When I look out at a field and see it covered in prairie grass, or tilled but not planted, my mind automatically goes to the possibilities for that field or land. It doesn’t just have to be farmland either, but here in the city, I see spaces that used to have homes standing on them, that have now been demolished and removed, leaving a empty lot.

My city, like most I would assume, has recently razed several homes and buildings that have sat vacant for a long time. The buildings have had their copper wiring stolen and anything of value has long since disappeared from these buildings. The hollow shells were in such disrepair that the city was left with little to no choice but to demolish them. I am almost positive that if you were to count these lots as you drove too and from work, that you would see no less than 2 or 3 and the numbers are going up!

When it comes to this land, cities don’t have too many options. They can try to sell it to one of the neighbors, but in this economy, are people looking at buying land? Cities are apprehensive of putting in play grounds or equipment because of liability issues. What I am suggesting is that the board talk with the neighbors that surround this vacant land to gauge their interest in having a gardening plot for their personal use.

If a community garden were to go into these spaces, cities would no longer have to worry about mowing this property, because that aspect could be worked into the contract for participating in the program. Landscaping wouldn’t be an issue, because the raised beds would beautify the space. Most of all, the vacant lot would not become a trash heap, which has been the case in most places. Vacant lots are no one’s responsibility, so people throw out their trash, and if they aren’t the ones throwing out the trash, they aren’t the ones picking it up either. Most people just walk or drive by without picking anything up, because it isn’t their responsibility. Putting a community garden in these places would put the responsibility for care and upkeep on the neighbors.

So, this week as you drive to work, or the store to go shopping, look at these places. These lost places. What would it look like to have 6-8 raised bed community garden in that space? How great would it be to walk or drive by and see food growing in your community and to know that this land that had no purpose and was destined to be nothing forevermore is now a place for people to gather, talk, and most importantly provide a place for families to raise some fresh produce.