Local Political Awareness and Participation

Occupy Richmond, no offense seems a bit less fruitful than it could be. A handful of people (or a brave army of one) stand on a corner with a sign. The optimist sees it as an exercise in democracy. The pessimist sees a waste of time. I see it as an admirable right of expression, but without pragmatic direct involvement, it seems to be nothing more than a small attention grabber for a small population who perhaps may feel otherwise like an almost silent minority.

City Building Image Source

When I consider the problems our community faces, we seem to be a microcosm of the larger picture. The problems we face are not unique to us. They are problems the nation needs to address. Unemployment, drug abuse, crime and a general malaise (etc., etc., etc.) are not only Richmond's problems, they are the problems of the United States. When I see people express outrage and frustration with the status quo, I understand and nod in agreement. But when I see people protesting national politics on the street corners of our city, I do wonder at the effectiveness of such a protest. One may argue it is to inspire awareness, but if awareness of the cracked up American political scene is lacking, I am surprised. Blues and Reds and in-betweens as well as the unaffiliated can all become purple in the face describing just what is wrong in America today. Politics and political awareness are some things I have actively worked to evade in the past!

Have these people ever attended a local public meeting? Do they vote for local and state representatives that they feel represent them after having researched their options? It's easier to look at the staged drama of national level politics and forget the problems in our own backyards. I know I do. I find myself at the polls each time, promising to be more informed and guess selecting the smaller stuff and hot button pushing the big ones. Maybe it's easier emotionally. It's more impersonal to vote for a figurehead president than to consider people who could be our neighbors as our government representatives. One can even make a game of potshots at a president we will never have to face, but when we vote on a local level we either stick our head's in the sand or consider the feelings of the candidates we could possibly (and probably) know. We display our signs as a sign of loyalty to a party or person, with the full knowledge that in supporting that one we are withdrawing support of another even if we don't mean to give offense. It's also easier to rail against what we can look at as a giant conspiracy of American downfall than to look at our own city and take initiative where doing needs done. There are informed individuals and active participants among us, but there could be more. I'd like to be one of them. I'm not there yet. I'm considering the effectiveness of those politically involved in the Occupy Richmond movement, while yet having to google Richmond City government stats. I wish you could see me wink, so that you would know not to take offense at my lighthearted monologue.

All I know is this: in order to tackle a very large problem, it's easiest to work on the smaller details first. When the smaller things are taken care of consistently on a daily basis, the larger things seem to take care of themselves. At the very least, things are much smoother. Maybe it would work on a political level. If we awoke to local politics and community based problem solving, would national tasks seem less insurmountable?

So here is my to do list:

1. Figure out who's in charge here.

2. Attend my first public meeting.

3. Stop guess selecting at the local polls. (Don't judge me, internet. I'm not the only one!)

50 North 5th Street, here I come, ready or not!

The Sights, Sounds and Smells of Richmond, Indiana

You know how sometimes when you travel very, very far, you become road weary and just want to turn around and magically be transported home again? I know that feeling. The last time I took an excursion away from Indiana, on the way home that welcome sign on I-70 was absolutely the most welcoming welcome sign I'd seen on our cross country trek! Announcing our exit to the kids made us perk up in our seats! Home again! Our own beds! Our own toilet! (Seriously!)

We love the idea of world travel. Don't we all wonder what it would be like and daydream of going truly far, far away? If someone were to ask you, where are you from and what is it like there? What would you say? Would you be homesick? Even after that welcome distance could you conjure an image or feeling you associate with your hometown and desire to be there again? 

If I were to tell someone what Richmond, Indiana is like I might describe it this way:

Local-Lady Snapshot of the Richmond Madonna 

I am from Richmond, Indiana. It's sometimes described as a small town, sometimes described as a decent sized city. It's in Indiana but can hardly be pinned down as rural or "big city". It's one of those places that doesn't fit neatly into a box, but when you catch the scent of cookies wafting from the bakery intermingling with the scent of dog food from Hill's Pet Nutrition, you know you're near my home. In the daytime you hear the sounds of children playing, music blaring so loud from passing cars you can feel it in your bones and the odd passerby muttering words I was taught not to say (let along shout aloud in public), it's much like anywhere in the country. At night, you can hear the roar and wail of the trains. I used to think it was the most desolate sound and yet now it seems more insistent.

In Indiana the weather changes constantly, not only seasonally. One season passes to make way for the next, although the transition can often tease us.  In summer, I love to see my neighbors on their front porches until long after sunset. In winter, I love to see the men out clearing the walks of snow and beating their chests. Someday's they are cheerful and red faced. Other days they plod on with grim determination. The ice cream truck makes its rounds as soon as it's barely thawed outside. Despite the children having blue lips in the early chilly days of spring, they salivate like Pavlov puppies at the carnival clunking sound. I love the crawdads, minnows and tadpoles in the Whitewater's creeks. I love the crows cawing autumn by the library. I love Morrison Reeve Library's books sale- the jumble joy of it! I love spying a raccoon slipping into the sewer grates like a mischievous bandit.

I love the change. It always changes, but so much stays the same. 

I love the beautiful sky above it. So many different moods play out. There are fiery sunset evenings in fuchsia pink, golden yellow and oranges. There are nights that a deepest azure hangs above us with pitch black edges and dusky blues in the distance. There are the hazardous green skies when funnel clouds form, and we are lucky when they dissipate. The countryside is not too far to visit and it's soul enriching to pull over and really look at the stars and spot the Milky Way, especially during meteor showers.

