“Radiant City”, a video/documentary on suburban sprawl exposes the isolation and starkness that exists in a structured society that actually presupposes you have one vehicle per adult. I kept waiting for them to mention the lack of trees and flowers and gardens in this vast suburbia. Maybe they did, but if they did it was only in passing. They were speaking more about the wasteland effect of power shopping centers being within driving and not walking distances of the suburbanite’s homes and that there were no gathering spots for neighborhoods to get to know one another.

They ignored the fact that there were no trees, no gardens, no birds, no streams, and no rivers. A realtor highlighted the fact that the upper class houses resided on a “large lake” which really looked like a large sterile pond. Ponds and lakes naturally provide the water and nutrients for plants and wildlife, but not when you surround the boundaries of the lake with large rocks and boulders. There are no large willows whose overhanging branches make for great rope swings. You swing like Tarzan over the water while hanging on to the rope and then you let go, splashing into the water below. A great way to cool off in the hot summer days. However, if there are no tree branches over the water and no spot for willows or large silver maples to grow up from, you can kiss this recreation or pasttime goodbye.

How about adding some gardens and animal life to the individual homes as a way to get to know the neighbors. The growing green movement means that you seek to live healthy and do it at the lowest possible cost. The 25 feet or less in front of the homes would make great vegetable gardens. Yes, usually they are in the backyard, but some of suburbia only have decks and patios with little else. Vegetable plants need full sun, especially in the morning hours.

By getting rid of shrubs you should have the necessary space and if you buy wooden or bamboo poles that you shape into teepees instead of the metal cones, your vegetable garden should look great and even sheik. Vegetable gardens requires watering and mulching and /or weeding. What a great way to get to know your neighbors while you are discussing what you planted this year and how last years crop went.

Taking the green movement even further, how about raising some chickens so that you can get country fresh eggs throughout a large portion of the year. Yes, laws may have to be changed, so change them. Chickens can be raised in rabbit hutches off the ground and you can limit the number of chickens to a reasonable number that your yard can support. You could even build some decks and patios for the specific purpose of putting chicken hutches on. If you use rabbit-type hutches, you do not need any hen houses at all and just before winter, you can enjoy fresh chicken meat as you butcher your chickens. In the spring, you purchases a fresh batch of chicks and start all over again.

Lastly, when some power centers outgrow their usefulness, tear down the buildings and rip up the huge parking lots. Bring in tons of celery soil, fine, rich dark black humus soil, and make community gardens for all to enjoy and gather at. If your power center is still flourishing, ask the suburb fathers for some community property that could be tilled up for gardening. Get the green movement going in your community.

Don’t let suburbia remain a wasteland. Affect change by doing what others have done in years gone by. Make a difference in your quality of life. Don’t let life pass you by while you shut yourself off from the rest of the world. No, facebook is not enough. If laws prevent the greening of America, change them for the better.

Depending on where you travel in the United States, you may run into different native animals. Take the black bear for instance. He gets himself into predicaments sometimes. Scroll down to see the video story of a bear that did just that.

In northern Michigan, around the Traverse City bay area, police are called to use tranquilizer guns on bears that decide that a tree above people is a nice place to roost. Ask a bear for the real reason, however. Of course, this is an occasional thing, not a regular occurence.

Near Gillette, Wyoming we find the elks living in the forested regions and outside populated areas. However the antelopes, smaller and more deer-like, like living in and around the towns. But why not, they eat the sage grass and help keep the lawn down. They don’t seem to have an affinity for gardens, which is a good thing.

a green, caring vegetable farmer.

It is so refreshing to see a producer who truly cares about the customer. Henry grows over 100 types of different vegetables on his farm. Why? For starters he doesn’t want to turn a customer away and then there is his favorite reason, biodiversity. Some years weather patterns are more favorable to one variety over another. A late growing vegetable may do well most years and then one year we have an unusual spring or summer and that vegetable produces poorly. In that unusual year a different variety will take up the slack and do well.

Exciting and tantalizing to the tastebuds are the phrases that come to mind when we explore all the kinds of vegetables we have to choose from on Henry Brockmans farm located in central Illinois. Talk about over 500 varieties of the typical vegetable groups and this starts to get mind boggling. What is that I hear, central Illinois is a bit far to travel for organic vegetables? For you Chicagoans, don’t worry, Henry comes to you.

Starting in mid-May and until the first Saturday in November, Henry is committed to supplying Chicago customers with his colorful bounty at the Evanston Farmers Market every Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm. (However, to get a good selection, be there by 7 am!) For those already near the Peoria area, Henry has a package crate deal. Henry’s CSA delivers spring, summer and winter crates to local subscibers for a total of 26 weeks. This is a far cry from the stilted meager vegetable variety found at ones local supermarket. You even have the wholesomeness of organically grown vegetables too.

Don’t think his dedication has gone unrewarded. In March Henry Brockman along with his extended family is to receive the $1000 North Central Region Patrick Madden award sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE).

If you want to explore organic foods further, he has written a book called Organic Matters. For more information or to subscribe to Henry’s CSA visit www.henryfarms.com