Guerilla Gardening

[2ndRateMind]

Not having an allotment, I'm thinking of spreading a few seeds around my local park next spring. I'm thinking green herbs mainly, stuff that will blend in and not be obvious, so there is some chance it will escape the notice of the masses. Anyone doing this already? Any tips? Anything do well, or not so well? I did read a suggestion from someone about seeding your bug out route so you can pick supplies on your way, but that does rely so much on trouble happening in just the right season, I wonder if it's a workable idea.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[Arzosah]

Herbs are fine - unless they're invasive, I guess. When people speak of guerrilla gardening, I hear them talk a lot about Jerusalem artichoke. I think there's also something to be said for learning about forage - from herbs and flowers to trees.

[TwoDo]

Not having an allotment, I'm thinking of spreading a few seeds around my local park next spring. I'm thinking green herbs mainly, stuff that will blend in and not be obvious, so there is some chance it will escape the notice of the masses. Anyone doing this already? Any tips? Anything do well, or not so well? I did read a suggestion from someone about seeding your bug out route so you can pick supplies on your way, but that does rely so much on trouble happening in just the right season, I wonder if it's a workable idea.

I have posted this before but one suggestion is to plant on the far side of canals (opposite to the tow path) where it is hard to get to. As for what to plant, why not put in some jerusalem artichokes next spring? They are very hardy, cheap, require zero maintenance, do not look edible to most people and since they are tubers they will be available at any time of the year after the first year. Even if British Waterways clears them down they will just sprout again.

[smoggiebowman]

guerilla growing is something already adopted by some slightly less law abiding folks so I see no reason why not.

The key is in finding an area out of the way that you can cultivate and maintain. It's something I've been thinking of myself along with a better understanding of what occurs naturally that is edible.

I think its a safer option than an allotment which could very easily become a target.

[nickdutch]

But wouldn't you also need to have maps that have detailed information of each planting, notes taken on the grid references and the like so that you can get to them when needed and also not have them too far away from home so the time involved in getting the things won't be a constraint?

And how would you plant them without detection?

[smoggiebowman]

But wouldn't you also need to have maps that have detailed information of each planting, notes taken on the grid references and the like so that you can get to them when needed and also not have them too far away from home so the time involved in getting the things won't be a constraint?

And how would you plant them without detection?

Depends on your local area I guess, google maps is where I'd start - unless you're in the centre of an city then id bet there was some space nearby which would be useful. Id keep basic notes, become familiar with the area and stick to root vegetables and the likes.... things that dont require tonnes of maintenance.
Id be looking for places where not everyone goes or even where access is a little difficult so id hope digging a hole, dropping in a spud and marking the area wouldnt go too noticed

[junmist]

Would you know what carrots - onions- fennel look like growing in a hedgerow or forest? most people would not when looking for food most people expect it to be grown in rows in fields gardens or allotments. Would they know that carrots were originally white and yellow before they became orange do they know about purple potatoes and if you found some would you as a non food growing public if you found them would you eat them. The point of guerrilla gardening for me is hiding food in plain site

[dazthechippy]

this is an area where my preps fail badly - not doing too badly on the collecting food we can store, but nothing lined up for longer term subsistance. We have grown things like potatoes, carrots and courgettes before at our old house before we moved here a year ago, but nothing like this - I'm gonna give it a go I think - i love the idea of in plain site - just asked the wife what an artichoke looks like and she only knows about the bit you eat - not the bit above ground and that's gotta be the genius of if - 95% of the population wouldnt know what they are looking for when the tins run out (me included). The deciding thing on what you grow has to be for me nutritional value, herbs and all thatt are good but you cant live on them.

Anyone got any gardening tips ????

[the big fly in]

Hello guys

just some things I do and you can to.

maps are good. I have plotted all the apple trees that I see along the free way and roads as I drive round. you will be amaised if you start looking ,, this is the best time of the year as the apple are big and red!

this time of the year is also a good time to collect nuts, acorns, apple, pears ex I must plant about +1000 cob nuts a year walking the dog! not to mention apples ex. it is realy so satisfing to see a tree comming up along the road where I have thoun an apple core ex!

I call it "free way florist gardening" or what ever you like.

this is the how part: go to wiks buy a safty fence pole, they are about £3.50 its a steel staf. find a few trees and visit them every few days as the nuts fall off colect them. you dont have to dry them out or anything they are good to go.

don't plant them to deep , just deep enoph so they are not spotted by predators, but so they will still get some frost to make them grow.

ps its not just the froot you want but also the wood and the birds and squirils


Ya ya I can just see the comments now. throwing stuff out of cars is not clever bla bla bla get a life, I do not condone it ether do stuff with some common sense people.

[BigAndy]

Rather than look at big spaces to plant in,
I have been planting around the edge of a school playing field in between the steel security fence,
The space between the school fence and peoples garden fences goes from 1ft to 3ft wide.
I measured the distance around the edge and it worked out to be almost 300 meters of safe and secure growing space that gets full sun light.
The best thing is the school field is totally enclosed so i dont have to worry about dog wee or the general public seeing the plants and i dont plant any crops that would stand out.
kale, spinach, swede, turnips, parsnips went in this year and next year i want to plant Mangels which are a great food and they store very well over winter.