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[DELILA VALLOT] I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS A STORY ABOUT A GUY

NAMED RON FINLEY, THE GANGSTER GARDENER

WHO'S TRYING TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES

IN SOUTH L.A. THROUGH GARDENING.

I'D BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT THE AREA,

BECAUSE IT PLAYED A BIG PART IN MY CHILDHOOD,

AND MY FATHER HAD JUST PASSED AWAY.

HE LIVED IN SOUTH L.A.

AND I NEVER WANTED TO VISIT.

THERE WAS SO MUCH VIOLENCE,

PEOPLE DRINKING.

I ALWAYS FELT ON EDGE.

ONE TIME THE HOUSE GOT ROBBED.

THERE WAS BROKEN GLASS AND BLOOD ON THE WALLS.

BUT NO ONE CALLED THE POLICE.

THAT WAS JUST HOW IT WAS.

BIG DIFFERENCE FROM LIFE WITH MOM IN HOLLYWOOD,

JUST TEN MILES AWAY.

I WANTED TO MEET FINLEY

SO I DROVE TO SOUTH L.A.

MY TIME WITH HIM MADE ME WANT TO SEE FIRSTHAND

IF A SIMPLE ACT OF PLANTING A SEED

COULD REALLY CHANGE LIVES.

I FOUND FOUR PEOPLE STARTING THEIR OWN GARDENS

AND SPENT A YEAR WATCHING THEM GROW.

[PIANO]

[GUITAR STRINGS STRUMS]

♪ ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN

♪ AND THE SKY IS GRAY

♪ I WENT FOR A WALK

♪ ON A WINTER'S DAY

♪ I'D BE SAFE AND WARM

♪ IF I WAS IN L.A.

♪ CALIFORNIA DREAMING...

[RON FINLEY] SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES,

THE FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT

IS DEFINITELY NOT POTENTIAL.

THE FIRST THING MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IS GANG VIOLENCE,

UNEMPLOYMENT,

DRUGS, ALCOHOL.

LIQUOR STORES,

FAST FOOD JOINTS, AND VACANT LOTS.

♪ AND I BEGAN TO PRAY

♪ YOU KNOW

♪ THE PREACHER TAKES THE CALL

♪ 'CAUSE HE KNOWS I'M GONNA STAY... ♪

THIS IS ALL AN EXTREME EXAMPLE

OF WHAT'S WRONG IN A LOT OF THESE URBAN AREAS

ACROSS THE UNITED STATES,

AND NOW ACROSS THE WORLD.

♪♪

AND IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE.

♪ WHOA

♪ SOMEBODY HELP ME NOW

♪ I WANNA GO SO BADLY...

THAT'S WHY I TOOK THIS EMPTY PLOT OF DIRT

IN FRONT OF MY HOME

AND I PLANTED AN ECO SYSTEM

OF FOOD FOR US.

AND ONCE I PLANTED IT I DISCOVERED SO MUCH MORE

THAN JUST FOOD.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT TO ME--

IS JUST GETTING PEOPLE IN THE SOIL AND LETTING 'EM SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

HOW THIS CAN TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES.

♪ ON SUCH A WINTER'S DAY

♪ SUCH A WINTER'S DAY

[TRUMPETS PLAYING]

♪ CALIFORNIA DREAM.

[FLUTE MUSIC PLAYING]

[MIXED BACKGROUND CHATTER]

[HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

GET INTO BED.

THEY DON'T BITE.

[DELILA] CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU ENDED UP AT THE GARDEN?

THIS-- THIS IS DEEP. [MUTTERS]

[LAUGHS]

I DON'T WANNA SAY IT ON CAMERA.

YOU KNOW, THE MARIJUANA.

[DELILA] OH.

SO, I GOTTA LEARN HOW TO GROW VEGETABLES.

I HOPED WE WERE GROWING VEGETABLES...

WE WERE GROWING MARIJUANA.

YOU GET IT? [LAUGHS]

[HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING]

-[KID] DAMN. -IT'S THE HOOD, IT'S THE PROJECTS, MAN.

IT'S THE PROJECTS, MAN.

[CHEERS AND WHISTLES]

[SPICEY] THERE'S A LITTLE WARZONE WHICH IS SHOOTING.

[GUNSHOTS]

I'M USED TO IT.

SOMETHING GOES ON EVERYDAY.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S PEACEFUL.

HOLD UP, HOLD UP, HOLD UP, HOLD UP...

I LIKE HOW YOU SHREDDED YOUR JEANS.

-[WOMAN] FUCK YOU. -[MAN] FUCK YOU. [LAUGHS]

FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADE,

LOVELY. NO PROBLEMS.

SIX TO EIGHTH...

ALL THE PROBLEMS STARTED.

THIS IS MARKHAM MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE TRAINING GROUNDS.

[MAN LAUGHS]

YOU HAD TO GO HERE TO BE TOUGH.

IF YOU WAS A PUNK,

YOU WAS NOT LASTING.

IT'S THE HOOD RIGHT THERE ACROSS THE STREET.

GREEN PROJECTS RIGHT THERE.

THE NICKERSON GARDENS IS DOWN THAT WAY,

THIS WAY,

THE JORDAN DOWNS PROJECTS, THIS WAY HOME,

AND PREREQUISITE HOUSING.

TWO CRIP HOODS, TWO BLOOD HOODS.

[CLAPS]

[CLAPS] CLASHING.

THUNDERDOME.

[BOXING SOUNDS]

SHIT, IF YOUR HOMIE FIGHTIN', YOU BETTER FIGHT BACK.

IT'S LIKE IF YOUR HOMEGIRL FIGHTIN',

YOU GONNA FIGHT BACK, RIGHT?

RIGHT? IF YOUR HOMEGIRL FIGHTING, YOU'RE NOT GONNA JUMP IN?

[DELILA] IF SHE'S WRONG THEN...

OH, NO, DELILA. NO.

NO. EVEN IF-- EVEN IF MY HOMIES WAS WRONG, I'M JUMPIN' IN.

[SIRENS WAILING]

-WHAT'S UP, MAN? -WHAT UP, MY BOY?

HOW YOU BEEN?

-CHILLIN'. -CHILLIN'?

-THAT'S MY WHITE DADDY. -IF IT'S IN THE BACK...

-HE'S A YOUTH PASTOR IN COMPTON. -THAT'S FINE.

THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO THE GARDEN IS WHEN

BOB NEEDED HELP TO CLEAN UP THE GARDEN.

BUT THERE WASN'T NOTHIN' THERE BUT TRASH.

[BOB] HE WAS A PUNK KID.

HE ENDED UP SITTING IN THE SEAT

RIGHT BEHIND ME IN MY 15-PASSENGER VAN.

HE STUCK HIS SHOES RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF MY FACE,

SO I PULLED OFF HIS JORDANS,

AND I HUNG 'EM OUT THE WINDOW

AND THREW 'EM ON THE GRASS

AND JUST KEPT GOING.

MAN, SOMEBODY GOT A GANG OF TOMATOES.

[DELILA] YOU GONNA EAT IT?

UGH. I DON'T LIKE TOMATOES.

[BOB] BUT LATER ON THAT NIGHT,

HE CAME UP TO ME AND PULLED A WAD

OF BILLS OUT OF HIS POCKET-- $100 BILLS,

AND I'M LIKE, "OH, SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE A SIDE JOB."

HE WAS A LOCAL DRUG DEALER

AND HE'S LETTING ME KNOW IT DIDN'T MATTER

IF I TOOK HIS SHOES 'CAUSE HE'S GOT MONEY.

-OH, YOU SMELL THAT? -[DELILA] I DO.

[LAUGHS]

THAT'S MARIJUANA.

[BOB] GUYS GET IN A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE, YOU KNOW,

THEY'LL START GANG BANGING OR SELLING SOME DRUGS,

OR-- OR DOING HOUSE LICKS.

AND, UH-- THEY GET CAUGHT, GET A FELONY.

RIGHT AFTER I GRADUATED RIGHT HIGH SCHOOL

-I WENT TO JAIL. -[DELILA] WHAT FOR?

[BOB] TRY GETTING A JOB WHEN YOU HAVE

THOSE TYPE OF THINGS ON YOUR RECORD.

IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. SO WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO?

I MIGHT TAKE THIS BED RIGHT HERE.

SHADE AND SUN AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN'T BEAT.

MIGHT DO A LITTLE CARROT OR TWO BACK THERE IN THE BACK.

GREENS AND A LITTLE STRAWBERRIES.

FOR THE LADIES.

[BOB] EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN COMPTON IS ASSOCIATED WITH A GANG.

THE ONE RIGHT HERE IS SOUTH SIDE COMPTON CRIP.

[KENYA] GARDEN IN COMPTON IN--

[LAUGHS]

I LAUGH, WE ALL LAUGH,

WE LOOKED AT THEM, LIKE, "COMPTON? ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

HE'S LIKE, "YEAH. A REAL GARDEN, YOU KNOW, ON LONG BEACH BOULEVARD--"

I'M LIKE, "ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

YOU HAVE MAYBE THIEVES, WHO KNOWS, KILLERS,

BUT YOU HAVE PROSTITUTES, YOU GOT PEOPLE THAT GANG BANG,

ALL TYPE OF STUFF. SO I'M LIKE, MAN,

-HOW CAN THIS BE A GARDEN? -[DELILA] DID YOU--

OH, MY... [LAUGHS]

NO, I-- I'M AFFILIATED.

I WAS SEVEN WHEN MY FATHER PASSED AWAY.

MY FAMILY WASN'T THERE HOW, LIKE--

THE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WERE THERE FOR ME.

IT WAS LIKE, THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE.

THAT'S WHY YOU COULD SAY I WAS A PART OF A GANG,

YOU'RE NOT DOIN' NOTHIN' BUT DRINKIN', SMOKIN', LIKE--

20 BLUNTS A DAY.

AND NOW, YOU'D BARELY HAVE LIKE,

I WOULD BARELY SMOKE THREE A DAY.

[BOB] ORIGINALLY I MET KENYA

DRUNK AND PASSED OUT ON THE GRASS OR ON THE CURB,

AND I WOULDN'T PICK UP THE KIDS

IF THEY WERE HIGH, OR IF THEY WERE DRUNK.

