There is a wonderful demonstration garden right in the center of Paris in front of the l'Hotel de Ville, a 15th century municipal building. The closest space we have like this in Gainesville is probably City Hall, a plain 1960s building surrounded by concrete and former goldfish ponds. Normally, the area in front of the l'Hotel de Ville is a large paved plaza area with benches and a fountain - not so entirely different. But in early June, raised beds were created in wooden boxes and installed throughout the plaza along with information on "bio" (organic) methods of gardening in small places.
They have fine weather for gardening here in the summer - about twenty degrees cooler than our summers and a little more dry. The garden is beautiful and, everytime I pass it, full of people enjoying it - which is the idea. The word for vegetable garden in French is potager, and the word for sharing is partager, so this potager for partager is also a nice play on words that they use in the informational brochures.
I would love to do this in Gainesville: create a real public space for a garden that would offer education, inspiration, and beauty - things public spaces are meant for.
Wow! This is fabulous! It would be super cool if we could have something like this in Gainesville... Edible, nutritious, beautiful landscape!
Posted by: your rafiki | July 14, 2009 at 05:00 PM
I think You do a great job. Thanks
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Posted by: Spiridon | February 03, 2010 at 06:38 AM
I think it is amazing :-)
Posted by: anne | May 26, 2010 at 05:43 PM