[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.19,0:00:03.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I live in South Central.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.66,0:00:05.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is South Central:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.81,0:00:08.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,liquor stores,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.68,0:00:11.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fast food,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.05,0:00:13.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vacant lots.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.40,0:00:15.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the city planners, they get together and they figure
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.08,0:00:18.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're going to change the name South Central to make it represent something else,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.32,0:00:21.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they change it to South Los Angeles,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.49,0:00:25.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like this is going to fix what's really going wrong in the city.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.37,0:00:29.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is South Los Angeles. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.08,0:00:31.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Liquor stores,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.25,0:00:33.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fast food,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.56,0:00:36.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,vacant lots.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.20,0:00:39.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just like 26.5 million other Americans,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.68,0:00:42.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I live in a food desert,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.24,0:00:44.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,South Central Los Angeles,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.30,0:00:48.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,home of the drive-thru and the drive-by.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.50,0:00:53.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Funny thing is, the drive-thrus are killing more people than the drive-bys.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.94,0:00:56.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People are dying from curable diseases
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.44,0:00:59.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in South Central Los Angeles.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.28,0:01:01.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For instance, the obesity rate in my neighborhood
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.88,0:01:05.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is five times higher than, say, Beverly Hills,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.14,0:01:08.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is probably eight, 10 miles away.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.74,0:01:12.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got tired of seeing this happening.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.20,0:01:14.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was wondering, how would you feel
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.31,0:01:17.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you had no access to healthy food,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.60,0:01:20.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if every time you walk out your door you see the ill effects
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.48,0:01:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the present food system has on your neighborhood?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.14,0:01:26.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see wheelchairs bought and sold
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.81,0:01:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like used cars.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.88,0:01:32.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see dialysis centers popping up like Starbucks.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.90,0:01:36.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I figured, this has to stop.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.30,0:01:42.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I figured that the problem is the solution.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.12,0:01:45.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Food is the problem and food is the solution.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.85,0:01:48.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plus I got tired of driving 45 minutes round trip
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.78,0:01:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get an apple that wasn't impregnated with pesticides.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.98,0:01:57.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what I did, I planted a food forest in front of my house.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.54,0:01:59.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was on a strip of land that we call a parkway.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.93,0:02:03.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's 150 feet by 10 feet.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.31,0:02:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thing is, it's owned by the city.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.76,0:02:08.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you have to maintain it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.34,0:02:12.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm like, "Cool. I can do whatever the hell I want,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.85,0:02:16.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since it's my responsibility and I gotta maintain it."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.69,0:02:19.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is how I decided to maintain it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.59,0:02:22.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So me and my group, L.A. Green Grounds, we got together
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.58,0:02:24.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we started planting my food forest, fruit trees,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.93,0:02:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, the whole nine, vegetables.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.04,0:02:30.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we do, we're a pay-it-forward kind of group,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.01,0:02:34.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it's composed of gardeners from all walks of life,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.85,0:02:37.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from all over the city, and it's completely volunteer,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.18,0:02:39.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and everything we do is free.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.01,0:02:42.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the garden, it was beautiful.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.11,0:02:44.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then somebody complained.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.56,0:02:46.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The city came down on me,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.94,0:02:51.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and basically gave me a citation saying that I had to remove my garden,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.25,0:02:53.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which this citation was turning into a warrant.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.88,0:02:56.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm like, "Come on, really?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.41,0:02:59.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A warrant for planting food on a piece of land
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.16,0:03:02.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you could care less about?" (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.57,0:03:04.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was like, "Cool. Bring it."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.91,0:03:08.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because this time it wasn't coming up.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.10,0:03:13.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So L.A. Times got ahold of it. Steve Lopez did a story on it
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.11,0:03:16.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and talked to the councilman,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.23,0:03:17.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and one of the Green Grounds members,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.83,0:03:20.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they put up a petition on Change.org,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.64,0:03:23.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and with 900 signatures, we were a success.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.50,0:03:25.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We had a victory on our hands.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.57,0:03:29.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My councilman even called in and said how they endorse
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.07,0:03:31.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and love what we're doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.72,0:03:34.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, come on, why wouldn't they?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.24,0:03:39.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,L.A. leads the United States in vacant lots that the city actually owns.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.09,0:03:44.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They own 26 square miles of vacant lots.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.44,0:03:47.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's 20 Central Parks.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.47,0:03:54.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's enough space to plant 725 million tomato plants.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.78,0:03:59.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why in the hell would they not okay this?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.74,0:04:03.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Growing one plant will give you 1,000, 10,000 seeds.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.85,0:04:06.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When one dollar's worth of green beans
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.56,0:04:10.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will give you 75 dollars' worth of produce.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.12,0:04:13.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's my gospel, when I'm telling people, grow your own food.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.80,0:04:16.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Growing your own food is like printing your own money.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.94,0:04:23.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.94,0:04:26.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,See, I have a legacy in South Central.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.81,0:04:31.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I grew up there. I raised my sons there.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.54,0:04:35.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I refuse to be a part of this manufactured reality
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.80,0:04:38.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that was manufactured for me by some other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.67,0:04:41.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm manufacturing my own reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.27,0:04:43.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,See, I'm an artist.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.79,0:04:47.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gardening is my graffiti. I grow my art.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.89,0:04:52.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just like a graffiti artist, where they beautify walls,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.47,0:04:55.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,me, I beautify lawns, parkways.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.90,0:04:59.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I use the garden, the soil, like it's a piece of cloth,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.81,0:05:02.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the plants and the trees,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.00,0:05:05.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's my embellishment for that cloth.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.68,0:05:11.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'd be surprised what the soil could do
