How One Man Turned His Backyard Garden Into a Full-Fledged Community Farmers Market

How One Man Turned His Backyard Garden Into a Full-Fledged Community Farmers Market

When Jamiah Hargins moved to the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles in 2015, he planted a backyard garden so he and his family (wife Ginnia and daughter Triana) could enjoy fruits and vegetables. But that small plot produced more than they could eat. Not wanting all the herbs, lemons, and beans to go to waste, Jamiah posted on Nextdoor, the hyperlocal social network, to gauge his neighbors' interest in a crop swap. The turnout was substantial. Fifteen people showed up, bearing armfuls of artichokes, kale, onions, and pumpkins from their small backyards and container gardens.

"I was delighted by how many people were willing to meet strangers on a Sunday morning," Jamiah says. And they ended up exchanging thoughts as well as crops: Kristin Kloc figured she'd offload some oranges and be on her way. "But then we started talking about growing food and the importance of social equality," she recalls.

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