ed from the editor
Growing food in your community generates certainty and with certainty , people can let their guards
down a little .”
Nothing brings people together like food . Be it a wedding , a holiday , a tailgate party , or a first date , wherever there is food there are happy , social people . It is and has always been a key social driver in communities . Common ground , if you will . This isn ’ t the case everywhere , however . There are many communities in modern cities where neighborhoods are shattered , devoid of social connections . One of those neighborhoods is Tel Aviv ’ s Neve Sha ’ anan quarter , a place with a history of violence . It is also home to many foreign workers , many of whom speak different languages , further deepening divides . On the toughest street in Neve Sha ’ anan , though , hope is blooming . According to the Jerusalem Post , 29-year-old entrepreneur Lavi Kushelevich has brought together Darfurian refugees , Chinese workers , and Israelis through his Rooftop Gardens project . “ They don ’ t have the same language , so they can ’ t communicate ,” Kushelevich told the Post . “ But they can communicate through food .” Rooftop Gardens allows participants to grow food hydroponically in a place where just a short time ago growing anything seemed impossible . On Saturday mornings , they gather , take care of the garden , and learn new techniques . Some of the crops they grow include cucumbers , lettuce , basil , and bok choy . Growing food in your community , Kushelevich added , generates certainty and with certainty , people can let their guards down a little . In many other cities , urban gardening is having a similar effect . It brings our agriculture closer to us , reduces emissions and food waste , and results in greener , healthier cities in which to live . The innovation seems to have no end , and , hopefully , neither does the social connectivity it creates . As always , thanks for reading Maximum Yield and if you have any questions feel free to contact us at editor @ maximumyield . com .
16 first feed