Guerrilla Gardening: A Manualfesto

A guide to greening cities -- with or without permission The term "guerrilla" may bring to mind a small band of armed soldiers, moving in the dead of night on a stealth mission. In the case of guerilla gardening, the soldiers are planters, the weapons are shovels, and the mission is to transform an abandoned lot into a thing of beauty. Once an environmentalist's nonviolent direct action for inner-city renewal, this approach to urban beautification is spreading to all types of people in cities around the world. These modern-day Johnny Appleseeds perform random acts of gardening, often without the property owner's prior knowledge or permission. Typical targets are vacant lots, railway land, underused public squares, and back alleys. The concept is simple, whimsical and has the cheeky appeal of being a not-quite-legal call to action. Dig in some soil, plant a few seeds, or mend a sagging fence — one good deed inspiring another, with win-win results all around. Guerrilla Gardening outlines the power-to-the-people campaign for greening our cities. Tips for effective involvement include: finding plants and seeds cheap (or free) handling city officials getting the dirt on soil planting to bring back the birds knowing when to ask permission and when to seek forgiveness Social activists, city dwellers and long-time gardeners will delight in this fast-paced and funny call to arms. David Tracey is a journalist and environmental designer who operates EcoUrbanist in Vancouver. He is Executive Director of Tree City Canada, a non-profit ecological engagement group.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Ever onward You rule School's out Right of way Now fear this City of no return How to use this book Are you the one? 1 The Big Idea (Or What to Say If You're Stopped) A brief history Lock down, plant up By the people, for the people Yippie Park Green Guerrillas If I can do it... Donald Loggins Power Plant — Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) 2 Where to Start (You DO Live Here So Why Aren't You Home By Now?) Think eco-citizen The forest not the trees Nature on holiday Wilderness is within Cities are alive Starting-out spaces A tale of two cities Use it or lose it Grow up Get back Park this Green roofs are the new black Bed time All roads lead to home You said it — Robert Sarti If I can do it... Robert Klose Power Plant — Poppy (Papaver somniferum) 3 What to Use (Don't Reinvent the Wheel, Borrow Someone's Car) Coolest tools Dig this More for less Fund-raising fun Dirt-cheap dirt Black gold Garden goods Real free trade Seeds of death Free rain Digging for treasure You said it — Loren Rieseberg If I can do it... Bev Wagar Power Plant — Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) 4 Growing Basics (The Root End Goes Down) Think like a plant The dirt on dirt Fertilizers and all that crap No mono Pests or friends Why natives rule Easy edible landscaping Seed bombs You said it — David Tarrant If I can do it... Al Pasternak Power Plant — Potato (Solanum tuberosum) 5 Naturescaping 101 (There's Always Somebody Home in a Habitat) Land claims Designing for diversity Will chirp for food Room to grow Don't be a buggist No slugsidized housing You said it — Terry Taylor If I can do it... Susan Kurbis Power Plant — Apple (Malus domestica) 6 Get Off the Grass (Make It a Meadow) Good crop, bad crop Kick your grass Fields of dreams From the ground up You said it — Bill Stephen If I can do it... Mark Yardas Power Plant — Lavender (Lavendula species) 7 Grow Your Own Community Garden (It Takes a Village to Raise a Turnip) Garden grail Choose the right place Choose the right people Call to order How to ward off developers (and their offspring) Link it or lose it What have you done for me lately? Grow your own Q&A — Muggs Sigurgeirson If I can do it... Les King Power Plant — Sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) 8 When to Work Within (The Art of Aikido Politics) The care and feeding of city officials Push or pull You're blocking Oh bother Q&A — Alan Duncan If I can do it... Tom Wuest Power Plant — Scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) 9 Start Spreading the News (Information Is Just Fertilizer With Better PR) Mass media and how to move it What's the news? Right on time I'm busted Alternative media options Signs that work, signs that don't Q&A — Peter Gibson Power Plant — Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) If I can do it... Matthew Green Power Plant — Blueberry (Vaccinium species) Conclusion: Where to Go From Here (Make Your City the Salvation of the World) Living la vida local Go team go You are the culture Live in the city of your dreams Get up and grow Q&A — Jim Diers If I can do it... Amy Twigge Bibliography Notes Index About the Author

About the Author :
David Tracey owns and operates EcoUrbanist, an environmental media+design company in Vancouver, and serves as Executive Director of Tree City Canada, a non-profit ecological engagement group. Also an international journalist, he is a consulting arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, and holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia.