PowerSwitch

Guerrilla gardening!

“Guerrilla gardening is the act of gardening – raising food, plants, or flowers – on land that the gardeners do not have the legal rights to cultivate”

I have to own up to this, though in a fairly low key way.

I collect and scatter burdock seeds everywhere I walk dogs or wander by. The first year roots are pretty big and taste like Jerusalem artichokes (though they have a somewhat discouraging grey look to them once peeled).

There are two types: giant and common. They cross pollinate. Always worth harvesting burrs you come across away from home to add to genetic diversity.

They’re something of a delicacy in Japan - and are fantastically persistent once established around the edges of any land you have access to.

Can be harvested fairly discreetly with a palette knife if the soil isn’t too dry and hard.

I thoroughly agree with Catweazle regarding guerrilla gardening vs foraging. For anyone in need in the area - there’s an interchange on the A50 near Uttoxeter that should be infested with Jerusalem artichokes by now unless remedial action has been taken. I’ve moved since then and am working on pastures new.

There was a really good write up about something like a Japanese Quarter Acre Garden that was fascinating but now lost deep in my web history.

I found an echo of it in an article on ‘meadow culture’ by someone calling themselves a ‘countryside anarchist’ who’s project at the time was growing a good variety of mutually supportive vegetables in various unofficial and unobtrusive ‘plots’ around his home.

Guerrilla gardening is a great thing to get into - especially as you begin to find what works best in your own local area.