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Pistil-Packin' Guerrilla Gardeners Strike LA

Green activists stealthily plant food and flowers on unused urban acreage

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 30, 2008 10:51 AM CDT
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(Newser) – "Guerrilla gardeners" armed with plants are stealthily greening neglected and forgotten patches of land in Los Angeles and other cities across the nation. The furtive horticulturalists have nighttime planting parties or "seed bombings" and turn corners of the city into flower or food gardens, reports the Los Angeles Times. In Long Beach, a traffic island has blossomed into a dazzling display of flowers.

"We can make much more out of the land than how it's being used—whether it's about creating food or beautifying it," said the LA movement's ringleader. "I want to encourage more people to think about land in this way and get out there and do it."

Guerrilla gardeners at work.
Guerrilla gardeners at work.   (hvanstappen)
Guerrilla gardening activists see themselves as modern Johnny Appleseeds, harvesting food from forgotten and formerly unutilized land.
Guerrilla gardening activists see themselves as modern Johnny Appleseeds, harvesting food from forgotten and formerly unutilized land.   ((c) jspatchwork)
Guerrilla gardeners in cities around the world are planting on neglected land to make their cities greener places.
Guerrilla gardeners in cities around the world are planting on neglected land to make their cities greener places.   (Shutter Stock)
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Seed bombs add color to cities
Telegraph (UK)

Some guerrilla gardening tips
Guerrillagardening.org

 
Los Angeles • gardening • cities • public land • activists

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