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this story makes me sad

01 Oct

I read it in the Fresno Bee today. There is enough blame to spread around on balls being dropped all over the place.

I think this will be a rolling post so expect some more later… just don’t expect too hard.

 
7 Comments

Posted in life in da Big NO

 

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  1. heather

    October 1, 2008 at 11:00 am

    that sucks.

    : {

    heather – yep.

     

  2. Mariposa

    October 1, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    I want to rant about it…but well…and I also want to write it about…but well…I just did the post I promise last week…so that is the pace I am at right now…

    I know, I said Friday…but since I’d be up til later for our HNT anyway…I opted to do it today…not as nice as you did it though!

    But really…that is awful!

    Mariposa – it is. Though thank you for posting the petition link on your blog.

     

  3. Cosima

    October 1, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    When I visited in May, empty lots were in abundant supply in Fresno. I am sure there are other places nearby where police stations can be build?

    I practically grew up in an allotment garden that my family rented for little money from the city of Berlin. In Germany, these small gardens are very common at the edge of towns, along railway lines, or on former wasteland.

    They were first established in the 19th century to increase the health of poor working class people living in squalid inner city housing. People were able to spend time in the sun and grow their own food. During the two world wars they were vital for the food supply of city inhabitants.

    They are still as popular as ever, and I am very thankful that we had this little green spot when I grew up. It was were the whole extended family met, and where I played with friends. It was also were I learnt about nature, plants, insects, and animals, and as a grown-up I am still very thankful for that opportunity.

    Our garden made way for a new highway ten years ago. In Germany too, city officials tend to go the easiest route when building new infrastructure, and that route often goes through allotment gardens on community land. However, my parents received monetary compensation (for house and plants) and were able to buy a leasehold for a new garden. Which is fine, but my heart is still on that plot of land where I spent so much time as a child.

    I also take fault with the argument that these gardens do not benefit the whole community. Every garden with plants in it does, because it is a piece of nature as opposed to a dusty, empty lot, or concrete. And if city officials want to do more good for the community, why not encourage more of these gardens around town? The beauty of them is that they don’t require a lot of money. Certainly not $4 million like the park that was planned. Just empty land, which Fresno seems to have a lot of.

    … just my 4 cents as an out-of-towner.

    Cosima – you are right! That is worth so much more than 4 cents. As much as I love this place community development is not a forte around here.

     

  4. karim

    October 2, 2008 at 5:07 am

    I was looking at some courgettes (zucchini) that we had pulled from our garden and it came to me more clearly than ever that our lives depend on what we can grow. And I am so tired of people ‘seeing the big picture’ and tearing down small things that work.

    karim – aye, especially when the “big picture” is based on how it worked elsewhere instead of cultivating what arises organically from the community itself.

     

  5. daveo

    October 2, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    I think what is saddest is that is wasn’t reported on until after it was too late. It was a nice story but why now? Why not when plans were still in the works to keep the garden and expand it? Sorry for the rant but it’s just another shining example of the waste that is our media. Instead of trying to shape the news they should stick to reporting it – in a timely manner. It would be far more effective.

     

  6. Abe

    October 3, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    This story is awful but I don’t know that’s it’s too late. We all need to show solidarity and do something about this. The article said they had til Nov. 1, that gives us a month, we need to organize and stop this. I’m not sure how but I’m working on it.

     

  7. Harriet Russell

    July 29, 2010 at 11:30 am

    small gardens are very cute and could be well managed easily. we have 2 small gardens at home.~;-