the Grow Where You Are! lecture series with Eugene Cooke

Lecture 1. The Art of Urban Gardening – This workshop explore concepts about the food you eat:  growing it, eating it, where it comes from and healthy food as a human right. Eugene discusses qualities like silence, observation, compassion, decision making, flexibility and the cycles of life all in relation to the garden!  Planting as a service.

Lecture 2. The Edible Garden - Learn simple tools to make it EASY to grow food in spaces large and small.  Learn how to use things that fill the urban landscape, like newspaper, cardboard or old fencing, to create a beautiful garden. The Art of Urban Gardening allows you to grow a garden within your budget and can suit the needs of every grower. Community, home, and container gardens. Accent the home and feed the family.

Lecture 3. Building Community in the Garden – Is a food revolution in season? Where does your food come from? Get inspired about using plants to reclaim space for the public good and see your city in a different light. Eugene will provide you with tips and tools to begin building community with ideas like neighborhood orchards and sustainable food co-ops. Whether you are involved with a school, a faith-based institution or any local organization, let’s work together and share the work and rewards of growing food!  Calling all students, parents, teachers, neighborhood & community organizers!

Lecture 4.  Local Food Worldwide – Eugene shares insights on further developing the concept of sustainable community development worldwide from his work in the US, Kenya and Jamaica where he has studied food growing practices, indigenous recipes and food preparation. We will apply Eugene’s experience and knowledge to the places where we live and learn how we can develop a paradise for our own communities.

Lecture 5. Meditations on the Garden – The law of the circle, karma, what goes around comes around, you reap what you sow – call it what you like! Eugene discusses non-dogmatic philosophy about the concept of karma and how we can get back in touch with the seasons, cycles of the moon and our own center through gardening. Learn how the garden encourages a cleaner diet, sharing & giving and helps us to reconnect to our center. Eugene will inspire you with both ideas and practical information to begin connecting growing food with your health and wellness. Sow some gardening karma – share some cuttings from your garden with coworkers, neighbors, family and friends!

If you’d like to book one or more of these classes with Eugene Cooke at a store, studio, school, community organization,  faith-based institution or anywhere else there is interest,  please contact andrea@4mamaearth.org.  Grow the local food movement in your own community!

“Your own corner of the planet is the perfect place to start.” - David Tracey, Guerilla Gardening.

• 25 Things YOU can do to make a difference
• Suggested Reading & Films
• Grow Where You Are! press
• Eugene Cooke’s bio
• Eugene Visits with Dr. Cornel West & Tavis Smiley