/08/08

As you can see the garden is getting greener -thanks in part to a very wet summer. The seeds are coming on a treat -despite a couple of attacks on the garden by some rubbish dumping pest. That said most people have been very supportive -donating plants, offering a water supply or just stopping to say well done.

Garden Auctions

Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by

Guerrilla Gardening Gallery

Richard Reynolds at...

Ripristino vasconi v...

Nicole Fournier | Li...

Gina Badger | In The...

Powered by Flickr

Guerrilla Gardening Gear

Links

Guerrilla Gardening: Forums, information and blog

The Latest From Brussels Farmer

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Swot Up On Guerrilla Gardening

Guerrilla gardening is political gardening, a form of direct action, primarily practiced by environmentalists. It is related to land rights, land reform, and permaculture. Activists take over ("squat") an abandoned piece of land which they do not own to grow crops or plants. Guerrilla gardeners believe in re-considering land ownership in order to reclaim land from perceived neglect or misuse and assign a new purpose to it.

Some guerrilla gardeners carry out their actions at night, in relative secrecy, to sow and tend a new vegetable patch or flower garden. Others work more openly, seeking to engage with members of the local community, as illustrated in the examples that follow. It has grown into a form of proactive activism or pro-activism.

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

Guerrilla Gardening Blogs

Van Ness Guerrilla Garden - New Photos | Socal Guerrilla Gardening: late 2008 I watered the Van Ness garden on 7-5-09 and shot a few photos. The plants have grown quite a bit as you can see from the pictures.
Guerrilla Gardening: Guerrilla Gardening may begin as an illicit activity of just planting in a certain area. In a way the thrill of guerrilla gardening is a combination of the illicit activity and the action of improving the local environment. ...
Guerrilla gardening: Lots to eat, and legal, too | McClatchy: Kelda Miller is an organic gardener who tends more than her own plot. She picks produce in other people's gardens in exchange for some tending _ with permission, of course. extra description.
Guerrilla gardening around town: Guerrilla gardening has its devotees around town, part of Le Devoir's look at alternative urban agriculture this weekend.

Powered by Google

The Weather

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Comments

Lensmaster

Clairwil wrote...

That's fantastic although we in Scotland don't quite have the climate for succulents!

Posted April 06, 2009

Lensmaster

paperfacets wrote...

I love this kind of movement. Read about it in the LA Times. A guy has been doing this in Long Beach CA for awhile. He puts cactus and succulents in because we only get 9 inches of rain here.

Posted February 06, 2009

Lensmaster

poutine wrote...

Will check it out soon.

Posted January 06, 2009

Browse My Other Lenses

Onions

Onions are the bad boy of the vegetable world. They stink, they make make you cry but my God they're delicious. Salad Onions, scallions, spring onions, pickled onions, red onions, brown onions, shallots or white onions. I love them all. It would pr...

The Ten Thousand Bulb Challenge

The Glasgow Guerrilla Gardeners have decided to make Spring 2010 the most colourful ever but we can't do it without flowers. To help us achieve our goal we have decided to launch the Ten Thousand Bulb Challenge. Our primary aims in creating this lens...

Portobello : A Little Slice Of East Coast Heaven

Portobello is a quiet beach resort situated about three miles from Edinburgh City Centre. It has been a beach resort since the 18th Century and remains a fantastic place to visit even today. Below you'll find pictures, useful links, clips and informa...

The Green Fairy

Absinthe is a strong spirit distilled with wormwood, anise and aromatic herbs. Absinthe is probably best known for its popularity in late 19th and early 20th century Paris, in particular amongst artists, musicians, writers and bohemians. On this len...

Turkish Vegetarian Cooking

Turkish food is an intriguing blend of Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Balkan cuisine. Add in to that the many regional variations and specialities and you have a cuisine it is virtually impossible to grow tired of. On this lens you'll find...

On Guerrilla Gardening

Guerrilla Gardening

Index