One of the trend forecasters we visited last week talked about fashion trends for Spring/Summer 2011. One of which is based on the "Etsy Culture" with a DIY message. It's all about contemporary crafts with thrift in mind and of all things, urban gardening. The forecast discussed trends influenced by ethical consumption and collective consciences as well as the three "R's" Recycle, re-use, repurpose. Think earthy, floral, crafty, maybe Liberty of London-ish prints.
Helping to move our cities into that way of thinking, some Anthropologie clothing stores will be celebrating Earth Day by hosting in-store potting events that are open to all ages. They will provide planter, dirt and plants. Their windows are stocked with garden-centric tools. They'll also be selling wildflower seed bombs for $6. A portion of the seedbomb sales will go to Urban Farms.
Do also check out "guerilla gardening" a book by Richard Reynolds where he discusses turning abandoned lands into green and edible gardens. If you're in NYC, take a visit to 48th Street, between 9th and 10th avenue. Hidden in the middle of the block is a community built garden/park that was once a city owned abandoned lot, but is now a flourishing grow-your-own garden that the neighbors take care of. Local residents are given a key to the garden when they sign up so they can harvest their own produce. There's also a small park area within it where you and friends can sit and have a great lunch or quietly read a book or play your guitar.
In the urban jungle there is such a thing as rooftop gardening. It's being practiced all over the world and as local as Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn too. If you're interested in finding out more about such urban gardening check out this site: http://www.earthpledge.org/gr/ There are also a number of other sites you can look up. Here's a related article about Ben Flanner (pictured above in second photo) who used to do marketing at *E-Trade but then quit his job to become a rooftop farmer. Her turned the roof of an industrial building into a 6000 sq. foot farm in Greenpoint, Brooklyn! Green thumbs up for Ben the Farmer!
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2009/06/30/2009-06-30_rooftop_garden_in_greenpoints_the_stalk_of_the_town.html
