“I bought my first house in 1999, and as the granddaughter of a locally celebrated Italian gardener, I considered the big yard a prize. It was the first time I was ever responsible for a piece of land, and I decided I wanted to lovingly steward it and its creatures without chemicals. The first step was to somehow rid the entire back yard of its thick crust of concrete, rickety concrete walls, and huge brick barbecue. I knocked the walls and barbecue out myself with a sledge, but the crust defeated me. Luckily I happened to know the local college’s boys basketball coach. He volunteered his players in exchange for a donation to the team. Was that even legal? I don’t know, but it was fun to watch the kids demolish the concrete crust that had for decades smothered the earth. The same college then accepted the concrete to line and stabilize a creek wall. I hope the concrete did not leach toxins, but this was before I knew to ask or test. I started amending my soil and it was so happy to be released! I also talked my neighbor into not using Roundup any more, and this became my first real garden. In time the recovered yard became a verdant, wonderful food, herb, and pollinator garden; a sanctuary for me and many animals, and a pleasure.”
– Leah Halper
