“Imagine Yourself Free and Think How Dangerous that can Be”
Today we are honored to welcome the brilliant and brave Ron Finley aka “The Gangsta Gardener” to SOUNDFOOD. This is a powerful, liberating, playfully provocative episode rich in plant magic, energetic sovereignty and positive vibrations.
Ron Finley is celebrated as “The Gangsta Gardener” as a result of his bold move to transform the barren parkway in front of his South Central LA home into an edible, urban oasis. Frustrated by his neigborhood’s lack of access to fresh food, Finley planted his first tomato seeds in 2010; which initially earned him a police warning. However through his courage and diligence, these seeds eventually grew into a flourishing urban garden that has now blossomed into a larger movement for underserved communities worldwide.
Today, Ron serves as activist, artist, horticulturist, global motivational speaker, and a pioneer in the urban-agricultural community. Ron’s initiative, The Ron Finley Project, teaches communities how to transform food deserts into food sanctuaries and how to regenerate their own land into thriving ecosystems. Ron has empowered and inspired many young and underprivileged people to be the designers of their own lives. He continues to cultivate his own flourishing garden in inner city LA and inspires countless others to sow seeds where they are needed most. Ron is also on the curatorial team of the Destination Crenshaw Project; a 1.3 miles of art and culture celebrating Black Los Angeles. He is one of the national artists for the public art challenge Fertile Ground Project out of Jackson, Mississippi. He truly embodies interdisciplinary cretaivity and expression.
Ron and Nitsa share an open, joyous and transparent dialogue that reflects the multidimensional vibrancy of The Garden itself. Ron’s words invoke a very grounded call to action: not only for food security but also to inspire others to truly LIVE.
This is a conversation not to be missed. Take it outside and listen as you soak up some sunlight and fresh oxygen if you can!
Thank you for tuning in. If you are able to donate to SOUNDFOOD we would be so grateful for your support. Everything and anything you can give helps us continue to share these conversations with the world.
Infinite gratitude!
CONNECT
Ron Finley: IG | Website
Host @nitsacitrine @soundfoodspace
Subscribe to Mercurial Mail (our monthly newsletter)
MENTIONED
Ron Finley’s TED Talk
Ron’s Masterclass
SOUNDFOOD Episodes mentioned:
Aras Baskuskas and Christy Dawn
Sarah and Ryland Engelhart
MNDSGN’s Grand Performance in Ron’s Garden
Reunity Resources
Noma Restaurant
Contramar Mexico City
Deepak Chopra
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
EP. 66 • SOWING SOVEREIGNTY with Chef Mollie Engelhart
EP. 44 • FOOD IS LOVE with LaRayia Gaston
EP. 38 • THE FIFTH SEASON: When Summer Ripens into Autumn with Colin Hudon
NOURISH
This podcast is made possible by your donations and the symbiotic support of our partners:
Offer a donation to us here
LIVING LIBATIONS: enjoy 15% off all botanical beauty alchemy with this link https://livinglibations.com/soundfood (discount automatically applied)
MIKUNA: enter SOUNDFOODFAMILY for 25% off clean, single-sourced plant protein products Mikunafoods.com
LIVING TEA: SOUNDFOOD for 15% off all tea nourishment livingtea.net
SUPERFEAST: enter CITRINE for 10% off our favorite tonic herbs + superfoods superfeast.com
OSEA: enter CITRINE for 10% off oseamalibu.com sea-to-skin magic
CHRISTY DAWN: 15NITSA for 15% off farm-to-closet christydawn.com
LAMBS: use code CITRINE for 10% off your EMF protective gear getlambs.com
P.S. We would be so grateful if you felt inspired to leave us a review on APPLE OR SPOTIFY!
INCA SUPER PROTEIN with Ricky Echanique
BIOHACKING FOR WOMEN with Dr. Karley Denoon ND
FILLING THE VESSEL WITH SPIRIT with Baelyn Elspeth
CHAMPION OF THE HEART with Cesalina Gracie
OUR SACRED ROOTS with Sarah Britton
PROTECTING OUR SOIL AND CELLS with Kelly Ryerson
AWAKENING SPRING VITALITY with Colin Hudon
FINDING SANCTUARY WITHIN LUMINOSITY with Tracee Stanley
THE RITUAL OF BEING with Geneviève Medow-Jenkins
PLEASURE IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT with Liz Goldwyn
AN ODE TO FERMENTATION with Sandor Katz
MOMS ACROSS AMERICA | Shifting the Food Paradigm with Zen Honeycutt
FEEDING TOMORROW | Transforming our Future through Food with Oliver English
PLANTS FOR THE PEOPLE with Herbalist Erin Lovell Verinder
PERMISSION TO HEAL | Breathwork, Presence and Authenticity with Ashley Neese
CONSTELLATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS | Welcoming in the New Year through the Zodiac with Dani Beinstein
SOLSTICE MEDICINE | Rituals for Rebirth + Healing with Deborah Hanekamp
A LIVING PRACTICE | Earth as Muse with Poet Jacqueline Suskin
NATURE TO NURTURE | Cultivating an Ecosystem of Care with Doula Carson Meyer
ROOTED IN THE STARS | Astrology, Herbal Alchemy and Ayurveda with Kari Jansen
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
50 Tastes Of Gray
Walk-In Talk Podcast
The Recipe with Kenji and Deb
Anne of Green Gables
Pollyanna
Gastropod
Solicited Advice with Alison Roman