There’s a new mob in town and they are aggressively planting vegetables. Crop Mobbing, a gathering of volunteers that assists sustainable urban farmers, is my kind of mob: promoting sustainability, helping others, fostering community and cultivating both good food and compassion. It’s time to get our hands a little dirty and bump off some weeds.
This movement began in North Carolina about five years ago and has since spread throughout the nation, coming to Denver recently. The Denver Crop Mob was established in 2011 and has since hosted 17 events with two more approaching. These events are sponsored by Slow Food Denver whose national founder, Carlo Petrini, just spoke here at DU and Grow Local Colorado.
The intention of these organizations is to connect urban farmers with able-bodied and willing workers. Sustainable agriculture involves an immense amount more work than modern industrial agriculture; Crop Mobbing allows farmers to accomplish in a several hours what could otherwise take months.
Volunteers participate in various tasks, from planting seeds to building fences, all while enjoying the company of others. And their compensation is a meal of wholesome food provided by the farmer. In the words of Slow Food Denver, “We work together, share a meal, play, talk, and make music. No money is exchanged. This is the stuff that communities are made of.”
Some critics of this movement, such as Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, professor of agricultural history at Iowa State University, attempt to degrade it by labeling it as “agricultural tourism.” These arguments seem to doubt the genuineness of participants’ involvement. Comments highlight the city dwellers that take these events as excuses to get away for a few hours or a day. So what? Even if that’s all Crop Mobbing is for some people, they are still breaking free of the monotony of modern life and contributing to the community. At the end of the day every individual there has some sore muscles, new friendships and a sense of satisfaction with their achievements.
Another critique offered by Professor Riney-Kerhberg was that Crop Mobs hold no significance for larger-scale farms. This is true, as larger farms require heavy machinery, but is also irrelevant as the purpose is to assist small, local and sustainable farmers.
Participating in a Crop Mob is a great new opportunity for the veteran farmer or the “agri-curious” college student.
Check the next one out: Saturday May 18, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Broomfield. You would be supporting a community garden that feeds the local hungry and homeless, all while burning calories, making friends and eating good food. Support the movement; support your community; as Ron Finley, known as the guerilla gardener of South Central L.A. says, come “get gangster with your shovel.”