AND EVERY TIME I CAME BY TO PICK HER UP, SHE WAS ONE OF THE TWO.

PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AS A HARD...

THUG, GANG BANG GIRL FROM COMPTON

WITH ALL THESE TATTOOS.

I DIDN'T SUCCEED IN ANYTHING I WANTED TO SUCCEED

IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I DIDN'T GRADUATE.

THEN BEING AROUND, YOU KNOW, THE GANG,

WAS KIND OF LIKE, TEARING ME APART.

AND IT WAS BREAKING ME DOWN.

ESPECIALLY THE THINGS THAT I WENT THROUGH

WITH MY EX-BOYFRIEND,

I-- I REALLY THOUGHT HE LOVED ME,

I MEAN, HE-- HE DID LOVE ME IN A WAY,

I-- I THOUGHT IT WAS.

UM, BUT--

WHEN THE ABUSE CAME,

IT WAS MORE A THING OF LIKE-- NOT EVEN A SLAP,

IT WAS MORE LIKE...

IT WAS MORE LIKE A SLAP, A SOCK--

A-- A HIT, MAYBE A KICK, A CHOKE.

YOU KNOW, ALL TOGETHER IN ONE.

IT-- IT WENT ON FOR-- FOR SOME TIME,

LIKE, FOR JUST YEARS.

YEARS, YEARS IT WENT ON.

WE ALL HAVE BAD TIMES

TO WHERE WE JUST WANT TO GIVE UP.

I DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING.

THIS IS A CHILL SPOT

WHERE I WOULD RUN AWAY TO

TO SOAK IN MY PROBLEMS.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT'S STILL KICKIN', DRINKIN'.

THEY'LL TELL YOU-- "AH, MAN, WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

YOU DIFFERENT? WHAT YOU DOIN'?"

LIKE, "YOU COME FROM THE SAME PLACE I COME FROM.

HOW YOU JUST GONNA UP AND CHANGE?"

IT'S JUST LIKE-- YOU UP AND CHANGE

'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THIS-- EXCUSE ME-- THE SAME SHIT.

LIKE, YOU DON'T WANT THE SAME...

LIFE.

NOW I'M NOT GONNA LIE, I FEEL VERY EXCITED TO PLANT--

LILIES AND TULIPS ARE HELLA TIGHT,

IT'S LIKE, HELLA TIGHT.

[GIGGLES]

THEY SAY I'M NEVER GONNA BE ANYTHING,

OR I CAN'T DO NOTHING.

BUT, THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING TO DO.

BUILD A FLOWER BED, TURN IT INTO SOMETHING

FROM NOTHING.

[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]

[CHILD SINGING] ♪ I HEAR THAT BOOMING, BOO-- BOOMING, BASS ♪

♪ I HEAR THAT SUPER BASS...

[LITTLE GIRL] CAN I GET A CUP OF COFFEE OR SOMETHING?

[DELILA] YOU WANT A CUP OF COFFEE?

DO YOU DRINK COFFEE?

YEAH.

[QUIMONIE] THIS IS WHERE I LIVE, AND THIS IS THE PROJECTS.

I'VE LIVED HERE FOR-- I DON'T KNOW--

SINCE I WAS A BABY.

-DENISE, LOOK! -NO!

LOOK AT ME. LOOK AT ME. LOOK AT ME.

[BOY] I DON'T HAVE NO MONEY, I'M BROKE,

MY-- MY DADDY BROKE, MY FAMILY BROKE.

LIKE, NO MONEY.

IT'LL BE 44 YEARS

I WAS BORN, CONCEIVED AND RAISED IN HERE.

[GIRL] MY DADDY IS THE PRESIDENT HERE.

[WOMAN] THE DEVIL IS ALIVE.

-I REFUSE SATAN IN THE NAME OF JESUS. -HOLD UP, HOLD UP.

I LOVE HIM SUPER, DUPER, DUPER MUCH.

AND I'M A DADDY GIRL.

[RANDY] YEAH?

COME HERE.

SHE CAN PLAY WITH YOU IN A MINUTE.

I HAVE FOUR LITTLE SISTERS.

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

HEY!

-QUIMONIE MY-- -SHE'S--

-MY BIG-- -MY BIG SISTER.

MY BIG SISTER.

-I DON'T THINK... -MEANING SHE LOVE US.

SHE LOVE US.

[WHIMPERS]

[RANDY] YOU KNOW, SHE TRYING TO TEACH HER LITTLE SISTERS

EVERYTHING SHE CAN.

AND SHE'S TRYING TO PLAY MAMA WITH THEM.

[YELLS]

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR,

FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT,

NINE, ONE HUNDRED.

[GIRL] IF YOU GUYS WANT YOUR SHIRTS CUT

IT COSTS SEVEN DOLLARS FOR THE GROWN UP.

FOR THE TEENAGERS IT COSTS TEN DOLLARS.

THAT SHOULD BE SIX DOLLARS, HUH?

SHE'S A HUSTLER, I'M GONNA SAY IT LIKE THAT.

I HAVE TO MAKE MONEY FOR MY MOM AND DAD

FOR THE RENT AND THE BILLS AND THE LIGHT BILLS

AND THE CAR BILLS,

AND THE PHONE BILLS.

-[BACKGROUND CHATTER] -SHH!

TONIGHT, NIGHTY.

I CAN'T CONCENTRATE.

[LAUGHING]

AUNTIE, I'M MAKING SHIRTS.

THAT'S A FUCKING BITE. YOU DON'T SEE THAT BITE?

THE FUCKING THINGS WAS EATIN' HER-- THEM RED ANTS.

-THROW 'EM IN THE HOUSE. -[WOMAN] YOU BETTER MIND YOUR BUSINESS.

-[DOG YELPS] -[WOMAN] I'LL SLAP YOU.

YOU DON'T DO THAT. MIND YOUR BUSINESS.

I TOLD YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO MIND YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS.

COME ON, LET'S GO HOME.

YOU IN TROUBLE NOW.

[RANDY] PEOPLE WANT TO SIT DOWN AND SMOKE WEED ALL DAY,

GET HIGH,

AND HOLLERING AND FUSS AND CUSS AT MY KIDS.

I'M NOT WITH THAT.

-IS SHE ASLEEP? -[GIRL] YES.

[RANDY] I WON'T MAKE A LOT OF DISTURBANCE,

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I ALREADY GOT PROBLEMS OF MY OWN.

YOU KNOW, I GOT HEART PROBLEMS.

THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS DOWN IN THE PROJECTS.

SO, I STARTED THE GARDEN IN ORDER TO SHOW MY GIRLS

HOW TO MAKE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S GARDENING, PLANTING, AND ALL OF THAT,

AND IT'S WELCOME TO ALL RESIDENTS, ALL AGES.

[RANDY] EVERY TYPE OF SEED THAT YOU PLANT GROWS.

AND TO ME, SHE'S A SEED.

YOU SEE HOW SHE'S GROWING.

I WOULD LOVE FOR HER TO BE SOMETHING POSITIVE.

WHATEVER SHE CHOOSE TO BE, DADDY GOT HER BACK.

IS THE BATTERY ABOUT TO DIE?

I'M VERY SERIOUS. IT'S GOING, "BEEP, BEEP,

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP."

[DELILA] THANK YOU.

YOU OUGHT TO TURN THIS OFF AND LET YOU SET-- JUST LOOK.

TRY TO SET THE CAMERA ON THAT.

IT'LL TAKE SOME WEIGHT OFF OF IT.

-[DELILA] THANK YOU. -YEAH. SEE?

THIS HOUSE RIGHT HERE IS A PLACE TO GET BACK UP TO SOCIETY.

FOR OFFENDERS THAT DONE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME IN PRISON.

WELL, I WENT TO PRISON FOR 30 YEARS.

I WAS LOCKED UP IN 1983.

AND THAT'S WHERE ALL MY MINDSET WAS,

THEN ONCE I'M OUT, THEN I LOOKED UP

AND SAID, "WOW, I'M 70 YEARS OLD."

AND IT'S LIKE MIND-BOGGLING, YOU KNOW?

COME OUT THE PAST AND DUMPED OFF IN THE FUTURE.

I GET TO SEE A COMPUTER FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I GOT MY OWN PHONE, AND I GOT ME A SMART PHONE.

I JUST DO THIS.

THEN IF I WANT IT TO TALK TO ME, I DO THIS.

[AUTOMATED VOICE] MOVE WEST ON WEST 42ND STREET.

SEE? NOW IT'S TELLING ME TO GO SOMEWHERE.

SEE, ALL OF THIS IS NEW TO ME.

OPRAH WINFREY HAD THIS ON THE SHOW, I SEEN IT ON TV.

WHERE THERE'S SOME KIND OF LITTLE BOOK,

THAT-- WHERE AS YOU COULD-- IT GOT THE WHOLE BIBLE IN IT.

UH, YOU CAN PUT BOOKS IN IT, OR WHATEVER.

-[DELILA] KINDLE? -YEAH!

PLANTING IS A WAY OF LIFE TO ME.

I DID A LITTLE WORK ON THE GARDEN BACK HERE.

RIGHT HERE.

IT KINDA LIKE SOOTHES ME JUST TO GROW THINGS.

I CAN GROW ANYTHING. YOU NAME IT, I CAN GROW IT.

ONCE YOU'RE LOCKED UP,

THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR FREEDOM.

EVERYTHING IS TAKEN FROM YOU.

MOST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU WANTED TO PLANT A FLOWER,

OR SOMETHING, AND YOU'LL SAY, UH--

YOU'LL JUST GO OUT AND PICK A WILDFLOWER,

PUT IT IN A CUP WITH A LITTLE WATER.

THE CORRECTION OFFICE, THEY ALWAYS WALKING IN AND OUT.

SO IF THEY SEE ANYTHING, THEY'LL TAKE IT.

IT'S THE WORLD TO YOU

JUST TO HAVE A PLANT TO PUT IN YOUR CELL.

AFTER BEING LOCKED UP FOR 30 YEARS,

AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE YOUR OWN GARDEN,

YOU CULTIVATE SOIL, PLANT WHAT YOU WANT TO PLANT.

SO THIS IS WHY I'M SO EXCITED TO GET THIS GARDEN STARTED.

