When you think of illicit activity or political protest, gardening doesn’t typically come to mind. Turns out it’s technically illegal to cultivate most land that’s not your own. There are some downright silly laws on the books (in Arizona, it’s illegal for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs; same goes in South Carolina, except for horses), but this takes the cake.
What Is Guerrilla Gardening?
Guerilla gardening refers to beautifying land you don’t have legal permission to cultivate, such as abandoned sites, derelict areas, and even public spaces.
It started in the 1970s, when activist Liz Christy and her band of Green Guerillas sought to protest widespread urban neglect in New York City by taking matters into their own hands and beautifying their neighborhood with plants. Now, guerilla gardening has grown into a grassroots movement that has spread across the globe.
Guerilla gardeners usually band together under the cover of the night armed with trowels. Now, thanks to wildflower seed bombs, it’s possible to make a difference in your community, without the commitment.
Find out what exactly a seed bomb is and how to make your own seed bombs from Alex Mitchell, author of The Rurbanite. DIY: Make Your Own Wildflower Seed Bombs
Photography courtesy of: gardenista and Kyle Books