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.73,0:05:13.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you let it be your canvas.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.26,0:05:16.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You just couldn't imagine how amazing a sunflower is
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.78,0:05:19.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how it affects people.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.79,0:05:22.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what happened?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.46,0:05:27.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have witnessed my garden become a tool for the education,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.53,0:05:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a tool for the transformation of my neighborhood.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.56,0:05:35.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To change the community, you have to change the composition of the soil.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.44,0:05:39.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are the soil.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.98,0:05:45.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You'd be surprised how kids are affected by this.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.52,0:05:49.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Gardening is the most therapeutic
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.76,0:05:52.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and defiant act you can do,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.70,0:05:55.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially in the inner city.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.19,0:05:57.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plus you get strawberries.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.94,0:06:01.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.39,0:06:03.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember this time,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.77,0:06:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was this mother and a daughter came,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.08,0:06:09.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was, like, 10:30 at night, and they were in my yard,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.55,0:06:13.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I came out and they looked so ashamed.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.01,0:06:16.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I'm like, man, it made me feel bad that they were there,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.70,0:06:19.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I told them, you know, you don't have to do this like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.44,0:06:21.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is on the street for a reason.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.45,0:06:24.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It made me feel ashamed to see people
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.94,0:06:27.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that were this close to me that were hungry,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.52,0:06:30.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this only reinforced why I do this,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.66,0:06:33.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and people asked me, "Fin, aren't you afraid
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.63,0:06:35.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people are going to steal your food?"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.12,0:06:37.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I'm like, "Hell no, I ain't afraid they're gonna steal it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.32,0:06:39.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why it's on the street.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.91,0:06:42.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's the whole idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:42.62,0:06:44.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want them to take it, but at the same time,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.42,0:06:48.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want them to take back their health."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.42,0:06:50.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's another time when I put
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.96,0:06:56.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a garden in this homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.40,0:06:59.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are the guys, they helped me unload the truck.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.36,0:07:01.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was cool, and they just shared the stories
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.98,0:07:04.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about how this affected them and how
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.84,0:07:07.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they used to plant with their mother and their grandmother,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.63,0:07:11.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was just cool to see how this changed them,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.05,0:07:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if it was only for that one moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.76,0:07:19.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Green Grounds has gone on to plant
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.62,0:07:21.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe 20 gardens.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.37,0:07:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've had, like, 50 people come to our dig-ins
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.64,0:07:28.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and participate, and it's all volunteers.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.40,0:07:32.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If kids grow kale, kids eat kale.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.03,0:07:33.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.29,0:07:38.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If they grow tomatoes, they eat tomatoes. (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.27,0:07:41.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when none of this is presented to them,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.60,0:07:45.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they're not shown how food affects the mind and the body,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.23,0:07:49.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they blindly eat whatever the hell you put in front of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.77,0:07:51.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see young people
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.68,0:07:54.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they want to work,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.79,0:07:56.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they're in this thing where they're caught up --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.91,0:08:00.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I see kids of color and they're just on this track
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.52,0:08:03.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's designed for them,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.45,0:08:05.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that leads them to nowhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.49,0:08:08.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So with gardening, I see an opportunity
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.16,0:08:10.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where we can train these kids
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.31,0:08:13.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to take over their communities,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.30,0:08:17.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to have a sustainable life.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.15,0:08:19.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when we do this, who knows?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.27,0:08:22.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We might produce the next George Washington Carver.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.49,0:08:24.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but if we don't change the composition of the soil,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.78,0:08:26.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we will never do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.38,0:08:29.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now this is one of my plans. This is what I want to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.33,0:08:33.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to plant a whole block of gardens
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.33,0:08:36.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where people can share in the food in the same block.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.72,0:08:38.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to take shipping containers
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.98,0:08:41.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and turn them into healthy cafes.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.67,0:08:44.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now don't get me wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.06,0:08:46.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not talking about no free shit,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.34,0:08:49.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because free is not sustainable.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.70,0:08:51.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The funny thing about sustainability,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.60,0:08:53.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you have to sustain it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.36,0:08:57.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.51,0:08:59.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I'm talking about is putting people to work,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.75,0:09:02.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and getting kids off the street, and letting them know
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.86,0:09:07.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the joy, the pride and the honor in growing your own food,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.81,0:09:10.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,opening farmer's markets.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.14,0:09:12.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what I want to do here,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.24,0:09:14.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we gotta make this sexy.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.94,0:09:19.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I want us all to become ecolutionary renegades,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.18,0:09:20.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gangstas, gangsta gardeners.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.90,0:09:25.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We gotta flip the script on what a gangsta is.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.24,0:09:27.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you ain't a gardener, you ain't gangsta.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.09,0:09:31.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Get gangsta with your shovel, okay?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.51,0:09:34.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And let that be your weapon of choice.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.70,0:09:41.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.64,0:09:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So basically, if you want to meet with me,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.26,0:09:50.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, if you want to meet,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.40,0:09:54.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't call me if you want to sit around in cushy chairs
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.19,0:09:57.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and have meetings where you talk about doing some shit --
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.100,0:10:01.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you talk about doing some shit.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.23,0:10:04.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you want to meet with me, come to the garden
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.38,0:10:07.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with your shovel so we can plant some shit.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.66,0:10:10.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Peace. Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.84,0:10:14.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.99,0:10:18.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you. (Applause)