All language subtitles for Can You Dig This (2015)_en

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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.

♪