YOU SHOULD SEE THE SMILE ON MY FACE.

I'M JUST SO EXCITED. [LAUGHING]

YEAH.

[SNIPPING]

[RON] I'M NOT A GARDENER, LET'S START THERE.

BUT, UM-- IT'S IN OUR DNA,

IF YOU BELIEVE SOME OF THE FABLES.

YOU KNOW, LIKE THE FIRST JOB,

THINK ABOUT IT, THE DUDE WAS A GARDENER.

BIG GUY SAYS-- TOLD HIM TO TAKE CARE OF HIS GARDEN.

UH, YOU'RE ASKING ME HOW I GOT INTO GARDENING?

I WAS OUT OF WORK,

I HAD BEEN PAYING SOMEONE TO MOW MY DIRT,

AND-- AND, UH-- AND I THOUGHT--

FIRST, I CAN DO IT MYSELF.

AND SECONDLY, I CAN GROW FOOD THERE.

AND I PLANTED MY EDEN.

IT TURNED OUT TO BE A PARADISE ON THE STREET.

ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THERE WAS BIRDS

I'VE NEVER SEEN IN THIS AREA, EVER.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

YOU KNOW, DRAGONFLIES DID NOT EXIST.

PEOPLE WOULD GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO WALK BY MY GARDEN.

THERE WAS THIS TEEN,

YOU KNOW, HE COMES BY

AND HE'S SINGING, GOT HIS HEADPHONES ON,

AND HIS PANTS WERE SAGGING,

AND-- AND HE HITS THE CORNER,

AND HE SEES THIS, LIKE-- I DON'T KNOW,

IT'S PROBABLY A 12-FOOTER, YOU KNOW, SUNFLOWER.

AND HE JUST GOES, "YO, SON--

YO, YO, SON-- IS THAT REAL?

IS THAT REAL?"

AND HE WAS AMAZED AND HE STOOD THERE LOOKING AT IT,

WITH HIS HEADPHONES ON.

IF YOU PUT BEAUTY INTO A PLACE,

THAT GENERALLY DOESN'T HAVE IT,

THAT'S A GAME CHANGER.

[ELECTRIC GUITAR]

[CHATTER]

THIS IS REALLY ONLY SOME WHITE PEOPLE STUFF.

SO I'D BE A GARDEN ABOUT TEN BY 30,

AND I CAN GET AN AWFUL LOT OF MY PLANTS IN HERE.

IT'S GOING TO SUPPORT 15 PEOPLES.

BUT IT TAKES PREPARATION FIRST,

AND THAT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF WORK WE'VE GOT TO PUT INTO THIS.

[RUSTLING]

GREEN UNION, JALAPENOS.

-JALAPENOS? -YEAH.

WHAT ABOUT WATERMELONS?

THIS IS HENRY. HE, UH...

HENRY'S ON THIS PROJECT. WE ALL "WORKS" TOGETHER.

WE ALL LIVE HERE IN THIS FACILITY-- THIS HOUSE.

[HENRY] I LOVE TO SEE THINGS GROW.

IT BRINGS ME CALMNESS AND PEACE.

YEAH, IT TRANQUILIZE ME.

[HOSEA] HENRY'S A TYPE OF GUY, THAT, UH,

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT CARE FOR HIM

BECAUSE HE'S WILLING TO HELP ANYBODY AT ANYTIME.

HOW YOU START A PLANT IS DIG A HOLE

WITH JUST ONE FINGER--

YOUR-- YOUR FINGER NEXT TO THE THUMB.

GET YOUR SEED, PUT IT INSIDE THERE.

COVER IT.

MY SHOVEL, OW, THAT HURT.

THOSE SPIKY THINGS HURT MY BUTTS.

MY BOTTOM, I MEAN.

OKAY. YOU READY?

-YEAH. -OKAY.

-LIKE THESE? -GIRLS, YOU GOT TO WATCH WHERE YOU STEPPIN'.

-OKAY, YOU SEE? -OKAY, SO YOU CAN SQUEEZE IT A LITTLE BIT.

WHEN YOU DO THIS, THAT'S MASSAGING THE PLANT.

IT'S SOMETHING NEW I'D NEVER THOUGHT I'D DO.

AND THEN I PLANTED A SECOND SEED,

AND THEN IT WAS LIKE, DANG, I JUST PLANTED TWO SEEDS.

SO I MIGHT AS WELL DO MY THIRD SEED.

AT FIRST, I WAS LIKE I DON'T KNOW.

EVERYTHING GONNA DIE ON ME, BUT THEN IT'S LIKE, SHOOT,

I WON'T KNOW IF THE CRAP GONNA DIE ON ME IF I WON'T PLANT.

AND WHEN YOU WATER IT EVERY DAY IT GROW LIKE THIS--

BIGGER, BIGGER, AND BIGGER,

AND BIGGER AND BIGGER...

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE PLANTS COME UP.

I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT OUT OF THE GARDEN.

WHAT I'M DOING HERE IS TRANSPLANTING SUNFLOWERS.

I'LL THROW SOIL IN HERE, AND I'LL JUST THROW

A TON OF WHATEVER SEEDS ARE IN THERE.

THAT'S HOW I STARTED THE CORN THAT'S RIGHT THERE.

UM, WE HAVE SOME, UM, ZUCCHINI'S GOING,

SOME BUSH BEANS.

YOU KNOW, I STILL START AVOCADO SEEDS

EVEN THOUGH IT'S GONNA TAKE SO LONG,

BUT JUST THE FUN THAT YOU SEE THE SEED

TOTALLY CHANGES IT'S WHOLE SELF. IT DESTROYS ITSELF.

AND THEN YOU GET-- AND THEN YOU GET LIFE.

A LOT OF THINGS IN LIFE MADE MORE SENSE TO ME

THE MORE TIME I SPENT IN THE GARDEN.

[BUZZING]

THE GARDEN TEACHES A SYSTEM.

PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE, CARE.

THAT THINGS DON'T HAPPEN INSTANTANEOUSLY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A PROCESS. EVERYTHING IS A PROCESS.

[DELILA] AND SO YOU DID PLANT SOME THINGS, RIGHT?

YEAH, I TRIED.

I TRIED TO PLANT SOMETHING.

[DELILA] WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE?

[MAN YELLING]

[DELILA] WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

I WOULD'VE BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF THEM IF I WAS IN MY YOUNGER AGE.

I WOULD'VE BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF THEY LITTLE ASS.

AND WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

[DELILA] HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'RE AT THE GARDEN?

DELILA, YOU ASK QUESTIONS THAT YOU KNOW, NOBODY ASKS ME.

AND IT'S HARD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.

SO THE ANSWER I GIVE YOU, PLEASE TAKE THE ANSWER PLEASE.

[SIREN WAILS]

♪♪

♪ AH, YEAH

♪ A DON-- DON'T STOP

♪ SOUND GOOD TO ME...

[MAN] I'M A JUMP MAN.

I'LL JUMP ANY MOTHERFUCKER.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT TO ME?

-[SPICEY] YOU KNOW. -I'M A REAL MOTHERFUCKER!

I'M A REAL ONE, TOO!

I'M A REAL ONE FROM THE PROJECTS!

HEY MAN, GET YOUR BOY. MY NIGGA.

AREN'T YOU SPICEY?

I AIN'T GOT SHIT.

♪ 'CAUSE I CLOCK 10 G'S A WEEK BOOMIN' AT MY PEAK ♪

♪ ALWAYS SEEK E SOBER, BUT I DO GET GEEKED ♪

♪ I CAN GIVE YOU A JOB A PLACE TO EAT HEARTY ♪

♪ MEET YOUR HOMEBOY MARTY AT A B.O.B. PARTY ♪

♪ TAKIN' OVER BARKING LIKE A DOG NAMED... ♪

-YOU WANNA HIT THIS? -OH, YOU'RE TOO KIND.

♪ THEY'RE BITING LYRICS ON THE MIC, I DISS THESE COBRAS ♪

♪ SO NOW THEY'RE SAYIN', "ERIC BREED IS GETTING OVER" ♪

THAT WAS YOUR DREAM?

TO BECOME A BIG DOPE DEALER? [LAUGHS]

YOU CAN GO TO JAIL FOR LIFE

OR SOMEBODY END UP KILLING YOU.

♪ AH, YEAH.

I CAN TELL YOU, I GOT ABOUT 14 FRIENDS IN JAIL RIGHT NOW.

PROBABLY SEVEN DOING LIFE.

THAT HURT. YOU KNOW?

REAL NIGGAS OF COMPTON.

THE LAST ONES LEFT.

[MUSIC PLAYING ON PHONE]

GET THIS DELILA, SO THEY CAN SEE THIS.

ALL THESE NIGGAS RIGHT HERE IS IN JAIL.

EVEN MY LITTLE BROTHER. LOOK AT MY LITTLE BROTHER, MAN.

THAT'S CRAZY.

19 YEARS OLD.

TEN YEARS.

HE GOT TWO KIDS.

CALL ME EVERY DAY.

I NEED THIS. I NEED THAT.

ME HAS A BIG BROTHER, I GOT TO GO GET IT FOR HIM.

'CAUSE HE WAS GETTING IT FOR ME WHEN I WAS IN JAIL.

ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY I HAVE RIGHT NOW

IS MY LITTLE BROTHER AND HIS TWO KIDS.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT MATTER RIGHT NOW.

JUST GOTTA HAVE MONEY.

BUT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A JOB NOW FOR TWO YEARS.

JUST DROPPED OFF MY RESUME RIGHT HERE

AT THIS LITTLE JOB SITE IN THEY MAILBOX.

[DELILA] TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DREAMS.

THOSE WHAT?

[DELILA] DREAMS.

DREAMS AIN'T NOTHING BUT THOUGHTS TO ME.

THAT'S IT, I DON'T...

I DON'T EVEN USE THE WORD.

[WOMAN] LOOK AT THESE DIRTY, NASTIES.

-THANK YOU... -[GIRL] YOU CAN'T SPEAK NOW.

-[BOY] LOOK AT HIS FEET NOW. 1, 2, 3, GO. -YOU HEAR THESE LOUD PEOPLE.

