Summary: <br> In this episode of Vegetable Gardening<br> In today's show, Mike chats with Ron Finley. In 2010 Ron decided to make a change for the better in front of his South Central Los Angeles home by planting a variety of fruits, trees and veggies. Not too long after, a neighbor put in an anonymous complaint, and that's when the revolution started.<br> <br> Nearly 7 years later, after a lot of hard work and dedication, Ron's movement to grow fresh food at home and teach others to do the same has spread around the world. <br> <br> Listen in as Ron shares his stories, the challenges he and those he lives around in South Central Los Angeles face on a daily basis and what he's doing about it.<br> This and so much on this episode Vegetable Gardening!<br> Here's what we'll cover<br> <br> How did the Revolution Begin<br> The challenges that Ron and many others face everyday in regards to fresh home grown food<br> The stories that touched Ron's life and gives him the motivation to keep going<br> Ron's movie, Can You Dig This!<br> <br> <br> Mentioned in this Episode<br> <br> <a href="http://ronfinley.com/">The Ron Finley Project</a><br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018T349U6/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=indocquent-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B018T349U6&linkId=ecf8e556f806d7c9487c81b1e814f697">Can You Dig This!</a><br> <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/savethegangstagarden">Ron's Go Fund Me Page</a><br> <br> About this episode's guest, Ron Finley<br> Meet Ron Finley, a man who will not sit still and watch a problem take root. Having grown up in the South Los Angeles food prison, Ron is familiar with the area’s lack of fresh produce. He knew what it’s like to drive 45 minutes just to get a fresh tomato.<br> <br> In 2010, he set out to fix the problem. Outside his front door, that is. Ron planted vegetables in the curbside dirt strip next to his home. And quietly, carefully, tenderly started a revolution. I wanted a carrot without toxic ingredients I didn’t know how to spell, says Ron.<br> <br> His was an exceptionally creative, cost-effective and simple solution; however, it was also an act of spirited rebellion that led to a run-in with the authorities.<br> <br> The City of Los Angeles owns the “parkways” the neglected dirt areas next to roads where Ron was planting. He was cited for gardening without a permit. This slap on the wrist did little to dissuade his green thumb. So Ron fought back. Hard. He started a petition with fellow green activists, demanding the right to garden and grow food in his neighborhood and then, the city backed off.<br> <br> This caught the eyes of creative leaders and media voices that lauded his courageous act of ebullient defiance. Ron has continued to share his story and vision with the world, giving a TED talk and planning many exciting ways to continue his involvement in mitigating Los Angeles food prisons.<br> <br> His dreams have been reshaped into a thriving garden of pumpkins, peppers, sunflowers, kale and corn. But more than being a gangsta gardener, Ron is a community leader.<br> <br> Determined to change South Los Angeles from food desert to food forest, he wants his actions to be educational, inspiring, and nutritious. He wants kids to grow up with the option of healthy food, instead of fried, fattening staples. He wants to sweep up and transform his street, his hood, the city of LA and communities everywhere.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> About the Host<br> Mike Podlesny is the author of the book <a href="http://amzn.to/1jiis3S">Vegetable Gardening for the Average Person</a> as well as the creator of the <a href="http://www.averagepersongardening.com/seedsclub">Seeds of the Month Club</a> where members receive non gmo, heirloom variety seeds every month. You can listen to Mike each week on the <a href=""></a>
