Bronx: Fresh versus fast
Genesis Park Community Garden, South Bronx by Roger Repohl At Genesis Park Community Garden here in the South Bronx, the summer vegetables — tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, okra, collards, beans, cucumbers, melons — are growing lustily in the hot weather, shading the early-spring plantings of lettuces, spinach, radishes, and cilantro, which the gardeners are now harvesting. The cool-weather crops of peas, broccoli, and carrots will be ready soon. At this time of year, the garden is a busy place. Kids off the street and from local youth groups come by to dig for earthworms, shriek at centipedes, pull weeds, shovel compost, plant seeds, water, and wonder at the miracle of life. Recently, after they’d put in a morning of solid work, I asked the kids if they’d like some lemonade. Before they had a chance to reply, their youth-group leader interjected, “Or I could take you to McDonald’s.” Guess which option they chose. McDonald’s! I cringed. After all that hands-on education in urban farming, they still salivate for greasy McNuggets, salty fries, and sugary sodas. My mind went a step further: But what about my instant lemonade, that sweetened water with a little flavoring? Right next to…
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