The Next Time Someone Dismisses You as an Arugula-Eating Elitist...

...tell 'em to talk to my friend Harry Rhodes. He's proof that "healthy, local, and organic" isn't just for foodies and the so-called well-heeled.

For seven years, his Chicago-based non-profit, Growing Home, has provided jobs and training for the homeless, the previously incarcerated, and people with low incomes. At Growing Home's four farm sites, participants learn organic farming and produce marketing. They also acquire general job skills. Over 70% of them end up getting work.

As Harry explains:

"We now have our first year-round urban farm that we own, the Wood Street Urban Farm -- leading to a huge increase in interest in our work. When you can show a model of what an urban farm is and what can be replicated, people pay attention. Every week we give tours, with people coming from the Chicago area, from all over the country, and many coming from other countries.

"We have increased the number of people we train annually to about 30. This is just a drop in the bucket. Our mission has expanded from job training and organic agriculture to community and economic development.

"We are showing how urban farming can be used as the catalyst for turning around low-income neighborhoods, such as Englewood on the south side of Chicago."

US incarceration rates have hit a worldwide, all-time high -- 762 jailed persons per 100,000 residents, compared to Canada's 108, or France's 91, and almost two-thirds of them seemingly destined for re-arrest. Isn't Growing Home showing us a pathway out of this labyrinth of stagnation and insanity?

Suddenly, organic food looks less like a yuppie luxury and more like it could and should be a staple for our sanity and security.

I can't wait to visit the Growing Home team next time I'm in Chicago, and I'm especially eager to hear about the others they are sure to inspire. As Harry says, "just think what 10 or 100 organizations like Growing Home could do."

Frances Moore Lappe of the Small Planet Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the author of sixteen books, most recently Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity, and Courage in a World Gone Mad.

Comments

[poomplet]

Sorry, but to me, arugula will always bear the taint of elitism....and I blame Cindy Crawford.

As a dude of the proper age living in Chicago...Cindy was something special. A 'hometown' girl from DeKalb (then Chicago)..and, of course, a total hottie, she was hap'nin in my book.

But then I read some interview where she was asked what it was like going back to DeKalb, she slammed the city, saying (real quote here): "Arugula is how I define cities. I go to a grocery store, and either you can get arugula or you can't."

That was it...from then on, she was a snotty beech.

And funny you use the term "arugula elitist", because in researching that quote, I found that Obama was branded as one back during his Iowa campaigning. They got to talking agriculture, and Obama chimed in with "Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula?". Didn't go over too well..as there aren't any Whole Foods in Iowa. This article also brings up a lettuce debacle by Dukakis, but it involved Belgian endive.... http://www.dailyyonder.com/getting-real-harder-it-looks

[cooperativeintelligence]

So many smart solutions, so little time. I hope this catches on!

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

I was drawn to your post because I just visited my sister who grows Arugula in her yard and eats a totally organic diet. She had a career in Med Tech and knows the nutrient values of everything as well as the cost of purchasing same in the health stores. Urban organic gardening as well as urban solar panel installation are our future if the inner cities poor are to gain employment and healthy food for family tables. Thanks for your article.