Richard Reynolds (2)Critiques

Die praktischen Infos sind spannend und die über konkrete Projekte auch - aber die politischen Ansichten von Reynolds fand ich cringeworthy, in einem Kapitel wurden Zierblumen in Londoner Betontrögen tatsächlich verglichen mit Land, auf dem Menschen illegal Essen anbauen, um davon zu leben. Joa, vl mal den Begriff "guerilla" für Stadtverschönerung fallen lassen, statt so unnötige Verbindungen herzukonstruieren. An einer anderen Stelle freut er sich, dass ein Garten Sexarbeiter_innen und Leute die Drogen nehmen aus dem Viertel vertrieben hat, weil es "zu schön wurde" für sie - srsly? :/
Außerdem wären halb so viele Mao-Zitate bei weitem genug gewesen, um mir klar zu machen, dass Reynolds Mao mag und Blümchen lieber als strategische Kriegsführung sieht als als Blümchen. Gähn.

Landschaftsplanung & Urban Gardening

This book is a good primer on the concept of guerrilla gardening, with interesting anecdotes and historical background to boot. Sadly, it is very sparingly illustrated and somewhat lengthy while remaining superficial, thus missing its mark a little: too drab for newbies yet too superficial for wannabes...½

great to get the idea what it is all about. it sounds like great fun, but one probably needs to learn it by doing, like everything else. so I should be on a lookout for like-minded people, really...

This is a pretty quick read, but it's got some great information about Guerrilla Gardening. The author is the founder of the website GuerrillaGardening.org and gives an overview of the history of guerrilla gardening, how-tos, etc. It's a pretty good read and has inspired me to think about places in the Boston area that I can beautify with plants.

Acquired via BookCrossing 03 July 2009 - in my NSS parcel at Unconvention

Another excellent read, this time about the practice of gardening unloved and unclaimed bits of land, planters, verges etc in a covert and mischevious way. A bit like BookCrossing, proponents of the scheme are registered on a website ( www.guerrillagardening.org ) have get-togethers and work to improve their communities. The book is loosely based around guerrilla principles from Mao, Guevara etc, which is quite interesting and funny and gives it something to hang on. I loved the stories of the individual gardeners and gardens and am seriously considering taking a pocketful of sunflower seeds for when I go out on my long Sunday runs...

I will be sharing this one on a bookring so watch out for the announcement.½