#GuerillaHorticulture
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keithdjohnson.bsky.social
'Encouraging creative theft'.
Would this work in USAnian cities? Certainly in some neighborhoods.
Photo text excerpt from #BillMollison's autobiography, Travels In Dreams.
#UrbanPermaculture #fruit #UrbanFarming #Rewilding #GuerillaHorticulture
Photo text excerpt from #BillMollison's autobiography, Travels In Dreams. "In 1979, I had persuaded the South Melbourne council to plant fruit trees in public places. The old Scots city engineer who agreed to do this remembered that in his training courses he had been told never to plant useful trees in public places. 'We accepted that as law, he mused, 'and now I wonder why?'. That evening, we set out twenty or so fruit trees at the entrance to the council chambers. Next day, they had all been dug out and removed; stolen. 'Good,' says I. 'How's that?' says the engineer. 'We don't have to plant, water, or tend them now.' This made so much sense, we were able to lose a few thousand trees in one season, just by putting out the pots near empty holes (they were easier to steal, and in better condition). In time the thefts tapered off, and we could safely plant some ourselves. But by then, the whole suburb was planted and we could see trees over hundreds of fences. A very cheap way to plant and rear trees, we thought. It saved the council hundreds of dollars and I still sometimes think of patenting the system for public savings. I call it 'encouraging creative theft' (E.C.T.)."
December 29, 2024 at 12:57 AM