Gardening is not a topic that immediately springs to mind when considering progressive politics, or political action. However, after listening to an NPR piece over the weekend about gardening and our national founding fathers—while gardening—I decided to write an article on gardening.
Recently, I rented a house in a, unbeknownst to me, trendy area of the city. Part of the deal on my lease was to receive half-off the first three months rent in return for creating some garden space in the yard. Not a bad deal, considering I really enjoy gardening (one my many passions beyond politics).
Like a child forced to wait to open a gift, I walked the yard each day as the snow melted considering the possibilities. I could put a vegetable garden in this space, morning glories on the chain link fence, and rhododendrons on either the steps leading to the front walk. I wondered what might already be planted the yard; what, beyond the barberry bush (which I promptly removed—they are not fun to manage), a mangled and struggling prairie rose, and two spirea, may be waiting to pop up as the weather changed?
Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed. Nothing beyond a lone lily in a space completely overrun by creeping Charlie and other weeds appeared. Hrrumph…now I will have to buy or acquire all my plants by myself—which can get spendy.
As I waited for the snow to melt so I could start my projects, I took the time to look up my community council to see if there were opportunities to become involved in my immediate neighborhood. As I browsed the website I noticed they held monthly garden committee meeting. Following the link to this committee’s sub-page I came across a notice that the committee planned on holding two evening classes on building rain gardens.
Hmmm…rain gardens? I have never built a rain garden. I was intrigued—for a number of reasons. First, rain gardens utilize plants native to the area, which provides a gardener the challenge of building an attractive space with a limited variety of plants and color combinations. Second, it is an environmentally positive form of gardening, as the native plants are particularly suited to help filter pollutants from rain water and reduce the ill effects of grey-water on the local water table and lakes. Lastly, as the snow melted I noticed small pools of water in the basement of my rental, and I wondered if I couldn’t build a rain garden where the landscaping drained water away from, instead of toward, the house.
Shortly after inquiring and signing up for the classes, I noticed a small ad in the community newspaper offering grant money for people who were doing home improvements that could help the community watershed—in particular rain barrels and rain gardens.
I sent off an email to the contact listed in the ad and she, in turn, referred me to a member of the watershed management organization in my community. After communicating with the watershed management contact person, I made an appointment for him to come out the property to help me best determine a location for my rain garden (a process required for grant funds application). I also contacted the local organization that marks any underground services that may present dangerous situations if I were to hit one with a shovel—that was yesterday.
Tonight is my first rain garden class and I am excited to get this project off the ground.
While a couple of the reasons for engaging in this project are personal, programs that allow us to take individual action to promote and participate in positive land stewardship are definitely rooted in the progressive ideal and cause.
Check your community councils out and see if there are any progressive programs, such the rain garden program I am exploring right now, in your area. There are a host of (cheep or free) programs, such as composting programs, neighborhood gardens, urban farming space, in the greater metro area where I reside alone.
I will periodically post follow up articles, eventually with pictures as this project gets underway and I actually get to get my hands dirty. Check back often.