[KENYA] AT THIS MOMENT, I'M ACTUALLY EMPLOYED

DOING LIKE BABYSITTING, CLEANING,

AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

OKAY, WHEN YOU GROW UP, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?

[SIGHS] YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SPIDER-MAN?

-WHY? -'CAUSE...

[KENYA] I MEAN, THE JOB THAT I REALLY WANNA DO,

LIKE, WHAT I REALLY WANNA DO,

I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A NURSE.

THAT'S THE PERSON WHO I WANTED TO BE, HELP OTHERS.

HELP ELDERLY, HELP KIDS, HELP ALL THAT.

GIVE THE EXTRA HELP THAT THEY NEED.

THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE.

BUT THINGS DID NOT FALL IN PLACE AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO.

I WANTED TO FINISH EVERYTHING, I WANTED TO GRADUATE.

I WAS REALLY SO CAUGHT IN THE STREETS,

I JUST STOPPED GOING. I JUST STOPPED GOING.

[SPICEY] PROGRESSING, IT'S PROGRESSING, LOOKIN' COOL.

-IT LOOK LIKE YOU'RE A GARDENER. -[KENYA GIGGLES]

UH-HUH.

I EVEN HAVE MY SUNFLOWERS STARTING, SPROUTING OUT.

-WHAT'S THIS? -LETTUCE, IT'S LETTUCE.

-WHY IS THAT COLOR? -BECAUSE IT'S A PURPLE LETTUCE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S THAT COLOR.

DO YOU EAT GREENS?

YES, I DO EAT GREENS. DO YOU EAT GREENS?

-NO. -WHY?

NAH, THESE LITTLE BITTY FLOWERS GROWING AND SHIT.

IT MAKES MY GARDEN LOOKS NICE.

DON'T IT?

I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT IT. [LAUGHS]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

[FLUTTERING]

[DOG BARKING]

[BARKING CONTINUES]

ALL RIGHT, SHH.

SITTING THERE THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO TO GET SOME MONEY.

I WILL EITHER SELL SOMETHING, OR I'LL GO ROB SOME.

-WHAT UP, COUSIN? -YOU GOOD?

-YEAH. -YEAH?

-BLUNTS. -[LAUGHS]

[MAN COUGHS]

[SIREN CHIRPS]

[CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]

[OFFICER] OKAY, PUT THE CAMERA AWAY.

[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]

WHEN I WAS LONER KIND OF KID,

I WANTED JUST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I WAS SHOWN.

THE DRUGS, THE ALCOHOL,

THE VIOLENCE, THE ABUSE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT SHAPES THEM THE WRONG WAY.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY SAW.

SO GUESS WHAT? THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MENTORS,

I DIDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, REALLY PEOPLE THAT PUT ME UP

ON THE-- THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LITTLE TROUBLE THAT I GOT INTO.

I GOT SCARS. I CAN-- [LAUGHS]

WE ALL GOT SCARS, BUT DO YOU LET THAT BECOME WHO YOU ARE?

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, YOU TAKE THE FIRST ROW RIGHT HERE.

AND I'LL TAKE THE SECOND ROW OVER HERE. [RATTLES]

I'M ONLY GONNA GET ABOUT FOUR HEADS OF WATERMELON.

[MAN] I'M FROM ARKANSAS, RURAL SOUTH.

FROM THE PART OF THE COUNTRY CALLED THE DELTA.

MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER,

THEY WERE FARMERS, SHARECROPPERS.

WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHT, MY MOTHER GAVE ME

A LITTLE PLOT IN THE GARDEN.

SO I COULD GROW MY OWN VEGETABLES AND HERBS AND SO FORTH.

CANTALOUPES, GREENS, CABBAGE. WHAT HAVE YOU.

IT WAS ALL GROWN THERE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO ACTUALLY GO TO THE STORE AND BUY THESE ITEMS.

AND BREAD, WE DIDN'T BUY NO BREAD AT THE STORE.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

[RON FINLEY] YOU GOT A LOT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMERS OUT THERE,

AND YOU STILL HAVE THEM.

THEY'RE NOT PRODUCING LIKE THEY WERE,

BUT, UM-- WE FELL OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE SOIL.

I THINK IS BECAUSE,

OF JUST THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY.

THERE'S A LOT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS THAT DON'T DO SOIL,

DON'T TOUCH SOIL.

LAKE DENNIS, ARKANSAS IS RURAL TOWN.

BLACKS LIVED ON ONE SIDE OF THE TRACK,

WHITES LIVED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACK.

THE THING THAT ALWAYS STAYS

IN MY MIND, I HAD A FRIEND,

HE TALKED BACK ONE DAY TO A WHITE MAN...

THE NEXT FEW DAYS, HIS MOTHER WAS LOOKING FOR HIM.

I WAS LOOKING FOR HIM. EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING FOR HIM, THE COMMUNITY.

AND HIS BODY WAS WASHED UP,

BUT HE WAS TIED TO A CEMENT BLOCK.

AND, UH...

UM, I NEVER FORGET IT.

UH, I THINK ABOUT IT A LOT SOMETIME TODAY.

[BUZZING]

I LEFT ARKANSAS-- I HITCH-HIKED OUT OF ARKANSAS,

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A GARDEN IN MAYBE 50 YEARS.

BUT I STILL REMEMBER.

-WHAT YOU GOT OVER HERE, HENRY? -I'VE GOT, UH,

ARUGULA, CILANTRO,

TOMATO, JALAPENO, AND...

THE NAME OF MY OF GARDEN BED IS BLESSING.

BLESSING.

BECAUSE OF THE GARDEN RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT'S WHY

A LOT OF THINGS HAS OPENED UP FOR ME.

THE PEOPLE INSIDE THE GARDEN HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT.

THEY BROUGHT ME A LONG WAY FROM NOWHERE.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS ARE FOR A MEDICAL ASSISTANT.

YEAH.

OUR CUCUMBERS ARE VERY GOOD.

I MET MS. HENDRICKS WHEN I WAS BUILDING THE GARDEN BOXES

AND PLANTING AT HER HOUSE.

I WORK WITH ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

AND THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR STAFF PEOPLE,

SO I LIKE TO GET SOMEBODY CERTIFIED, OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES.

-I KNOW WE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THE-- -CLASS? YES.

ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT'S NECESSARY

WHEN YOU START WORKING IN A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY.

I NEED YOU TO GET HERE PROBABLY BETWEEN 8:00-8:30.

-OH, I CAN'T WAIT. -OKAY.

[BOTH LAUGH]

I'M EXCITED.

ALL RIGHT, LOOK AT MY STUFF. IT'S GROWING, HUH?

KENYA: I'M ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED.

WHEN I GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY,

GIRL, I'M LOOKING FOR A NICE HOUSE,

A NICE HOUSE FOR ME AND MY FIVE KIDS. [ALL LAUGH]

YOU FEEL ME LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

GET THAT... [LAUGHS]

YOU CAUGHT ME SO MUCH. [LAUGHS]

[TRAIN CLANKING]

[BANGING]

KENYA!

[BANGING]

-THE CPR CLASS IS... YEAH. -YEAH.

-AND SHE'S SUPPOSED TO GET LIGHT-SCANNED. -YEAH.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, SHE WAS ALL EXCITED TALKING ABOUT THIS.

-I KNOW. -YOU WAS EXCITED TALKING ABOUT THIS,

LIKE "AW SHIT, Y'ALL."

TELLING US SO WE WOULD HAVE PLANS TO DO SOMETHING ELSE,

AND SHE'S LIKE "NO, I CAN'T DO THAT, I'M GONNA WAIT,

'CAUSE I GOTTA REALLY GO TO MY CLASSES."

-KENYA! -KENYA!

[SMACK]

-[SMACK] -KENYA!

KENYA! GET UP!

OH, MY GOD, LIKE WHAT THE FUCK?

YOU WANNA HIT THIS, OR NO?

[WOMEN CHATTERING]

FUCK.

HELLO, MS. HEDRICK?

MM-HMM.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT.

I DID NOT GET THE JOB. BECAUSE I MISSED A CLASS.

THAT I'M FINE.

YEP, I'M FINE.

I THEN DID ALL THESE CHANGES AND I'M STILL THAT SAME PERSON,

I'M STILL THAT SAME KENYA. I DON'T HAVE THAT JOB.

I DON'T HAVE THIS. I DON'T HAVE THAT.

[PLANE ENGINE ROARS]

UM, FIRST TIME? CHECK YES.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[CHILD] SOMETIMES WE BE HUNGRY,

AND WE DON'T HAVE NO MORE MONEY AND STUFF.

[GIRLS CHATTERING]

LOOK AT THIS IS LEMON TREE, IT NEED TO BE WATERED.

LIKE ALL THIS GRASS RIGHT HERE, WE GOTTA PULL OUT.

THE GARDEN IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT

WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY NO FOOD.

SEE THAT FORK?

FORKS AND STUFF. THEY'RE THROWING FORKS AND STUFF.

WE DON'T LIKE THAT, WE DON'T WANT OUR GARDEN TO BE PICKED OUT.

Y'ALL WANT OUR GARDEN TO BE PICKED ON.

WE DON'T, WE NEED TO EAT.

SO LIKE THAT.

OKAY FINE, I'M THE GARDEN POLICE.

IT'S TOUCHING ALL THIS, SEE HOW HE'S TOUCHING STUFF.

AND I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE TOUCHING OUR PLANT

SO YOU BETTER STOP TOUCHING OUR PLANTS.

-I'M NOT. -DON'T TOUCH, DON'T MESS WITH THE LADYBUG.

YOU GUYS GOTTA BUILD SOMETHING AT THE TOP OF THIS,

SO THEY CAN STOP CLIMBING AND STUFF.

I KNOW THAT WHOEVER TOUCH MY GARDEN.

THEY AIN'T TOUCHING OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDENS EITHER.

THEY NOT GONNA TOUCH NOBODY'S GARDEN.

IF THEY DO,

THEY GOING TO JAIL.

AND I'VE GOT MY POLICE CUFFS.

IT'S GOT A COUPLE MORE DAYS.

WOW. OH, MY GOSH.

I BASICALLY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUT OF MY DOOR

AND GET HEALTHY FOOD, BUT ALSO I WANTED

TO SHARE IT WITH MY NEIGHBOR.

