Talking of recipes...

[commodorified]

Paper bags
Black earth
Compost or manure.
Assorted drought-and-neglect tolerant wildflower seed mixtures.
Sharpies

To each bag, add one scoop black earth, one small scoop compost or manure, and a hearty shake of seed mix. Shake, or stir, contents thoroughly. Fold down bag tops carefully, decorate with appropriate illustrations and quotations, and distribute with love to nearby untended vacant lots, taking care to weigh the bags down with small rocks.

As the rains come and the bags disintegrate the seeds will, with the blessing, germinate and sprout.

Comments

[amorettea]

Just make sure you aren't using anything considered invasive in your area. Other than that, this sounds like a delightful idea!

[giglet]

That is beautiful in thought and deed.

Thank you!

[reginagiraffe]

I'm pretty sure we've had this argument before.

This sounds great in theory. However in reality, all this is doing is further degrading the already crumbling infrastructure in these areas.

Things to consider: Places that are economically disadvantaged enough to have vacant lots also tend to have sidewalks that are in bad shape. These neighborhoods, due to health and crime issues, also tend to have a higher than average level of disabled people, many of whom need to use wheelchairs. Bad sidewalks + wheelchairs = a bad situation.

These "wildflowers" you're planting won't conveniently stay in the vacant lots. They'll grow in any available crack or crevice, including sidewalks, parking lots, and peoples' yards.

And, as someone who lives in one of these kinds neighborhoods and is trying to create her own garden, the last thing I need is more "wildflowers" invading my yard.

[commodorified]

We haven't had it before. And we won't be having it at this time, either.

[reginagiraffe]

As you like.

[commodorified]

Thank you.

[mmegaera]

One of these days I really need to buy some flower seeds in bulk and go do this in the septic field behind my condo (which is visible from my upstairs windows). Right now it doesn't look bad (it's mostly feral grass and buttercups that get mowed twice a year by the landscape guys), but it really could use some bachelor's buttons, forgetmenots, and maybe some calendulas, all of which seed themselves with abandon in my garden [g]. Oh, and sweet alyssum, so the summer breeze would smell terrific.

[sexy_romulan]

I ♥ some of those quotes - what are the sources for the "thoughts of love" and the "make the wastelands grow" bits?

[commodorified]

1) Ian misquoting Che

2) Me quoting the Diggers via Billy Bragg