Latest / The Difference We Make: Stories of People Changing Lives / From Concrete to Carrots: Healing Our Cities One Lot at a Time | The Difference We Make
Transcript
- There is a specific kind of silence that lives in an abandoned city lot, and it is louder than any traffic on the street beside it. It is the sound of potential holding its breath, waiting for someone to decide that the dirt matters. I want you to picture a patch of ground you might walk past every single day without really seeing it. Maybe it’s behind that old bakery on your block, or tucked between two brick buildings in your neighborhood. For years, it was just there. A square of cracked pavement, maybe some weeds pushing through the concrete like they were trying to escape prison. It looked like neglect. It looked like the city had forgotten it existed. But I remember standing in one of those spaces last autumn, and I didn’t see neglect. I saw a wound. And wounds, if we treat them with enough attention, can become scars that tell the story of healing. Let’s look at the hands behind this. Not the politicians who signed the permits, or the developers who wanted to sell the land for condos. I mean the hands of the people who started digging when no one else was watching. The ones who showed up with shovels and tired backs and a stubborn belief that something green could grow in soil that hadn’t seen rain in decades. This isn’t just about gardening. It’s about reclaiming dignity. When we turn these lots into farms, we aren’t just growing tomatoes. We are growing evidence that our community still cares. We are proving that even in the most broken places, life insists on finding a way. And that realization changes how you walk down the street. You start looking at empty spaces differently. You stop seeing trash and start seeing treasure. You start wondering what else is possible. Now, I know what you might be thinking. You might be imagining these urban farms as perfect little patches of paradise. Neat rows of vegetables, smiling volunteers in matching t-shirts, fresh produce going straight into the hands of neighbors who are grateful and quiet. But stay with me here, because that’s not where the real work begins. That’s not where the magic happens either. The truth is messier. And honestly? Messier is better. Because the mess is where the humanity lives. I spent time with a group of women in Detroit who were transforming a former scrapyard into a community orchard. They didn’t have much money. They had donated tools, borrowed seeds, and a lot of patience. There were days when the compost pile smelled terrible. Days when the rats came back. Days when the weather turned so cold that half their seedlings froze. Did they quit? No. They adapted. They learned that resilience isn’t about never failing. It’s about how quickly you get back up. One of the women, Maria, told me that the first time she pulled a carrot out of the ground that was actually edible, she cried. Not because it was a big deal. But because it was proof. Proof that she could create something good from something bad. Proof that she had agency over her own environment. That feeling—that fierce, quiet pride—is what keeps people coming back. It’s not about the harvest. It’s about the hope that comes with the harvest. Let’s talk about connection. In a world that feels increasingly digital and distant, there is something profoundly grounding about getting your hands dirty next to someone you’ve never met. Urban farming creates a space where status doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO or a student or retired. If you’re kneeling in the dirt, pulling weeds, you’re equal. The soil treats us all the same. I watched a scene recently that stays with me. An elderly man named Arthur, who had lived in the same apartment building for forty years, was teaching a teenager how to prune tomato plants. The boy had headphones on, looking bored, probably waiting for his ride. But Arthur didn’t rush him. He spoke slowly, showing him which branches to cut, why certain leaves needed to go. And bit by bit, the boy took off his headphones. He asked a question. Then another. That interaction didn’t make the news. It wasn’t posted on social media. But it changed the fabric of that block. It bridged a gap that usually exists between generations. It reminded both of them that they were part of something larger than themselves. These farms become living rooms for the neighborhood. Places where stories are shared, where trust is built plant by plant. And in a time when loneliness is epidemic, that connection is not a luxury. It is a necessity. We also have to address the food itself. Many of these neighborhoods are classified as food deserts. Meaning, the nearest grocery store selling fresh produce is miles away, and public transport is unreliable or expensive. So people rely on corner stores that sell processed food, high in sugar and salt, low in nutrition. This isn’t just a health issue. It’s a justice issue. When we restore these lots, we are putting fresh food within reach. Literally. Imagine walking out your door and picking a handful of basil for your dinner, or grabbing a cucumber that was grown three feet from your kitchen window. That changes what you eat. It changes how you feel. But more importantly, it changes the narrative around these communities. They are not defined by what they lack. They are defined by what they produce. There is a power in growing your own food. It shifts the dynamic from consumer to creator. From passive recipient to active participant. And when we support these initiatives, we aren’t just donating money. We are investing in sovereignty. We are saying that everyone deserves access to nourishment, regardless of their zip code. And that is a radical act of love in a system that often tries to keep us divided. So, how do you help? You don’t need to buy land. You don’t need to be a master gardener. You just need to show up. Start local. Find the farm near you. Go visit. Ask questions. Listen to the stories of the people who tend the soil. Often, they will tell you exactly what they need. Maybe it’s mulch. Maybe it’s labor. Maybe it’s just someone to sit with them and chat while they weed. If you can’t volunteer physically, you can support financially. Look for organizations that prioritize transparency. Who shows you where the money goes. Who admits when things go wrong. Remember, we value honest failure over polished success stories. Support groups that are learning and adapting. And if you have skills—marketing, accounting, legal advice—offer them. Your professional expertise can be the water that helps these seeds grow. But mostly, carry the mindset home. Look at your own space. Is there a balcony? A windowsill? A tiny patch of yard? Plant something. Connect with the earth. Remind yourself that growth takes time. It requires patience, care, and consistency. And when you taste that first fruit of your labor, however small, let it remind you that you are capable of creating beauty. You are capable of making a difference. One seed at a time. I want to leave you with this thought. Every time we heal a piece of land, we heal a piece of ourselves. We remind ourselves that we are not separate from nature. We are part of it. And when we treat the land with respect, it treats us with abundance. These urban farms are more than sources of food. They are symbols of repair. They show us that nothing is beyond redemption. That even the most damaged places can bloom again. And as we watch these gardens grow, we grow too. We become more patient. More connected. More hopeful. So, let’s make a pact. Let’s pay attention to the empty spaces. Let’s notice the tremor in the voice of the neighbor who needs a friend. Let’s look at the hands behind the work. And let’s join them. Because together, we are not just surviving. We are thriving. We are building a world where everyone has a place to belong. Where every lot has a purpose. And where every heart has a garden to call its own. Thank you for spending this time with me. Take a deep breath. Feel your feet on the ground. And remember, you are rooted in something beautiful. Until next time, I’m Ashling Scallon. Stay curious. Stay kind. And keep planting seeds.