Rebecca is a mother of one who has been interested in growing plants since her early twenties. While living in Baltimore, herbs were her initial interest. From there she gardened sporadically until about six or seven years ago, when she decided she really wanted to focus on growing her own food. Rebecca experienced some unsuccessful seasons while she learned about amending her own soil, but now, for six to nine months of the year most of the food they eat comes from her garden. Not only does she produce enough for herself and her son, but she creates a surplus as well- they are still eating food that she canned from past seasons. She loves that she gets to share her surplus with her neighbors, co-workers, and friends. She also loves sharing her knowledge of food and gardening with others. One interesting thing she notes is that it is difficult to get children to eat a lot of vegetables from the grocery store, but children are excited to eat things from the garden- especially if they helped grow it!
In Rebecca's philosophy, gardening is not only about self-sufficiency and organic foods, but it is also a subversive political statement. She talks about the current state of the industrial food industry and it's relationship with contemporary politics, Monsanto's involvement, and the use of genetically modified organisms. Gardening is also something for her to pass along to the next generation. She believes that raising her son around gardening will give him a "strong idea of what food is, and how to feed himself, and how to feed his community". She feels that these experiences will grow and translate into other positive effects in her son's life as well. Rebecca has been involved with the non-profit Growing Gardens since 2012, and she is now a mentor for other gardeners.
Interview by Andrew Mautz, Cole Lalomia & Lu Whipps
In Rebecca's philosophy, gardening is not only about self-sufficiency and organic foods, but it is also a subversive political statement. She talks about the current state of the industrial food industry and it's relationship with contemporary politics, Monsanto's involvement, and the use of genetically modified organisms. Gardening is also something for her to pass along to the next generation. She believes that raising her son around gardening will give him a "strong idea of what food is, and how to feed himself, and how to feed his community". She feels that these experiences will grow and translate into other positive effects in her son's life as well. Rebecca has been involved with the non-profit Growing Gardens since 2012, and she is now a mentor for other gardeners.
Interview by Andrew Mautz, Cole Lalomia & Lu Whipps
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