IT JUST HAPPENED THAT I FOUND THIS MOM AND HER DAUGHTER

ON MY PARKWAY IN THE GARDEN.

IT'S PROBABLY 10:00 AT NIGHT AND I COME OUT

AND THEY'RE, LIKE, EMBARRASSED, AND I TOLD THEM,

"I PUT THIS HERE FOR YOU. I WANT YOU TO TAKE THE FOOD."

AND YOU CAN SEE THE EMBARRASSMENT

ON THEIR FACES.

AND THAT JUST, THAT JUST SOLIDIFIED

TO ME THAT THIS IS NEEDED.

BUT I HAD NO IDEA

THAT YOU COULDN'T PLANT FOOD ON YOUR PARKWAY.

SOME HATER ASS NEIGHBOR REPORTED ME ANONYMOUSLY TO THE CITY.

THEY ISSUED ME A CITATION,

SAID I HAD TO REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY.

OR ELSE I WILL WIND UP GOING TO COURT,

AND POSSIBLY GOING TO JAIL.

THIS IS SOME BULLSHIT.

RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS THE NEW LOCKS THEY PUT ON RIGHT HERE.

THE LANDLORD CUT THE WATER OFF ON US.

HE CAME AND PUT LOCKS ON THE FAUCET.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GROW A GARDEN?

LOOK THIS, ALL THIS. BONE DRY. SO...

SOME PEOPLE CALL THESE NEIGHBORHOODS "FOOD DESERTS."

I CALL THEM "FOOD PRISONS."

BECAUSE YOU CAN GROW STUFF IN A DESERT.

PRISON, YOU NEED PERMISSION TO DO EVERYTHING.

THAT'S WHY GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD IS SO DEFIANT.

AND YOU'RE DISRUPTING A SYSTEM THAT'S IN PLACE.

IT MAKES YOU A RENEGADE.

[BANGING]

HOW YOU DOING, THIS IS HOSEA.

I GOT A FRIEND THAT CAME TO THE RESCUE.

HE SAID THAT I CAN COME TO HIS HOUSE AND GET ALL THE WATER THAT I NEED

TO FINISH THIS GARDEN AND GROW THIS GARDEN.

I GOT TEN OF THOSE,

TEN OF THESE ONE GALLON.

WELL, WHEN YOU SEE ME BREATHING HARD, I'VE GOT EMPHYSEMA.

SO THAT'S WHAT THAT IS.

SURE IS NICE TO HAVE FRIENDS

THAT YOU CAN GET WATER FOR THE GARDEN.

THAT'S NOT GONNA STOP THIS GARDEN.

IT'S GONNA BE REAL PRECIOUS, THIS WATER.

SO IT'S NOT EASY BUT IT'S THINGS YOU HAVE

TO DO TO KEEP THE GARDEN GOING.

I'M OKAY.

YEAH, I'LL CATCH MY BREATH.

THEN WE'LL LEAVE.

I BECAME AN OUTLAW CRIMINAL

FOR PLANTING CARROTS IN MY PARKWAY.

THE CITY'S LIKE, "YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT."

SO MY WHOLE THING WAS LIKE, I WILL MAINTAIN IT,

HOWEVER THE HELL I WANT TO MAINTAIN IT.

I WANTED FOOD. I DIDN'T WANT GRASS.

I MEAN, I CAN'T EAT GRASS. I'M NOT NO DAMN COW.

THEY HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT IT'S ILLEGAL TO PLANT FOOD

BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT TO WASTE RESOURCES ON GRASS.

NOW I CAN GROW FOOD WITH PROBABLY HALF THE RESOURCES.

I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT.

WITHIN TWO MILES OF MY HOME THERE ARE FOUR GROCERY STORES.

IN THAT SAME RADIUS, THERE'S 86 FAST FOOD JOINTS.

31 LIQUOR STORES.

JUST BASICALLY A PLACE THAT'S TOTALLY DEVOID

OF ANY KIND OF HEALTHY GOOD OPTIONS.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF HEALTHY FOOD HERE,

DON'T STOP ME FROM PUTTING HEALTHY FOOD HERE.

VEGETABLE IS GOOD FOR YOU. THEY GOT VITAMIN C,

VITAMIN A, VITAMIN D, VITAMIN B,

-ALL THE WAY TO Z. -THAT'S RIGHT.

SOMETIMES TRY IT, OKAY?

-[DELILA] DO YOU THINK THAT HE WILL EAT-- -EAT THEM? YEAH.

HE BETTER.

OR YOU'RE GONNA STAY THIS BIG.

[CACKLES]

LOOK, THIS IS REAL.

GOT A CHECK, SO I WAS FIXING MY FAMILY

A NICE LITTLE MEAL.

[GIRL] ALL HE EAT EVERYDAY,

CHICKEN, MEAT.

THESE ARE CHICKEN AND BEEF LITS.

AND WHAT ELSE?

FRIES.

[DAD] I CAN MAKE HOTDOGS, HAMBURGERS,

OR BURGERS OFF THE GRILL.

I MEAN THEY'RE NOT JUST REGULAR BURGERS.

YOU KNOW?

[RON] FOOD IS A PART OF OUR CULTURE.

AND A LOT OF THE FOOD THAT WE HAVE BEEN EATING

AND PREPARING HAS BASICALLY MADE US SICK.

MY RESPIRATORY SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED UP.

MY HEART RATE HAD CHANGED.

I'LL KNOW MORE WHEN I GO TO THE DOCTOR.

I WAS HOPING, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN,

BUT THEY TOLD ME IF I NEEDED ANYTHING MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT,

THAT I NEED TO GO AND CALL 9-1-1.

[RON] THE OBESITY RATE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD

IS PROBABLY FIVE TIMES HIGHER

THAN SAY, BEVERLY HILLS.

WHAT, WHAT IS THAT, EIGHT MILES, SIX MILES AWAY.

WE HAVE TO GET KIDS EARLY.

AND THAT'S WHAT MY THING...

IF KIDS GROW KALE, THEY EAT KALE.

IF THEY GROW TOMATOES, THEY EAT TOMATOES.

THEY HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.

[QUIMONIE] I GROW TOMATOES, VEGGIES,

AND I GROW SOME, LIKE APPLES AND STUFF.

[TEACHER] COOL. DO ANY OF YOU GUYS

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR QUIMONIE?

-KEVIN? -I WAS INSPIRED

BECAUSE QUIMONIE SAY SHE GREW SOME STUFF.

I WANTED TO GROW SOME ONIONS AND STUFF. SO I CAN GROW STRONG.

AND GET BIG.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE OF YOUR VEGETABLES.

-CARROTS. -CARROTS, AND WHAT ELSE?

-BANANAS. -WELL, BANANAS IS KINDA LIKE A VEGETABLE,

BUT IT'S NOT A VEGETABLE. SO...

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT...

THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

-SAY, "KALE" -KALE.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FRUIT, THOUGH?

FRUIT? I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IT NO MORE, I FORGOT IT.

BANANA, STRAWBERRY.

[HENRY] CANTALOUPE AND CUCUMBER,

AND WATERMELON.

[HOSEA] LOOK AT IT, IT'S FLOURISHING.

-I THINK IT JUST LIKE US. -YEAH, PRETTY MUCH.

IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SOCIETY,

CRACK THROUGH THE EARTH, GROWING.

TRANSFORM. MAKE IT. HAVE TO MAKE IT.

[HOSEA] WE'RE BOTH OUT HERE, WE'RE AFRAID,

AND WE'S IN THIS GARDEN AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING

THAT WE ACTUALLY LOVE TO DO.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE A, IT'S A BROTHERLY THING.

IT'S A LOVE THING.

[RON] THE GARDEN BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER

IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT'S A COMMON SPACE FOR EVERYBODY

TO BE AS ONE.

[HOSEA] I NOTICE, MOST OF THE GUYS THAT LIVE HERE

IN THIS HALFWAY HOUSE, THEY COME OUT HERE

IN THE BACKYARD MORE OFTEN THAN THEY USED TO COME OUT.

SO I GOT TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF TOMATOES

FROM MARTHA STEWART, ALSO.

AND SHE SAYS THAT THEY THE BEST TOMATOES.

HOW LONG WOULD YOU SAY THAT IT WOULD TAKE BEFORE THE ENTIRE

GARDEN ITSELF WILL BE MATURE.

THEY ALWAYS ASK ME QUESTIONS.

SO IN THE TERMS OF THE GROWTH,

DO YOU THINK THAT ANY OF THEM BEING IN SO CLOSE PROXIMITY...

[HOSEA] WHEN IS THE GARDEN GONNA BE READY?

WHAT'S THIS? WHAT'S THAT?

THIS ARUGULA HERE. HENRY PLANTED THAT.

AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THAT TASTES.

YOU GOT TO GIVE THEM PLENTY OF WATER,

AND I LIKE TO GIVE THEM A LOT OF MUSIC, TOO.

[DELILA] WHAT KIND OF MUSIC?

WELL, I LIKE, LIKE SOOTHING MUSIC.

UH, SOFT MUSIC.

UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU AIN'T REALLY DISTURBING THE PLANTS.

PLUS ANY OF THAT, THAT NEW WAVE OF MUSIC

WOULD BE TOO HARD FOR MY THING,

BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT BOOM-BOOM-BOOM, BOOM-BOOM.

YOU DON'T WANT THAT. YOU WANT...

[SOFTLY SINGS]

♪ LA LA LA LA LA

♪ LA LA LA LA LA

♪ LA LA LA LA LA

♪ LA LA LA LA LA

♪ DO DO DO DO DO, OOH

[VOCALIZING]

[DELILA] AND THEN, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

YOU TOLD ME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE GUY,

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT NOW?

OR...

WELL, YES AND NO.

WELL...

A GUY OWED ME SOME MONEY.

AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME-- THIS HAPPENED IN 1983.

A GUY OWED ME ABOUT $10,000.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT, AND HE TOLD ME,

"WELL, NIGGER, YOU PAY."

AND PUSHED ME OVER A COFFEE TABLE.

AND WHEN HE DID THAT,

ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT WHEN I WAS IN THE MILITARY,

I WAS IN VIETNAM, YOU KNOW,

AND SEEN A LOT OF KILLING OVER THERE.

