Permaculture Experts Gather in Vine City for Community-Building

Sally Mason and Anna Kelley from Occupy Atlanta invited long time activist Kwabena Nkromo to host a conversation about food democracy in Vine City. Kwabena’s involvement in creating community gardens dated from 2003 and constituted at his opinion the most unifying cause for activists desirying to create new models of wealth distribution and economic growth. Kwabena was also already involved in building gardens around the school where his son goes in Vine City. For our conversation, we gathered on an empty lot own by the church that was saved from foreclosure by Occupy Atlanta last December.

Some of the participants shared their experience with permaculture in countries where they lived, countries such as Ghana, France, Morocco and Canada. Others were local experts that had been actively involved in promoting sustainable growth for a long time. Also seen here on the pictures are MSgt James Vesterfelt (“Soaring Eagle”) and local farmer Susan Edgett.  As usual I spent some time speaking with Soaring Eagle who has a fascinating passion for what he calls “the most beautiful culture the world has ever known, back when the bisons were still roaming the plains and back when we shared a common culture instead of being linked by money only.” Soaring Eagle also makes his own clothes and most items he carries with him.

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Occupy Atlanta tents in Vine City

Future community garden lot

The future

Community gardening around elementary school in Vine City

Kwabena Nkromo, man with the Ag vision

Peachtree found in abandoned lot for future community garden

Local farmer Susan Edgett

MSgt James Vesterfelt

Clothing is the most basic item of culture – James Vesterfelt

Beautifully decorated sleeve of homemade shirt

Purse made of turtle shell and deer skin

Leather cotton and fur

Homemade trousers

foldable stool

MSgt James Vesterfelt (Soaring Eagle)