The Growing Popularity of #GuerillaGardening
Urban guerilla gardeners are taking direct action against the neglect of public spaces.
"What used to be something of a fringe activity with decidedly illicit undertones has quickly become a mainstream subject and activity. Guerilla gardening is being used to reclaim community spaces, rejuvenate urban areas, and encourage more connection with nature. It’s a phenomenon that gets more popular every year.
"Ever spotted some beautiful plants growing where you least expect them? There’s a good chance that what you've seen is the result of guerilla gardening. Whether it’s a political statement or an attempt to get closer to nature, guerilla gardeners are all around us. And they’re not going away.
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"On the surface, guerilla gardening is very much against the law. It’s trespassing on someone else's property. Even if you’re making the property better, guerilla gardeners don’t have any legal right to do so.
"Seed bombing, where the guerilla gardeners pack seeds into a lump of moist soil or compost and throw those ‘seed grenades’ into otherwise inaccessible spaces, is also illegal. Even if you don’t step foot on the property, those seed bombs still class as trespass.
"However, guerilla gardening is a criminal activity that's often overlooked by the law. In this research study, based on a group of UK guerilla gardeners, the phrase ‘normalized law breaking’ is commonly used. The study argues that guerilla gardening is largely accepted, and perhaps even welcomed, even by local law enforcement. In LA, a guerilla gardener even managed to have the law changed, so that residents could garden on city property without a permit.
"And something is satisfying about that. When guerilla gardening can transform urban spaces, and beautify those urban sites that are otherwise grotesque and devoid of local wildlife, it’s hard to be critical of those that carry out their seed bombing and abandoned site transformations."