I WAS ON THE FRONT LINE.

AND ALL MY MILITARY TRAINING CAME BACK TO ME.

'CAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS BEING HURT.

AND WHEN I CAME UP, I GRABBED AN ASHTRAY.

AND WHEN HE DUCKED, I LET GO OF THE ASHTRAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HIT HIM IN THE TEMPLE.

AND WHEN I HIT HIM IN THE TEMPLE, HE WENT DOWN,

AND I WAS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE.

AND ALL MY ADRENALINE WAS GONE.

AND THAT'S WHEN I STOP PUTTING THE BOOT TO HIM.

AND BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, IT WAS OVER WITH.

IT ALL HAPPENED WITHIN 30 OR 40 SECONDS.

I KILLED SOMEBODY.

AND I SPENT 30 YEARS FOR IT,

AND I MADE IT THROUGH THAT.

AND SO WHEN I WAS DOING TIME,

I TALKED TO A LOT OF YOUNGSTERS.

ALL THEY KNOW IS GANG,

GANG-BANGIN' AND ROBBING.

AND THEY GET CAUGHT IN A SITUATION THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO.

[DELILA] WAS THAT SCARY OR WAS IT PRETTY, JUST ALL REAL SURREAL?

SILLY QUESTION. [LAUGHS]

[SPICEY] I WON'T TALK ABOUT FEELINGS,

FEELINGS WILL GET YOU HURT IN JAIL.

AND THEY GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS.

[EXPLOSION]

[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]

[DOGS BARKING]

AS SOON AS YOU WALK IN THERE, YOU GOTTA GET NAKED.

LIKE, ASSHOLE.

WALKING AROUND LIKE THAT, AND THE OFFICER'S THROWING YOUR CLOTHES AT YOU

LIKE A BUNCH OF WHITE MEN LAUGHING AND GIGGLING

WHILE WE NAKED, LIKE...

I WOULDN'T EVEN WISH JAIL ON MY WORST ENEMY.

YOU AIN'T GONNA SEE ME BACK IN THAT THING.

THINKING ABOUT MY LITTLE BROTHER.

HALF THE REASON WHY HE IN JAIL

IS BECAUSE HE'S SEEING ME DOING WHAT I WAS DOING.

ME AS A BIG BROTHER, I GOTS TO SHOW HIM

THERE'S A BETTER WAY.

NO, I'M NOT GONNA EAT THAT. MAN, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU.

-TRY IT. -I'M NOT GONNA EAT THIS.

-THIS STUFF YOU COULD EAT IT-- -I'D BE GETTIN' SICK

-ALL TYPE OF STUFF. -NOT FROM THIS.

YOU DIDN'T EVEN RINSE IT.

AWW.

THERE AIN'T NO BUGS, MAN. DO YOU SEE ANY BUGS?

-NO. -MAN, YOU EAT A BUFFALO HEART.

ALL RIGHT, YOU SAID THAT.

-SIX MONTHS LONGER IF YOU EAT THAT. -HUH-UH. NO. NO.

[BOB] WHEN HE'S HERE, THINGS CHANGE,

AND HE CAN FOCUS ON HIS GARDEN PLOT,

HIS LETTUCE OR HIS SWISS CHARD. HE LIKES TO WORK.

WHEN YOU'RE WORKING, IT BRINGS DIGNITY.

AND HE FEELS DIGNITY WHEN HE'S WORKING WITH US IN THE GARDEN.

AND THAT FOR SPICEY, I THINK KEEPS HIM COMING BACK.

REMEMBER SOME OF THE CILANTRO

LET IT KEEP GROWING UNTIL THERE ARE FLOWERS,

-FORM A SEED. -AND SAVE THEM FOR SEEDS.

THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP BUYING SEEDS.

-THAT'S TRUE. YEAH. -YEAH.

THAT LITTLE OLD CAR IS PACKED.

-YOU GOT YOUR WATER? -YEAH, I GOT WATER.

HOW ARE YOU GONNA GET YOU SOME WATER? I DON'T SEE IT.

YOU'LL PROBABLY WON'T GET IN TILL AROUND SIX OR SEVEN TONIGHT.

YEAH.

I'M GONNA ENJOY THE--

WELL, ACTUALLY I PREFER THE SUNSET ON ON PEBBLE BEACH.

YEAH, HERE YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE ME.

MIXED EMOTIONS.

[LAUGHS] I'M HAPPY TO GO HOME.

BUT...

WELL, AT LEAST I KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS EMOTION NOW,

THAT'S ONE MAJOR FACTOR THAT, UH,

20 SOMETHING YEARS AGO I COULD NOT DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL.

AND THAT'S WAY I COMMITTED HORRIBLE CRIMES.

IN PRISON ALL THE TEACHING,

ALL THE SHARING OF THE FELLOWS...

WITHOUT THEM,

I WILL BE HOMELESS.

HMM.

THANK GOD.

THANKS EVERYBODY.

[HOSEA] WE'RE LIKE BROTHERS, YOU KNOW.

HERE YOU KEEP FINDING STUFF, MAN.

[HENRY] YEAH, LOOSE ITEM.

-THAT'S THE LAST ITEM LOOKS LIKE. -YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

-I LOVE YOU. -OKAY.

-GOOD-BYE. -GOOD-BYE.

DAMN.

[CRYING] I HATE TO SEEING HIM GO.

OOH, LOOK AT THE CHILI PEPPERS YOU GOT OVER THERE.

I DID IT.

WHAT KIND OF CANTALOUPES ARE THESE?

THEY'RE HIDING FROM US.

THERE AIN'T NO MORE WATER.

LOOK AT THE LITTLE TOMATOES WE GOT OVER HERE.

AW.

-DADDY. -WHOA.

THEY GOT CUTER.

COME ON, LET'S WALK THIS WAY.

CAN YOU WALK FASTER THAN THAT?

NO, I AIN'T GOING THAT FAST.

LOOK AT YOU TRYING TO RUSH ME.

YOU SLOW.

YOU DON'T NEED TO PULL ME, THOUGH.

[SIRENS WAILING]

MY DAD, HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL

BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT HIS HEART STOPPED.

THEY CALLED THE AMBULANCE

AND THEY WAS GIVING HIM THE TREATMENT.

[WOMAN] FUCK.

I WAS SAD.

REALLY SAD.

THEY SAID THAT WHAT HAPPENED WAS

TWO ARTERIES GOT, UM, SEVERED.

NOW TAKE NICE, DEEP BREATHS.

YEAH, YOU'RE WHEEZING A LITTLE BIT.

HOW ARE YOUR KIDS DOING?

-ARE THEY ALL IN SCHOOL NOW? -THEY SURE ARE, YES,

-EVEN THE LITTLE ONE? -EVEN THE LITTLE ONE.

OKAY.

SO.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS PUTTING A DEVICE IN,

WHICH IS LIKE A PACEMAKER...

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT IN THIS--

IN THIS, UM-- IN THIS COMPOSTER.

IS THIS DEAD?

HELL NO, IT'S NOT DEAD.

YOU PUT THIS UNDER A MICROSCOPE

AND YOU GONNA SEE STUFF MOVING, AND HAVING SEX,

AND DOING ALL KINDS OF FREAKY STUFF.

ACTUALLY, YOU COULD SAY THAT COMPOST CHANGED MY LIFE.

YOU KNOW, IT LITERALLY MADE ME REALIZE THAT NOTHING EVER DIES,

EVER.

[RUSTLING]

HEAR THAT SOUND? THAT'S ENERGY.

THIS TURNS INTO RICH, LIFE-GIVING SOIL.

[GROAN]

HOW THE HECK

IS THIS ONE GIRL LIKE ME

SUPPOSED TO GET THIS SHIT UP OUT OF HERE?

NOW, I'M ON A MISSION NOW

TO WHERE I'VE TAKEN CULINARY ARTS AT SCHOOL,

AND I'LL BE GRADUATING NEXT MONTH,

SO I WANT TO GET MY OWN VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN FOOD.

NOW, I THINK THAT'S REAL GOOD.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MY AGE DON'T HAVE PATIENCE.

YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA HAVE PATIENCE FOR SOMETHING TO GROW.

'CAUSE THINGS JUST DON'T GROW OVERNIGHT.

♪ I FEEL LIKE I'VE SEEN THE WORLD ♪

♪ I STILL LOVE THE SAME GIRL

♪ OVER AND OVER AGAIN

♪♪

♪ I STILL FEEL THE SAME LOVE... ♪

WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN THE GARDEN,

LETS YOU KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE THIS LIFE

THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED FOR YOU IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS,

AND THAT YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

IT LETS YOU KNOW THAT EVERYTHING STARTS FROM A SEED,

THAT YOU CAN CHANGE.

EVERY DAY IS A REBIRTH.

EVERY DAY IS ANOTHER SHOT.

♪ YOUR REINCARNATION

♪ REINCARNATION

♪ OH

♪ OH

♪ I JUST DON'T BELIEVE YOU

I HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF BAGGAGE.

LIKE, OH, I CAN'T GET THROUGH LIFE, BECAUSE OF THIS.

CAN'T GET THROUGH LIFE BECAUSE OF THAT.

I BETTER BECOME WHAT I NEED TO BE

AND DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO ACTUALLY

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, AND THEN IT'S LIKE, I'M NOTHING.

♪ OH, OH

[RON] IN A GARDEN, YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE A PURPOSE.

PLANTS TELL YOU, KIND OF, WHAT THEY NEED,

AND YOU-- YOU NURTURE THEM,

AND YOU WATER THEM, AND YOU TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND THEY GIVE YOU SEEDS SO THAT YOU CAN PLANT MORE

AND THEY CAN START OVER AGAIN.

IT'S A SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFUL, COMPLEX, THING AT THE SAME TIME.

♪ YOUR REINCARNATION

♪ A REINCARNATION

AND IT IS SO SIMPLE, WATER, SOIL, SEEDS, AND SUN.

OOH.

THIS IS AN APPLE.

[GASPS] LOOK, IT'S A BUTTERFLY.

HE NEEDS TO EAT HEALTHY.

THAT'S WHY I COOK GREENS.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME MAKING GREENS,

COME EAT!

DADDY, IT'S GOOD.

