More Than An Appealing Space

While it is nice to have space that are designated simply for the appeal of beauty and something different than concrete and buildings, urban naturalization spaces can do more than one might think. Food scarcity, food deserts, gentrification, community gardens, and urban naturalization is a group of both issues and potential solutions to these issues. In America today, poverty is a very real issue that is not going away and has existed for quite some time. The Documentary "A Place At The Table" gives a glimpse into the lives of those who experience this daily.

(A Place At The Table)

A solution to this may very well be urban naturalization spaces in cities that are able to plant native species in urban areas where poverty is high and fresh food is scarce and when it is present it is too expensive for those on government assistance to afford. By creating green spaces in cities where minority communities can come together to grow their own food poverty has a greater chance of affecting families less. Families can come together with others to learn about taking care of the earth, growing plants in ways that are affordable, sustainable and successful. While doing this they can join in a movement that is gaining momentum and help those around them survive the difficulty of finding fresh food. Additionally, this benefits urban naturalization in cities that have little to no green spaces so that all can enjoy an area beyond concrete and buildings. One city working to do this is Denver with their program, Denver Urban Gardens. 

DUG Garden Map

In the Denver metro area alone, one could easily find a community garden to contribute to and benefit from as well as meeting this already in the community just like them. This also benefits families with children who can begin learning about earth and the environment as well as producing sustainable plants while living in a city. A hands on ecological and science experience can only serve to benefit many.

DUG Instagram

To learn more about community gardens in cities, watch the video below and continue exploring for yourself what programs exist in your city and if there are none, what you many be able to do to bring this to your community!

(Growing Fresh Food In The City)

In case you wanted some ideas to start with, Gigi Stafne "Homeland Food Insecurity and Down to the Ground Food Activism" has these to get you started:

"Here are 30 ways that people can get involved in the down to the ground foodie movement. The author encourages and inspires you to take action.
Do it for the health of the planet, the health of your family...for yourself:
Buy from organic farms
Purchase food shares, join a CSA*
Get active with a local food co-op
Visit & support Farmer's Markets
Eat whole foods & local produce
Shop for value-added products
Donate healthy food to the Food Pantry
Serve up meals at Community Kitchens
Transform the menu to include local food & organics:
Schools, colleges, nursing homes, employer food services
Eat out at locavore food establishments
Host events with local organic caterers
Read what food bloggers are saying
Transform your backyard: food not lawns
Grow anarchist plots: guerilla garden
Restore native plants
Grow a medicinal herb garden
Take a wild edibles or weed walk with the local herbalist 
Volunteer to co-create gardens with kids
Shop local, grow community economy
Save seeds (heirloom, non-GMO, native)
Preserve culturally diverse heritages & traditions
Be active in the small farm revival
Support biodiversity, organics, permaculture, biomimicry projects 
Support urban agriculture
Volunteer at a prison garden
Build raised beds for elderly neighbors
Become a wilder, forager!
Ensure egalitarian access to whole foods:
Join a food justice organization
*there's a trend to rename CSA's Community Sustaining Agriculture"