There is a Celtic monastic tradition that talks about “the lost places of empire.” I really believe that this applies directly to urban gardening. No place is more lost or more neglected than the average American’s yard. Sure it looks nice and has green grass, but is it really necessary or is it one more way that Americans are privileged?

We don’t have to worry about food production, but we are reliant upon other to do it for us. We rely upon farmers, and corporations and lots of people we do not know; just for us to have food. Is that being responsible?

It’s not just our personal yards that can be labeled as lost places. Next time you drive somewhere; take a look around and see how much green space is just sitting there, under-used. Office buildings, college campuses, and churches seem to be some pretty big offenders. How great would it be to walk out of the door of your work and pick 2 or 3 fresh tomatoes from a raised gardening bed, rather than driving to the store to buy them? Or the fixings for a salad? Green beans? There are lots of vegetables that can be grown with a minimal amount of space or effort. Not only that, but they look great too. Who says that gardens can’t be pretty? Anything is better than the same old grass and shrubs you see house after house, office complex and office complex, block after block, city after city.

For the past couple of months, I have been part of building a large community garden. The location is prime real estate. However, it isn’t developed, nor will it be for 5-7 years. A person with some connections and a big dream got the ball rolling, and contacted the land developer. They agreed that the space should be used for a community garden, and 2 months and lots of effort later; we are looking at 48 raised beds on that corner.

This is a great example of a lost place that was reclaimed. Families that don’t have any yard space to grow a garden, because of size, or shade issues, now have a place that they can grow organic vegetables. Not only is it helping them, but 10% of what that space produces goes to an organization that helps people within that same community that can’t afford to feed their families. Everyone wins.

It’s about responsibility. The spaces are lost places of empire. They need to be reclaimed and in doing so; we help countless people be more responsible for their own lives and the food that they eat.

Think about your own spaces that can be labeled as lost places of empire. Dream about it. Envision a garden with red peppers, green beans, big, lush heads of lettuce, and cucumbers and tomato plants climbing up a white trellis. It’s pretty; it’s functional, and it’s reclaiming a lost place.

Begin the process of reclaiming a lost place today. Dream.