Ron Finley: A guerrilla gardener in South Central LA

The speaker discusses the challenges of living in a food desert in South Central Los Angeles and the initiative to create a food forest to provide access to healthy food. Despite facing city opposition, community support helped the project succeed. Gardening is portrayed as both an art form and a means of social change, transforming the community and empowering youth. The speaker calls for community involvement in gardening to promote sustainability and health.

What is a significant health issue in South Central Los Angeles as mentioned by the speaker?

• Obesity rates five times higher than nearby areas

• Increased crime rates

• High rates of diabetes

• Lack of public transportation

What was the initial reaction of the city to the speaker's food forest?

• They ignored it

• They supported it immediately

• They issued a citation to remove it

• They provided funding

How does the speaker view gardening in relation to art?

• As a waste of time

• As a professional career

• As a form of graffiti

• As a hobby

What is one of the therapeutic benefits of gardening mentioned by the speaker?

• It increases property value

• It provides a sense of community

• It is a form of exercise

• It is a defiant act in the inner city

What does the speaker suggest is necessary to change a community?

• Reduce taxes

• Build more schools

• Change the composition of the soil

• Increase police presence

What is the speaker's response to concerns about food theft from the garden?

• They are worried about it

• They have security measures in place

• They encourage it to promote health

• They plan to fence the garden

What does the speaker want to achieve with future gardening projects?

• Create free food sources

• Develop a new type of plant

• Build more shopping malls

• Redefine 'gangsta' to include gardening

What is the speaker's view on the sustainability of free initiatives?

• They are always sustainable

• They should be government-funded

• They are not sustainable

• They are the best option

What does the speaker hope to inspire in young people through gardening?

• A desire to move to the suburbs

• An interest in politics

• A sustainable lifestyle

• A love for technology

What is the speaker's ultimate goal for community gardening?

• To eliminate all fast food outlets

• To replace all city parks with gardens

• To create a self-sustaining community

• To make it a profitable business