[JayMillz]

"The drive throughs are killing more people than the drive-bys."

[BortimusPrime]

I get the feeling the slogan "Plant some shit!" could be woefully misinterpreted.

Honestly, I don't think vegetable availability solves the problem. I shop at a cheapo supermarket with plenty of cheapo vegetables (80 cents/lb broccoli, good for the aromatase inhibitors), a supermarket frequented by all sorts of ethnically interesting folk that make my monacle drop into my champagne flute. The thing is, there are plenty of generously proportioned people shopping there, and they sure as shit aren't buying lean meat and veggies. It's all carby junk food. They probably pay more overall for processed crap than I do for healthy food, but they either don't like vegetables, or if they do they have no clue how to prepare them properly.

The fact that this is a TED talk makes the whole project reek of high-minded liberal conceit, trying to help the poor dumb proletariat that aren't enlightened enough to stick organic argulua up their asses like us fancy people. All the speech needed was Sean Connery yelling "Plant the kale laddie! You're the man now dawg!"

[OGNorCal707]

(05-18-2013 11:06 PM)BortimusPrime Wrote:  

I get the feeling the slogan "Plant some shit!" could be woefully misinterpreted.

Honestly, I don't think vegetable availability solves the problem. I shop at a cheapo supermarket with plenty of cheapo vegetables (80 cents/lb broccoli, good for the aromatase inhibitors), a supermarket frequented by all sorts of ethnically interesting folk that make my monacle drop into my champagne flute. The thing is, there are plenty of generously proportioned people shopping there, and they sure as shit aren't buying lean meat and veggies. It's all carby junk food. They probably pay more overall for processed crap than I do for healthy food, but they either don't like vegetables, or if they do they have no clue how to prepare them properly.

The fact that this is a TED talk makes the whole project reek of high-minded liberal conceit, trying to help the poor dumb proletariat that aren't enlightened enough to stick organic argulua up their asses like us fancy people. All the speech needed was Sean Connery yelling "Plant the kale laddie! You're the man now dawg!"

I haven't watched this vid, but I did see a story about this guy on the news, and I tip my hat to him for what he is doing.

I don't think you realize how certain inner cities in the U.S. are devoid of decent supermarkets that carry fresh food. Usually the ghetto is full of nothing but fast food restaurants, McDonalds, KFC, etc. These are the main options for people and people eat there, because of convenience, lack of choice, or just because they aren't educated enough about the food they eat.

This "gangster gardener" is doing God's work as far as I'm concerned, he's trying to bring about social and cultural change to the ghetto. He's not only trying to show people you can grow your own food (on the cheap), but that it's most important for one's health and life to eat fresh real food, as opposed to nasty genetically modified KFC.

The lack of supermarkets in the hood is well documented, why you think Charles Ramsey (the neighbor who helped free the kidnapped women) constantly talked about eating at McDonalds? Shit, I remember back in the day hearing a freestyle by Del the Funky Homosapien rapping about how he couldn't get any fresh fruits and veggies in inner city Oakland.

Anyways point being, is I think you are downplaying and kind of hating, when in reality this is an issue we should be more aware of, and give props to people trying to bring change to the hood.

[JayMillz]

(05-19-2013 12:46 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

I don't think you realize how certain inner cities in the U.S. are devoid of decent supermarkets that carry fresh food. Usually the ghetto is full of nothing but fast food restaurants, McDonalds, KFC, etc. These are the main options for people and people eat there, because of convenience, lack of choice, or just because they aren't educated enough about the food they eat.

Even though you didn't watch the vid, you seem to definitely get the message and understand the importance. In the vid, the guy talks about having to drive 45 minutes roundtrip to get organic foods. On a more basic level, I've seen plenty of hoods that didn't even have major grocery stores of quality, and some only had little neighborhood grocery stores. Meanwhile, churches, liquor stores, drug dealers, and fast food places where in abundance. You have to tip your hat at this powerful message for this community.