LIKE MY GREENS?

LIKE MY GREENS, TILDA?

-YEAH. -DANG, TILDA, YOU DO.

I WANT TO TASTE SOME, TOO.

-YOU WANNA TASTE IT? -YEAH.

IT WAS EXCELLENT. IT WAS GOOD.

AND MY BABY TOLD ME THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO EAT ANYWAY, SO.

HE USED TO HITTING THIS RIGHT HERE.

[HAMMER ON NAIL]

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

HUH?

LET'S JUST SAY I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE CITATION,

I, UH, FELT THAT I'M BEAUTIFYING MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THAT THE CITY SHOULD REALIZE THIS.

I WASN'T DOING IT. I WASN'T GONNA LET IT HAPPEN.

I WASN'T GONNA DESTROY MY GARDEN.

MY THING WAS TO CHANGE

THIS ARCHAIC, ASININE,

ORDINANCE. THAT WAS MY FIGHT.

STEVE LOPEZ OF THE L.A. TIMES

HE DID A STORY, AND STEVE IS LIKE A BULLDOG.

HE NAMES NAMES,

STEVE DON'T PLAY, SO...

HE GOT A HOLD OF IT AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A SILLY, STUPID...

LIKE, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?

HE THOUGHT IT WAS LUDICROUS, WHY WOULD SOMEONE DO THIS?

THAT BASICALLY, UM-- PUT THE WHOLE MOVEMENT IN OVERDRIVE.

[FEMALE NEWS REPORTER] RON FINLEY IS AN UNUSUAL ACTIVIST.

TROUBLED BY THE LACK OF HEALTHY FOOD

IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES.

THE PEOPLE TAKE THIS AND IT-- BUT IT KEEPS GROWING BACK.

AND AS LONG AS THERE'S FAST FOOD IN SOUTH CENTRAL,

RON FINLEY WANTS HIS NEIGHBORS TO BRING THEIR SHOVELS

AND PLANT.

[RON] I HAD NO IDEA. I MEAN, I DIDN'T PLAN THIS TO HAPPEN.

I AM THE MOST RELUCTANT ACTIVIST THAT YOU COULD EVER FIND.

NONE OF THIS WAS PLANNED.

YOU KNOW, MY BAIL IS THE COOLEST ONE UP IN THERE,

'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, I FLIPPED THE DIRT.

YOUR GREEN THUMB CERTIFIED?

AM I GREEN THUMB CERTIFIED?

TO DO WHAT?

TO GARDEN.

I THINK.

[BOTH LAUGH]

-I LIKE BEING AT THE GARDEN, IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. -YOU DO?

PEACEFUL, HAPPY. YOU KNOW.

-YOU DO? -RELAXED.

ALL GOOEY-- NO.

OH, YOU NEED TO COME HERE MORE OFTEN.

[LAUGHS]

[CHUCKLES]

I NEED TO SLEEP HERE, HUH? [BOTH LAUGH]

HAH, HAH.

[SPICEY] I BEEN LOOKING FOR A JOB NOW FOR TWO YEARS,

BUT THE ORDERLY FINALLY JUST HIRED ME LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY.

I'M VERY EXCITED. I'M VERY.

BECAUSE I'LL BE WORKING SIX DAYS, 12-HOUR SHIFTS.

PRUNING, I'M PRUNING RIGHT NOW.

FOR THE BLACK PEOPLE,

THAT'S TO CUT OFF ALL THE DEAD SHIT...

D.J., WHAT UP?

WHEN YOU GET YOUR HANDS IN THIS DIRT HERE,

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A WAY THAT YOU'RE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH GOD,

BECAUSE LIFE COMES OUT OF THAT DIRT EVERY DAY.

DID YOU TALK TO D.J?

EMOTIONAL... EVIL ENTITY,

-ENVISIONS "ENVADED" EXTREME, -UH-HUH.

ELIMINATIONS, ERRATIC...

-YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT YOU SAID-- -EXCAVATIONS,

I WANT ALL THE WAY TO "Z."

I WANNA HEAR WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO SAY FOR THE "Z."

ZIG-ZAG AND ZIPPING YOU JIGGLIN'.

-YOU CAN KEEP ZIGGLIN'. -[LAUGHS]

[RON] IT'S ALL CULTURE,

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO CHANGE IT.

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO

HAS JUST GOTTEN NEGATIVE.

AND MY WHOLE THING IS LIKE, TO CHANGE THAT.

THE CHANGE THE VERNACULAR OF WHAT A GANGSTER IS.

NO, THIS IS GANGSTER.

THE SOIL RIGHT HERE,

THIS COMPOST

THAT I MADE MYSELF,

THAT'S GANGSTER.

YOU KNOW, GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD.

BUILDING COMMUNITIES, NOT TEARING THEM DOWN.

TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE, NOT ROBBING THEM.

GIVING LIFE IS GANGSTER, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO HERE.

IT'S A CHALLENGE.

I WANT THE GANG FIGHTS TO BE ABOUT

WHO'S GOT THE BIGGEST TOMATOES.

YOU KNOW, AND NEXT YEAR--

YOUR TOMATO AIN'T SHIT. WATCH MINE NEXT YEAR.

A GARDEN BUILT IN COMPTON

WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK THEY CAN SUCCEED,

THAT YOU ARE GOING TO APPLY FOR ALL THE OTHER...

IF THIS PLANT CAN DIE AND IT GROWS BACK

IN A BAD ENVIRONMENT AND CITY LIKE THIS,

THEN FOR SURE I KNOW I CAN FALL AND GET BACK UP

AND DO THE SAME THING.

[GATE CLOSES]

NOW YOU CAN SEE MY LITTLE CUCUMBER.

-[DELILA] SO COOL. -I KNOW.

IS THAT THE FIRST THING YOU'VE PULLED?

YES-- AH.

I'M LIKE CRYING.

[LAUGHS]

[SPICEY] ORANGES, STRAWBERRIES, AND WHAT?

WHAT'S IT CALLED?

HOW ABOUT YOU DO THIS THING?

JUST PULL IT. BE A GANGSTER, PULL IT.

[BOTTLE POPS]

OH, SHOOT.

JESUS CHRIST, SEE? LOOK.

YOU SPILLED IT.

[LAUGHING]

SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL TOMATO? LOOK AT THIS.

I MEAN, IF THIS IS NOT ART, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

LOOK AT THAT. LOOK AT THE COLORS.

THE GREENS, WITH THE ORANGE.

I MEAN, WHO PUTS THESE COLORS TOGETHER?

EACH ONE OF THESE SEEDS IS ANOTHER TOMATO PLANT.

EVEN IF YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS...

THESE PLANTS ARE GONNA GROW.

PLANTS WILL COME UP IN THE CRACK.

THEY ARE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN.

[DELILA] DOES IT TASTE BETTER?

[RON] OF COURSE IT TASTES BETTER.

YOU GREW IT YOURSELF.

OPEN. SEE MY NEW STAND OPEN.

THERE'S VEGGIES, THERE'S VEGGIES FOR SALE!

ANYTHING, SQUASH,

THERE'S VEGGIE'S FOR SALE.

♪ UP ABOVE MY HEAD

VEGGIES!

♪ I AM MUTE IN THE AIR...

YOU WANNA BUY A VEGETABLE?

-WHAT THEY DO NEED. -[DOG BARKING]

DO YOU GUYS WANT TO BUY-- BUY VEGETABLES?

NO, THANK YOU.

DO YOU WANT IT, OR NOT?

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

FINE, THANK YOU.

DO YOU WANT SOMETHING?

CELERY-- HOW MUCH IS THAT ONE?

THIS IS LIKE, ONLY A DOLLAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

YOU GOTTA WASH IT. [GIGGLES]

♪ I REALLY DO BELIEVE I REALLY DO BELIEVE ♪

♪ THERE'S A HEAVEN SOMEWHERE ♪

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

JUST TWO DOLLARS.

-YOU WANT A BABY ONE? -YES.

THE BABY ONE IS A QUARTER.

♪ ALL IN MY HOME

♪ ALL IN MY HOME

TWO? 50 CENTS, SO THAT'S ONE DOLLAR.

♪ ALL IN MY HOME

♪ ALL IN MY HOME

♪ I HEAR MUSIC IN THE AIR

♪ MUSIC IN THE AIR

♪ UP ABOVE MY HEAD

♪ UP ABOVE MY HEAD OH, I HEAR MUSIC IN THE AIR ♪

♪ MUSIC IN THE AIR

♪ I REALLY DO BELIEVE

♪ I REALLY DO BELIEVE THERE'S A HEAVEN SOMEWHERE ♪

♪ UP ABOVE MY HEAD

♪ UP ABOVE MY HEAD

♪ I HEAR MUSIC IN THE AIR...

17, 18...

19...

$21.

PLUS THEM TWO YOU STOLE FROM ME.

I MADE ME SOME MONEY.

OOH!

YOU EVER SEE A DOG WHEN HE'S SO HAPPY

HOW HE'LL BE WIGGLING HIS TAIL,

AND PEEING ON HIMSELF?

WELL, HELL, THAT'S THE WAY I--

THAT'S THE WAY I WAS FEELING.

IT WAS LIKE-- I WAS LIKE--

OH, MAN, I WAS TALKING TO MYSELF,

"MAN, I'M GOING HOME TOMORROW, MAN."

AND I'M GONNA-- I'M SAYING TO MYSELF--

SAY, MAN, I OUGHT TO PEE ON MYSELF,

AND AIN'T NOBODY GONNA DO NOTHING ABOUT IT

'CAUSE I BE FREE.

NOW, I GOT PERMISSION TO LEAVE THE HALFWAY HOUSE

TO ACTUALLY GO HOME.

YOU'VE GOT SO MUCH EMOTION, NOW.

YOU GONNA BE WITH YOUR FAMILY.

YOUR OWN ROOM, YOUR OWN TELEVISION--

WHICH I HADN'T HAD NONE OF THAT.

NOW I'M GONNA HAVE MY PEACE AND HAVE MY QUIETNESS.

ALL THESE THINGS IS GONNA BE GREAT FOR ME.

I LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING OVER FOR YOU

-WHEN YOU LEAVE AND MAKING YOU PROUD. -[CHUCKLES]

WELL, THIS IS MY LAST BAG COMING OUT OF THERE.

