There is a lot of conversation in our community lately about gentrification. As I putter in our vegetable beds, prune fruit trees and bushes, and plant for the season, I've been noticing how much tending to growing things can teach us about living together.
Sometimes we can forget that soil and communities are living things. They are like air and water, always surrounding us. It is important to take a moment to engage and observe whether our interactions are healthy, warranted, or even needed. Here are some things we can learn from sustainable farming and gardening.

Don’t assume something needs to be fixed: In the Springtime it is hard not to run out on the first sunny days to turn over soil. We feel strong and accomplished standing there with our shovel and pitchforks. Although we have been taught this by many generations (and countless advertisements!), we have known for a long time that the life and health of our soil’s ecosystem is immeasurably disturbed by unnecessary tilling and digging. This is not unlike the reaction of our North Denver community to the digging up and turning over of the lovely housing stock that defined our neighborhoods. Those who have been here for a while are in shock from the visual and emotional changes to our home. Like soil, it will take us a while to recover.

Healthy soil can be over fertilized: Many “miracles” are proclaimed in advertising during this crucial sales time in the gardening business. Here, again, we are being bombarded by the thought that something is inherently wrong with our soil so we add boosters every year – just in case. Without testing your soil and understanding its strengths and weaknesses, you can toxify it by assuming you know what’s best. Communities are the same. Without taking the time to explore and understand, even adding what you consider “good and miraculous” elements can end up creating a toxic environment.

No matter how good it might look, if the conductivity is not there no one benefits: In healthy humus there is a natural electrical conductivity, like static-cling, that attracts nutrients to clay making it available to plants for their food. Without this pull and interaction a plant can’t eat, even in a soil that seems to be a well-stocked with nutrients and minerals. Good humus comes from diversity of compost inputs, room for air, and patience as relationships develop and boundaries break down. Does that sound like good advice for a healthy community? I think it does! 

It takes a few seasons to develop networks and understanding: Although I love seed catalogs as much as the next person, to truly develop healthy, strong plants and vegetables you need to save seeds and nurture them over the years. Hardly any seed on the market is actually grown in a high-mountain, arid landscape like ours. If the seed comes from Florida or Missouri it is in the nature and expectation of the plant growing from that seed to expect that environment. The plant will not fully express its full, juicy self until it has time (seasons) to acclimate to our climate. People are the same. It can take a while for a new person to find their way around, settle in, and begin showing their best self in the same way a current resident may feel invaded, shy, or not trusting. Gently developing relationships with respect and sharing goes a long way toward creating a strong community. 

It is important on all sides of community – those that have been around for a while and those who have recently “blown in” – to be patient, get to know one another, seek to share strengths and minimize conflicts, and find reasons to work together and share knowledge and skills. Although there is a lot of frustration and bristling, judgments and assumptions, I know our community can create a healthy ecosystem if we practice patience and respect and take the time to get to know one another.

Deep in an election season (when are we not?!) it can be difficult to see the good that may have developed in our communities with so many decrying the bad and looking for someone to blame. We have many issues that need serious attention but let’s take a moment to see and celebrate some positive developments in our midst.

We at Feed Denver are happy to be curating a Lexicon of Sustainability show this year. This week’s topic is Unconventional Agriculture. As I read their newsletter (with a few hallelujahs – they were preaching to the choir, here!) I began thinking of our fair city. 

Denver, with its surrounding Rocky Mountain region, has a number of interesting and attracting elements that bring many people to visit and live but one that doesn't get a lot of attention is its burgeoning grass roots urban agriculture movement. 

It only takes a visitor from out of state to give new perspective. They notice the front lawns turned to food beds and the shared block gardens neighbors are creating to grow food together. They are surprised by front porch food stands selling just-harvested veggies with fresh breads and jams. They have never heard of gardens, farms, and agriculture being written into a city’s zoning code.

As you explore the city, and its surrounding suburbs, you realize you have begun seeing actual farms. Everitt Farms in Lakewood, Five Fridges Farm and Clear Creek Organics in Wheatridge, True Roots Farm formerly in Wheatridge (moving this season to Arvada), and Feed Denver’s Sunnyside Farm on 44th & Vallejo. You see farm stands and markets. At the stores you see local farm products like Maxfield’s Organic Soils. And you notice local seed companies like Seeds Trust, Lake Valley Seeds, and Botanical Interests.
Supporting these and future farmers are some remarkable programs. Feed Denver: Urban Farms & Markets commitment to growing farmers through regenerative farm modeling and education to create true community level economics.  Re:Vision in Westwood committing itself to one geographic community’s food and job shed. The Denver Green School and Slow Food Denver’s programs to put food growing education in all schools. 

People, this is amazing! Denver – the Queen City of the Plains - was an early adopter of the conversation around food sovereignty. The first bold move was our forward thinking zoning department (yes, I did say that about the Denver zoning department!) added language allowing the growing of food in almost all areas. When introduced to the opportunities in the innovative urban agriculture movement they recognized that local, uninhibited food production needed to be written into Blueprint Denver, the comprehensive rezoning project they were working on that was adopted in 2010. 

The next bold move, that same year, was the creation of the Mayor’s Sustainable Food Policy Council (initiated by then-Mayor Hickenlooper). Since their formation the council has debated and developed policy and understanding of the food needs of this city. They have been instrumental in continually addressing and exploring ways the city can support local food production.

That group brought the third bold move forward answering the state’s Colorado Cottage Food Act they worked with relevant groups and agencies to create the Fresh Produce and Cottage Foods Sales Home Occupation Permit. This provided a smooth integration of both state and local policies to support not only growing food in a residential area but the creation of cottage food opportunities. This is the thing: In Denver we can grow food at home and sell it. We can process some of that food and sell it as well…from home. 
More than unconventional, this is revolutionary (in modern first-world cities)! This fertile ground, where Feed Denver has germinated, is creating the opportunity for cottage food entrepreneurs and urban farmers to take it to the next level and build that true local economy. The local economy that is about one person exchanging with another, one community supporting itself with its own effort. 

In the Lexicon newsletter (#45) that inspired this essay, they said: Unconventional agriculture encompasses a philosophy that addresses the complexities of sustainable farming and reflects on the local history and resources of the land. It benefits from innovative research, mathematics, and thinking in abundance.

 An unconventional CITY encompasses a philosophy that addresses the complexities of sustainability in partnership with nature while reflecting on its own local history and resources. It also benefits from innovative communities and economics, as well as, thinking in abundance.

We live in an amazing city. Remember that as you prepare for the upcoming leadership elections. But remember you are part of this city’s ecosystem, too. Get involved. Do your research. Ask questions of your leaders and potential leaders. Challenge policies by helping to write and build better ones. Start something unconventional…like an urban farm.