gardens of the righteous (GOTR)

In our gardens, we place our hands in the soil to sow seeds. We watch shoots breaking ground, leaves unfurling, flowers blooming, and food growing. Through our gardens, we build reciprocal relationships with the earth, in which we honor the plants and seasons, express our gratitude for the harvest, and always, with care, replenish what we take. For these reasons, Insurgent Ecologies believes gardens are sacred spaces of abundance and wisdom, not meant to be owned, but shared and cultivated through collective practices of support, compassion, mutuality, and care. Gardens of the Righteous (GOTR) is a community-based initiative that seeks to create garden networks for and within existing religious, spiritual, and/or justice-based communities. Building upon practices of community gardening and mutual aid, Insurgent Ecologies assists in setting up a network of backyard (or front yard, or balcony) gardens through which a community can collectively grow all, most, or some of its seasonal fruits and vegetables, while working together to build righteous networks of knowledge, support, and care. How does GOTR work? With Insurgent Ecologies, your community will decide what and how much it wants to grow. Then, we will assess how much land is available in your community to grow food (i.e. five participants who have 8-by-8 plots, 2 who have 4-by-4 plots, and 3 who can grow a box on their balcony) and create a collective planting and harvesting schedule. Depending on your needs, IE can provide guidance and support during this process. Our hope is for your community to build long-term relationships with one another and the land that are rooted in spirit, interdependence, and mutual respect.