LET'S SEE AND MAKE SURE I'VE GOT EVERYTHING.

YEAH, YEAH.

YEAH, I'VE GOT IT. YEAH, I'VE GOT MY FAVORITE SPAM HERE.

MY LIFE HASN'T BEEN ALWAYS ROSES,

BUT THAT'S PART OF LIFE

'CAUSE IT DON'T HAVE NO ROAD MAP.

AND, UM--

I'M JUST MOVING FORWARD NOW.

I WANT TO DO A LITTLE TRAVELING

WHILE I'VE STILL GOT MY HEALTH.

SO I'M LIKE A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK.

I'M OLD, BUT A NEW KID.

I ALREADY TOLD DIFFERENT PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR HOUSE

ABOUT THE GARDEN.

FIRST OF ALL, IT TRIPS THEM OUT

THAT I'M EVEN INVOLVED IN SUCH A PROJECT.

WHEN I SAW THAT WATERMELON,

IT BLEW MY MIND

BECAUSE I HAD NEVER SEEN A WATERMELON GROW

FROM THE GROUND.

I'D ONLY SEEN WATERMELONS IN THE GROCERY STORE,

YOU KNOW.

AND I STARTED TO SEE THE TOMATOES

STARTING TO SPROUT UP THE WAY THAT THEY ARE,

I STARTED TO GET MORE PROACTIVE,

WITH THE GARDEN.

AND NOW THAT I BECAME PROACTIVE WITH IT,

I'M STARTING TO BECOME OBSESSED WITH IT.

IN ORDER TO GET ALL THE FOOD,

YOU'VE GOT TO ELIMINATE THE COMPETITION.

WHEN THEY HAVE ANOTHER PLANT AROUND, IT'S LIKE--

AN ENEMY.

AND WE KNOW HOW PEOPLE DEAL WITH ENEMIES.

YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO KILL THEM OFF.

HE'S LOOKING LIKE HE'S DEAD.

AND I'VE BEEN TEMPTED GO ON AND PUT HIM TO HIS DEATH,

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE THAT, OR NOT.

THIS IS A PLACE OF SERENITY.

I GET UP EVERY MORNING AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING,

AND THE FIRST THING I DO IS MAKE A CUP OF COFFEE AND COME OUT HERE

AND TALK TO THE PLANTS.

I KNOW THAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE SEEN ME OUT HERE

PROBABLY THINK I'M CRAZY.

YOU KNOW, I'M A GARDENER FOR LIFE.

THIS ONE IS COMPLETELY AT FULL BLOOM.

WASH HIM OFF.

DELICIOUS.

[RON] WE CAN CREATE A UTOPIA IN OUR OWN ENVIRONMENT,

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

PEOPLE ASK ME BECAUSE OF HOW--

THE COLOR I PAINTED MY PLACE,

AND WAS LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE IN, UM--

THE TROPICS, OR THE BAHAMAS, OR SOMETHING?"

I'M LIKE, YEAH, AT LEAST I CAN THINK I AM. YOU KNOW?

I CAN REPLICATE THAT BY THE PLANTS I PLANT.

THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO FEEL LIKE.

I FEEL LIKE I'M IN PARADISE.

YOU CAN RECREATE THAT.

WHEN I STARTED THIS, I HAD NO IDEA

YOU KNOW, THAT WHAT I WAS DOING WOULD TURN INTO

WHAT I WAS DOING. [CHUCKLES]

THAT'S WHAT GOT ME ON THIS PATH,

WAS SEEING WHAT HAPPENED TO ME,

SEEING WHAT HAPPENED TO MY GARDEN,

SEEING HOW IT'S AFFECTED MY COMMUNITY.

I MEAN, WITH THAT, WE WILL CHANGE THE ECOSYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, IT'S-- IT'S-- YOU'RE SAVING THE PLANET.

♪ WE CAN DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY ♪

♪ WE'LL TURN THIS LIFE AROUND ♪

♪ FIVE MILES TO THE SKYWAY

♪ I BELIEVE THAT OUR TIME IS NOW ♪

♪ NOW

JUST LIKE 26.5 MILLION OTHER AMERICANS,

I LIVE IN A FOOD DESERT.

IT'S MY GOSPEL, I'M TELLING PEOPLE-- GROW YOUR OWN FOOD.

GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD IS LIKE PRINTING YOUR OWN MONEY.

[KENYA] I FOUND THE VALUE OF MYSELF,

KNOWING THAT I AM WORTH SO MUCH MORE.

GARDENING IS THE MOST THERAPEUTIC,

AND DEFIANT ACT YOU CAN DO,

ESPECIALLY IN THE INNER CITY.

IT'S A LETTER FROM HENRY.

IT SAYS, "HELLO, HOSEA. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I PRAY THAT THE FREEDOM GARDEN AT THE HOUSE IS DOING WELL.

HOPEFULLY, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO VISIT YOU SOON.

I MISS YOU. HENRY."

♪ WE CAN DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY ♪

GETTING KIDS OFF THE STREET AND LETTING THEM KNOW

THE JOY, THE PRIDE,

AND THE HONOR IN GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD.

I'M PART OF THE GREEN THUMB CREW NOW.

HOO-HOO.

WHICH ONE YOU WANT?

-THE RIGHT. -AH...

THIS IS MY NEPHEW, COREY.

-[GIGGLES] -YOU READY?

-HUH? -YOU READY?

H'YEAH!

♪ OFF THE GROUND

♪ FIVE MILES FROM THE SKYWAY ♪

L.A. LEADS THE UNITED STATES IN VACANT LOTS

THAT THE CITY ACTUALLY OWN.

THEY OWN 26 SQUARE MILES

OF VACANT LOT.

THAT'S 20 CENTRAL PARKS.

THAT'S ENOUGH SPACE

TO PLANT 700 MILLION--

725 MILLION TOMATO PLANTS.

CAN WE PICK IT YET?

I DREAM ABOUT MY PANSIES

ALL THE WAY...

TO THE SKY.

[RON] TO CHANGE THE COMMUNITY,

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE COMPOSITION OF THE SOIL.

WE ARE THE SOIL.

I WANT US ALL TO BECOME "ECOLUTIONARY," RENEGADE,

GANGSTER. GANGSTER GARDENER.

IF YOU AIN'T A GARDENER, YOU AIN'T GANGSTER.

GET GANGSTER WITH YOUR SHOVEL,

AND LET THAT BE YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE.

[APPLAUSE]

DON'T CALL ME IF YOU WANT TO SIT AROUND AND HAVE MEETINGS,

WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT DOING SOME SHIT,

WHERE YOU "TALK" ABOUT DOING SOME SHIT.

COME TO THE GARDEN WITH YOUR SHOVEL.

SO WE CAN PLANT SOME SHIT. PEACE.

♪ I DON'T REALLY WANT TO SETTLE DOWN ♪

♪ WHOA

♪ DON'T YOU REALLY WANT TO LEAVE THIS TOWN? ♪

♪ WHOA

♪ WE'LL FLY AWAY

♪ WE'LL FLY AWAY IN THE SKYWAY ♪

[DELILA] ALTHOUGH NOT TOO MUCH HAS CHANGED IN SOUTH L.A.,

GOING TO THE GARDENS THERE

FEELS LIKE AN OASIS.

AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN,

THE SIMPLE ACT OF PLANTING A SEED

CAN CHANGE LIVES.

IF WE ALL ADD JUST A BIT MORE GREEN,

WE'D FIND OURSELVES

CLOSER TO EDEN.

♪ ["GRAZING IN THE GRASS" BY FRIENDS OF DISTINCTION PLAYS]

THAT-- THAT'S YOU GUYS' SLATE?

-[DELILA] YES. -[LAUGHS]

THAT'S GHETTO AS FUCK.

[LAUGHS]

♪ GRAZING IN THE GRASS

♪ IS A GAS, BABY

♪ CAN YOU DIG IT

♪ WHAT A TRIP JUST WATCHING

♪ AS THE WORLD GOES PAST

♪ GRAZING IN THE GRASS

♪ IS A GAS, BABY

♪ CAN YOU DIG IT.

♪ [SINGING]

♪ MY CARROTS

♪ MY COLLARD GREENS

OKAY.

OH, THIS ONE. LOOK AT THIS.

Y'ALL GOT A--

A UNICORN CATERPILLAR.

♪ SUN BEAMING DOWN

♪ BETWEEN THE LEAVES DANCING IN THE GRASS ♪

♪ IS A GAS, BABY CAN YOU DIG IT? ♪ HE GONNA LIVE

♪ AND THE BIR-IR-IR-IRDS DARTIN IN AND OUT OF TREES... ♪

[RON] WE'RE GARDENING TOGETHER, ALMOST LIKE A CO-OP SITUATION

WHERE YOU HAVE A GARDEN

ON ONE STREET THAT--

THEY'RE GROWING CARROTS

AND SOMEBODY ELSE

MIGHT BE GROWING TOMATOES.

YOU CAN TRADE FOOD. NOW YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS.

NOW YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS KIDS.

NOW YOU'RE MORE ABLE TO LOOK OUT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.

♪ CAN YOU DIG IT?

♪ OOH, WHOO

WA-- WA-- WAIT. WOULD VEGAN BE...

WHY DON'T I JUST JUST FISH?

SO, CAN WE STILL EAT FISH IF WE WAS VEGETARIAN?

[DELILA] NO, THEN YOU'RE A "PESCATARIAN."

[LAUGHS]

SO, I'M A "PESCATARIAN."

[LAUGHS]

♪ CAN YOU DIG IT?

[RON I SEE POTENTIAL ALL ACROSS THE PLANET,

BECAUSE THIS FOOD SYSTEM IS NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE THING,

IT'S A UNIVERSAL THING.

I WANT TO HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL

"PLANT SOME SHIT" DAY.

WHERE EVERYBODY, EVERYWHERE--

YOU PLANT SOMETHING, IN A CUP,

IN A TENNIS SHOE, IN A BOOT,

IN-- IN A CAN,

UH, A FIELD, A FARM,

SEED BOMB EVERYWHERE.

LET'S JUST PLANT SHIT EVERYWHERE.

♪