Community Gardens

[Guest guest]

You bring up a great point . There are ways that even very small

communities could support each other by creating co-op gardens and

food clubs. Anyone could start the conversation. It would probably take

a lot of time and planning. There's no instant solution here.

Austin has had community garden access for apartment or small lot

dwellers for years. It works.

It's a decision that takes follow through. Much easier to just complain! LOL

Garnet

wrote:

>

>

> Hi Ann. Yes--we are certainly screwed up health wise and it IS due to food

> more than health care itself--although that is horrendous. It is a crime

> what food manufacturers put into the products.

>

> I was talking in general about having access to grocery stores and food

> choices. Your situation is not that common in comparison with the whole of

> the united states, which we were talking about in a generalized

> manner. I'm

> sure parts of the unpopulated west your situation is far more common than

> the rest of the country. So yes--there are certain people where good food

> and even decent simple whole food products are not available. But this is

> not the reason so many Americans are overweight and unhealthy. Your

> situation would constitute a small minority. I live outside of San

> 8th largest city in america--where there is handicap accessible

> transportation, decent grocery stores usually within 5 miles of each other

> and a fast food joint on every corner and one of the highest

> percentages of

> diabetes in the US. Are these people eating healthy home cooked food or

> eating out at junk food places? Statistics speak for themselves.

>

> THAT is what I was referring to. I'm sorry that you felt I was talking

> about every single person no matter their situation, in the whole of the

> united states. I wasn't.

>

> If we wanted to get that specific I could say that even apartment dwellers

> can have window sill gardens. There are many books on it. Sprouting is

> super healthy and takes no space at all. There are ways around the

> situations if a person is truly dedicated. Note--I did not say it was easy

> to do. I did not say it is within everyone's ability. But, if we are

> talking about even small groups of people there are always ways to do

> things

> Even community gardens sponsored by churches or other organizations. Some

> schools grow food and give to certain groups. It takes effort, certainly.

> And for the towns that don't have that, even one person can make a

> difference by starting such a group--or if they are physically unable to

> start such a group, suggesting it to others.

>

> Yes, there will always be those certain people where even this is

> physically

> too much for them, and they are in a position of aloneness. Still--again,

> we were talking about the majority of the American people.

>

> Samala,

>

>