Ron Finley - the 'Gangsta Gardener'

Ron Finley has made his mark as a rebel with a green cause. Known as the ‘Gangsta Gardener’, Finley has transformed forgotten patches of Los Angeles into thriving urban oases, sparking a global movement for food justice and community empowerment. His journey began back in 2010 when, after realising that it was easier to buy fast food and alcohol than an apple near his home in South Central Los Angeles, he decided to reclaim a strip of public land in front of his house where he planted a vegetable garden and fruit trees. This ignited a battle with the City authorities, which Ron eventually won, and he went on to inspire a wave of change. From his iconic TED Talk in 2013, which took the world by storm (and has over 4.5 million views to date), to his enlightening MasterClass course, Finley’s story is a testament to the power of gardening as a tool for social change. Antigua & Barbuda The Citizen spoke to Ron to learn about his unconventional journey and how you can have independence and a better life by growing your own food.

Is there an increased awareness about eating healthy and organic food?

There are people who don’t even know the difference between healthy and unhealthy food. And what about those who don’t know that organic food even exists? What about those who have no idea that what they are eating is killing them, even though it is right there on the label? Food should heal you, not kill you. We all know that food, including fruit and vegetables, has stickers with bar codes and numbers. But people don’t know what these numbers are for – they just think it’s for the cash register. However, these labels provide all the information about what the food is composed of. So, in fact, they tell you if it will eventually kill you. Not so long ago, I was at the Google campus and asked an audience of their employees to put up their hands if they knew what the barcode labels were for. Only one woman raised her hand. These are some of the most intelligent people on the planet, but they have no idea. I had to tell the people of Google to Google it! It proves that it’s not only those on the lower side of the socioeconomic divide who don’t understand these things. We have to make knowledge about the food we eat not only educational but also fun and sexy.

How do you feel to be the ‘Gangsta Gardener’?

People say, “Oh, you’re that gardener guy.” And I answer, “No, I’m a humanitarian”. I care. It’s not about food; it’s all about freedom. Gardening represents freedom from an oppressive society. It empowers you to change your life – starting with one tiny seed. Nobody ever told us that one seed has a whole forest in it already – that if you plant a peach tree, you’ll get peaches every single season. We’ve got to realise the soil is where the gold is. We’ve got to realise that everything on this planet is alive, and everything that Mother Nature produces is a resource. Gardening is the most therapeutic and defiant act you can do. There are so many metaphors in that garden – we’re cultivating ourselves, we’re learning how to take care of things, and we’re learning that nothing is instantaneous. Nobody ever taught us anything like that, and that’s the problem.

You’ve been doing this for nearly 15 years - is the movement continuing in your community?

Yes, quite a few people are continuing it– but not in the numbers I would like. My ultimate goal has always been to have people do something together. Gardens create community, and gardening creates relationships – if you grow together, you grow together. My garden on the street is a social project. I want people to interact with beauty and food, but above all, I want people to respect it. I’ll tell people I’ll help them, but I’m not the help. The problem is that many people want you to do everything for them. People say I am feeding people – but I am not feeding people. I’ll show you how to grow some food, and if I have some, you’re welcome to some, but I don’t want to see people standing in line waiting for someone else to feed them. Free food doesn’t exist – you have to put some work into it. Quid pro quo. Bring some, get some. If you grow your own food, you know exactly what’s in it – and that’s what people don’t get. If I’m growing your food, you’re still a slave. So do it for yourself. Get the knowledge, use it, and pass it on, but don’t expect somebody to do it for you.

We have to make growing our own food as fashionable as other things. Growing things is not slavery; it’s freedom. People tell me I’ve made gardening cool, and that’s my message.

My ultimate goal has always been to have people do something together. Gardens create community, they create freedom, and gardening creates relationships – if you grow together, you grow together.

What do you think it’s important to tell young people about the food they’re eating?

When I visit and give talks in schools, I give out snacks – not for the kids to eat but for them to look up the ingredients and be shocked.. I tell them that these snacks have absolutely no nutritional value and that the bright colours used on the packaging are there simply to stimulate them and for marketing purposes. The school lunches they’re given aren’t much better. Do they really care about these kids?

When you see what other countries are feeding their children, the US versus France, for example, you realise that the kids in the US are being poisoned.

We need to show kids the resources available around them. You can’t eat diamonds. We have to show them how to grow food. If kids plant kale, they will eat kale because they’ve got skin in the game. We have to teach them that they can build soil. Why doesn’t elementary school teach kids how to make or sell compost? Why can’t you tell these kids that they can take a leaf and turn it into soil, mulch, or even a worm farm - and that these are valuable resources?

That way, we would be showing them not only how to be Earth warriors but also how they can make money from growing things. That’s the sexy part. They can take a leaf off the ground, and now they’re going to be fighting about who gets to rake Mrs Johnson’s leaves because they know they can turn that leaf into money. And even better, it costs them nothing to make that money. These are the kinds of economics that kids need in their lives.

You have a powerful message to give people, but whose message do you find the most compelling?

The great Vandana Shiva is a true gangsta, as far as I’m concerned. She tells the truth and stands up to some big people for her beliefs. Most people can’t do that, so I have the utmost respect for her. I’m lucky to have been on the same stage as Vandana a couple of times.

What is next for you?

To wake up in the morning! I’ll figure the rest out. I tell people to “operate from happy”. If something makes you happy, do it. If we don’t fix things now, we won’t be able to do anything in the future. What will the future even look like? My level of success is different from others; it’s not about accolades; it’s about waking up in the morning! Some of the best compliments I used to get were when people said, “Man, I saw your TED Talk, and it wasn’t like a normal TED Talk. It was real.”

A last message?

I believe it’s crucial for everyone to know how to feed themselves and understand the food they’re eating. Individuals do hold power and can make their own decisions. I want to tell people that their life matters, but ultimately, it has to matter to them. I want to empower individuals to take control of their lives and break free from the constraints of the system. People must realise that nothing is more sacred than themselves, and they must prioritise “me, myself and I”. After all, how can you care about others if you don’t care about your own life?