Food Not Lawns Inspiration at Eco Farm

Each year being an employee at CCOF affords me the luxury of attending the Ecological Farming Conference at Asilomar conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California. It is such a beautiful spot of the world and the conference itself is super awesome, too. People interested in sustainable agriculture from all over the world come here to meet and discuss the future of our food supply.

This year I attended some awesome sessions including one on Food Not Lawns, which is a concept derived from permaculture ideas. There is house in Santa Cruz that I used to pass each day on my way to work that used to have all grass in their front yard until over a year ago, it was dug up and a rotation of fruits, vegetables and flowers now grows. From the book Food Not Lawns, by Heather Flores:

Whether you live in an apartment, in the suburbs, on a farm, or anywhere in between, growing food is the first step toward a healthier, more self-reliant, and ultimately more ecologically sane life. Gardening may seem like just a hobby to many people, but in fact growing food is one of the most radical things you can do: Those who control our food control our lives and when we take that control back into our own hands, we empower ourselves toward autonomy, self-reliance, and true freedom.

From having a “seed ball” party and scattering seeds all over the town, to growing tomato and zucchini starts and putting them out on the sidewalk as “free plants,” I came away from the session totally inspired. I’m ready to fill up that small patch of lawn in front of my apartment with growing food and get my hands in the dirt! Spring is almost here!