From abandoned lot to lush garden

It's hard to believe that this used to be an abandoned lot in one of the world's most populous cities:

 

Christchurch school in London has taken a once empty, trash-strewn lot and turned it into an urban oasis filled with beautiful raised beds, a greenhouse, and a forthcoming shed for tools.  The garden serves as a place for the children to learn about growing their own food and the importance of caring for our environment.  We visited the school to learn more about the garden and how it is integrated into the curriculum.

 We met with a classroom full of students and worked with them directly one on one in the garden, sowing seeds and learning about the care needed for plants to germinate.  The students were attentive and eager to learn, and it was obvious that they were very proud of their beautiful garden.  One student told me that he and his friends used to play in the empty lot and called it a "wasteland", but said that now it's a beautiful place that can be enjoyed by all.  He was very happy with the changes being made by the school, and he was eager to show me around the various nooks and crannies of the garden.


After we bade the students farewell, a few of us stuck around to help prune trees grown in the French Espalier style.

Turning once-abandoned lots into productive places to grow food and learn about nature is something that can be done anywhere in the world!  I encourage everyone reading this to think about novel ways in which we can use the spaces around us more effectively for the benefit of all.