food grows here? finding light in unlikely places

In the narrow alley behind our house, food is growing. Pomegranates, pears, and cherries. Turnips, beets, and radishes. Figs, strawberries, and tomatoes. 

We were told this wouldn’t be possible. 

When we moved into our home several years ago, we were excited to plant a garden. We envisioned stepping outside to harvest fresh fruits and vegetables. We wanted to reduce both our grocery budget and the amount of produce that traveled thousands of miles to reach us. 

But a local landscaping company specializing in food gardens told us we were out of luck. Too shaded. Too small. Too bad. 

Then, one day, while taking out the trash, we noticed bright sunlight falling on the neglected stretch of ground between our back fence and the concrete alley. 

It was two feet wide, twenty feet long, and covered in grass and debris. 

It wasn’t ideal. Or pretty. But it had potential.

We soon learned you don’t need perfect conditions to grow food. You just need enough—enough light, enough water, enough willingness to experiment. 

We researched which types of plants might thrive in this imperfect place, and we gave it a try. 

Now, three years later, we enjoy fresh, organically-grown greens, berries, and veggies from early spring through late fall. Some things we really like won’t grow there. And we have only so much space, so we won’t be giving up the grocery store anytime soon. But our alley garden is a garden nonetheless. 

Noticing the light and growing what you can, where you can – that’s not just about gardening. 

Too often, we give up on goals and dreams because the conditions aren’t perfect, or because someone with expertise or authority points out all the reasons we won’t succeed. 

Counselors tell low-income students in struggling schools that college isn’t for them. 

Bankers tell aspiring entrepreneurs that their account balance is too small or their credit score is too low.

Politicians and donors tell justice-focused activists that people aren’t ready to change policies and power structures.

There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging challenges that make our goals harder to achieve. 

The problem is believing our goals cannot be recast and the challenges cannot be overcome. 

A basil plant can thrive on a windowsill. Potatoes can grow in a bucket on the front porch. And yes, an alley can become a garden.

Whether in our personal lives, our work lives, or our community and political lives, let’s not let imperfect conditions or perennial naysayers hold us back. 

Let’s look for the light, plant our seeds, learn from our successes and our setbacks, and keep moving forward. 

Not every day will be bright. Shadows and doubts may linger. It may take longer than we want for our efforts to bear fruit, and the end result may not perfectly match the initial vision. 

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t start. And it can take time for roots to establish, so the sooner the better. 

Take time to notice where the light falls. It might be in an unexpected place. Begin there. 

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