Urban Agriculture By Muslims In San Diego
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Read more → america, American-Muslims, community, Eco-Islam, Green-Muslims, Islam-Environment, muslim diaries In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you
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Eco-Muslima Asiila Rasool and family are part of the grassroots community project by People's ProduceCheck out why Asiila was inspired to grow organic, how she roped her community in, and why home-grown produce is worth all that effort.
{See more photos on Green Prophet's 'A Halal Day's Work'}
Whose idea was it to start a community garden and who's involved?
Asiila: Our community garden idea began as a jam’ah (congregational) effort of mostly mine and my two nieces during a homeschool project meeting. We home school our children so what better way for them to get closer to the earth and become more self-sufficient?
With so many organic markets available and grocery stores providing fresh produce why did you want to grow your own?
Asiila: We live in SE San Diego; with the lack of major grocery stores the people have limited options in buying from from small food marts. Ergo, the push to bring Farmer Markets and start community gardens throughout this area. We began the garden mostly because we read the writing on the wall: "inflation, shoddy produce, recession, less produce". With all the benefits of locally grown food we thought what could be more environmentally friendly than our own garden?
Asiila gets into the spirit of agricultural living
Do you think going green from the roots a difficult move for Muslims?
Asiila: Granted, ALL of us are learning about growing 'green' as we go, but luckily there are all kinds of community garden efforts popping up, free composting classes and tours of other master gardener's properties to keep us motivated.
The People Produce Project is a grant funded project with a Facebook group and stems from the Project New Village.org, also here in SouthEast. We joined that and are getting access to news of tours, classes and meetings to bring more green to this area. In the People's Produce Project, about 1/5 of the participants are Muslim, along with at least 2 of the master gardeners. This should be enough incentive for others to organize one garden in a large community, that they can all take part in and benefit from.
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Leaving the freshly dug ground to set
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The freshly dug earth is ready for plants
So could you tell us what are you growing in these patches?
Asiila: The garden shown above is in our rented home's back yard. We grew lettuces and spinach. We also planted five trees (three lemons, a pomegranate and an apple), and have plans to plant more and other types. We're also looking for where to plant herbs and flowers. I envision sunflowers running the length of our driveway, for example.
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Seeds of kale and spinach
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Day 2: The working team continues
How much planning did your garden take and how long will you have to wait for your first bite?Asiila: The day after we completed planting our rains came... torrential rain! For about 3 days! Planning such a project takes determination and know how in what kind of plants grow in what type of ground; with my large team uniting on this front, the work load isn't as daunting either.
My family told me that 'some' sprouts are coming up; we have yet to taste our own produce, but judging from other gardener's produce we've tasted, there is NO comparison. Store bought tomatoes and cucumbers are tasteless and watery, whereas the homegrown, organic veggies - fresh off the vine, are like elixirs and nectar from Allah, I exaggerate not! About 5 years ago, I grew some squash, beans, tomatoes and they definitely tasted much better than shop bought vegetables too.
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Adding Manure and rain for nourishment
What are your long term goals for the community garden? Will you grow any more? Asiila: Our goal is to eventually grow enough produce to feed all 44 of us! That will take a lot more growing and planning, but Insha'allah, we'll at least be able to supplement what we currently buy, Insha'Allah. A second garden is planned for somewhere on my nieces land, probably in the spring.
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How are your neighbours reacting to your home garden project?Asiila: We have had no huge reaction yet! We have a hive of bees that have made their home in the wall on the side of our house, near the garden. Our landlord keeps trying to kill them, but they come back. As long as we give the bees salaams, they just circle us to check us out. I'm sure somehow they're aware we're about to bring them some nice pollen!
Finally Asiila, what do you think the future holds for like minded eco-aware Muslims? The future? It's coming, and we best get prepared for it. A key issue for us will be finding enough water in this area (and in the rest of the world so I hear). Catching rain is an option, as well as using new techniques like double digging and square foot gardening, which we did with this garden. I believe Muslims will reclaim their knowledge and love of agricultural work;working with the land and with their hands. In fact, all the immigrants I know keep at least a herb garden on the tiniest strip of land, if that's all they have. They also grow vegetables. We muslims still have a way to go on learning to give up the plastics and bottled water/sodas and watching what we eat vis a vis our snacks and drinks, but I believe the future will pretty much force Muslims to get back to the old ways. Working in the earth, growing your own food, dealing with Allah's handiwork hands on is so incredibly grounding and spiritual. I believe Muslims will very much become part of the 'green revolution' if we're not already.
MUSLIMNESS: Thank you very much sister Asiila Rasool for sharing your eco-tips and lifestyle with us.
Stay updated with The People Produce Project on Facebook.
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Adding Manure and rain for nourishmentWhat are your long term goals for the community garden? Will you grow any more? Asiila: Our goal is to eventually grow enough produce to feed all 44 of us! That will take a lot more growing and planning, but Insha'allah, we'll at least be able to supplement what we currently buy, Insha'Allah. A second garden is planned for somewhere on my nieces land, probably in the spring.
+Digging+trenches.jpg)
Digging trenches
How are your neighbours reacting to your home garden project?Asiila: We have had no huge reaction yet! We have a hive of bees that have made their home in the wall on the side of our house, near the garden. Our landlord keeps trying to kill them, but they come back. As long as we give the bees salaams, they just circle us to check us out. I'm sure somehow they're aware we're about to bring them some nice pollen!
Day 3: the sowing.
Finally Asiila, what do you think the future holds for like minded eco-aware Muslims? The future? It's coming, and we best get prepared for it. A key issue for us will be finding enough water in this area (and in the rest of the world so I hear). Catching rain is an option, as well as using new techniques like double digging and square foot gardening, which we did with this garden. I believe Muslims will reclaim their knowledge and love of agricultural work;working with the land and with their hands. In fact, all the immigrants I know keep at least a herb garden on the tiniest strip of land, if that's all they have. They also grow vegetables. We muslims still have a way to go on learning to give up the plastics and bottled water/sodas and watching what we eat vis a vis our snacks and drinks, but I believe the future will pretty much force Muslims to get back to the old ways. Working in the earth, growing your own food, dealing with Allah's handiwork hands on is so incredibly grounding and spiritual. I believe Muslims will very much become part of the 'green revolution' if we're not already.
MUSLIMNESS: Thank you very much sister Asiila Rasool for sharing your eco-tips and lifestyle with us.
Stay updated with The People Produce Project on Facebook.
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