Ron Finley Planted Food by the Curb in South Los Angeles and Changed a City Rule

Ron Finley lived in South Central Los Angeles, where he raised his sons. Before he became known for gardening, he worked as a fashion designer, according to the One Earth profile of his work.

His neighborhood had plenty of fast food and very little fresh produce. In his 2013 TED talk, as summarized on TED's own blog, he pointed out that the obesity rate in his area was five times higher than in Beverly Hills, about eight miles away. He put the problem bluntly: the drive-thrus were killing more people than the drive-bys.

In 2010, Finley decided to use what was right in front of him. Outside his house was a parkway, the city-owned strip of land between the sidewalk and the curb, roughly 150 feet long and 10 feet wide. He planted it with vegetables and fruit, including kale and strawberries. TED reports that he worked with a volunteer group called L.A. Green Grounds, which went on to plant other gardens in the area.

The city did not approve. Finley received a citation for violating the rules on parkway planting, and later a warrant was issued in connection with it. Rather than tear out the garden, he pushed back.

A petition in support of his garden gathered about 900 signatures, according to One Earth, and after the Los Angeles Times covered the story, the city backed down.

Backing off one case was not the same as changing the rule. That took longer. In March 2015, Los Angeles magazine reported that the City Council had approved allowing residents to plant edible gardens in parkways without a special permit, though fruit trees still needed permission. Finley told the magazine he was elated, and said the city would benefit from healthier citizens and fresher air.

Meanwhile he had founded the Ron Finley Project in 2012, a nonprofit built around the idea of turning food deserts into food forests and teaching people to grow their own food.

The work faced another threat. LA Weekly reported in 2017 that the South Los Angeles property where the Ron Finley Project gardened had been bought at a foreclosure auction by a developer, and the project faced eviction.

Help came from many directions. Through crowdfunding and donations, including support from Nell Newman, Annie's president John Foraker, and several natural food companies, the nonprofit raised about $550,000 and bought the property. Finley told the paper they had faced someone with more money and resources, and still they rose. The episode was a reminder that a community project can depend on things outside its control, like who owns the land, and that saving it may take many supporters at once.

Finley has kept teaching. One Earth describes free community events, a garden called HQ where people learn about soil and nutrition, and an online gardening course. He has redefined the word gangsta to mean understanding how systems work and being able to support yourself, and has spoken of moving kids off the streets and into gardens.

The Ron Finley Project's website continues to describe its mission as helping communities turn food deserts into productive gardens, neighborhood by neighborhood.