Hi Everyone, For people who are new to the list and wondering why so much politics I would highly encourage you to go to your local library and check out 'City Bountiful', it is the big picture. It gives the history of community gardens in North America from the end of the 19th century. The mayor of Detroit actually sold his horse and gave the money to a community group to lease some land from the city. They couldn't get it any other way and apparently the council opposed it. if you read this book you will see that community gardens wax and wane with the economy. Community gardens do better in hard economic times. So that is the silver lining. I guess. When I first came on this list it was kind of depressing because our garden was being threatened with development (it still is) it is zoned commercial and it is being smothered by politics. There is no other site in this area which would serve for a community garden. Things didn't look good. They still don't. But on the list I read about people having wonderful times and doing really nice things with their community gardens. It is like being really hungry and watching others at a banquet. Of course, you are glad that they are getting something to eat. But it hurts. alot of tears have been shed over our garden. I remember sitting in a gardeners kitchen, about 5 of us weeping over the garden. I guess that makes strong communities but too bad bonding couldn't be done in other ways. So, our garden is still on death row. If you read City Bountiful you will find that 96% of community gardens in North America have this in common 'Unstable land tenure'. It has been the thread that runs through the history of community gardens in North America. Land is a non-renewable resource. In 1921 Will Rogers said 'buy land, they are not making it any more'. It is still the same. So if you are fed up with politics on the list serve.... you probably are one of the lucky 4%. And that is great. But 96% of us do not have that luxury. A little support from those with secure land tenure for those with none, would probably be helpful. We are watching places that we love die. It is not easy. Karen
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