I love how history hangs around us. I love the architecture of our oldest buildings, the stained glass windows and restored facades. I love our strong traditions of the arts and music and jazz. I love that although Indiana is often seen by other Americans as a stagnant place, our state also has a history of forward thinking: we were among the states that passed the Equal Rights Amendment of the 1970's and our city boasts one of the few statues in the United States featuring a woman. These are things I can be proud of.


I love the people. The seniors, the volunteers, the women who watch our neighborhoods like hawks, the teachers who really, really care and stick up for our kids despite a problematic system, the men who clear the roads, the small business owners, the kid down the street, my family and my friends. I love the people who make this city worth living in, whether they are running the companies we work for or the nonprofits and organizations that keep us going in tough times. Maybe they just happen to be the people who are there when someone is needed.

I love when my peers choose to stay and I'm proud of the peers who choose to go.  As for those of us who stay, it's not for lack of brains or ambitions. Brain drain is such an offensive phrase. We contribute to the local economy while our peers at large are Richmond's ambassadors to the world. Good things come out of Richmond, Indiana. Not everyone has to stay, but it's not true to say only the best go. Those of us who stay are rewarded by our history together. There is something sweet to see our children playing together and to know that perhaps they will sled down that hill at Glen Miller park just as we have on snowy days.

Not everything is rosy. I'm describing this place at the risk of sounding overly sentimental. There are days I wake up and just sigh. There are days I close my curtains and hide at home in frustration with the outside world, near or far. Here there are streets that beg to be made over anew, potholes in roads that may never be filled, both literally and metaphorically! Either way, pot holes and all, Richmond is home.

If you look for blight here you'll find it, but if you watch for the good, you'll find it too, and isn't the good worth so much more?

Sprout of Control

I recently contacted via e-mail a new group forming in the Richmond area, Sprout of Control is Susan Isaacs, Wayne County's trustee, Jessica Clark of Porter Advertising, and Bethany Norwalt, who is busily at work many hours in a designated Sprout of Control greenhouse area. I thought it would be great to ask them some questions to get the scoop on Richmond's community gardening initiative! Susan Isaacs graciously answered me. Our transcript is below:

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spearheaded by three local ladies:

Great name! Where does it come from?

I have to defer to Jessica and Bethany on this one - when I heard it I loved it, but I cannot say where the inspiration came from...

I'm so sad not to hear the back story on that, as I absolutely love the name! Kudos to the clever person for coining it! What prompted the formation of this community garden project? How did you all meet?

A community garden was started last year at Sylvan Nook Church through a partnership between my office (Wayne Twp Trustee) and the Sylvan Nook Church. This year, I believe Bethany and Jessica attended the BOOST event and became interested in (and then passionate about) starting community gardens in Richmond. Jessica heard about the Sylvan Nook garden and called me. The three of us decided that by merging resources and working together we could have a greater impact and Sprout of Control was born.

Are you interested in sustainability and organic gardening methods? If so what kinds of sustainable/organic actions are you implementing in your work? 

We are very interested in all of the above! We hope to incorporate these things into the gardens as much as possible. Again, I think Jessica and Bethany may have more to say on this - they are very passionate about upcycling...

Jessica weighs in: 

One thing we are doing is rain barrel systems for water conservation. Porter Advertising has donated parcels and polyethylene posters (ad poster materials) that we are using for many different projects. We have been using 2 liters pop bottles and pizza boxes in the seeding process.  We will be using many up cycled materials such as wood pallets and rubber tires.

I can't wait to see further conservation and up cycling efforts made through your project. I think it has a real potential to empower people not just by growing their own food but also to empower them to really try out better environmental habits through their new awareness and experiences found in gardening. 

I've heard your gardens will be included in the RAM's Garden Tour this year! I love to see existing groups working together in our community. Are there any plans in the works to collaborate more with existing companies or nonprofits? It would be great to see involvement with the Clear Creek Co-op!

We have many ideas for future collaboration - everything from gardening classes by local master gardeners (through Wayne County Extension) to canning events to end-of-season feasts. There are so many opportunities to do so much around the garden project. The community has been incredibly supportive of the garden project. The challenge so far is not lack of ideas and opportunities, it is simply making sure we stay focused on the gardens first - we have to do everything we can to make the gardens successful, which means we are focused on doing everything we can to get as many people involved in actually working in the gardens and helping them reap a wonderful harvest!

How can people apply for a plot? How much of a commitment do you expect from members?

Open Registration is Saturday April 13. People can also get registered by contacting any of the three of us - my office phone is 973-9392 or we can be reached at our sprout of control gmail address (sproutofcontrol@gmail.com). In a nutshell, those who sign up for plots are expected to take care of them. We want the gardens to be kept up and we want them to be fruitful. There are not a lot of rules...

How would you encourage someone who doesn't necessarily have the time to commit to a community plot, but who is interested in being a part of Sprout of Control to get involved?

Everyone is welcome to come to our Big Dig days (tentatively set for April 27 but dependent on weather and soil readiness). People can donate tools and supplies. People can help spread the word. People can donate money too - we have to pay for our water usage and buy equipment and supplies that are not donated. People can like our Facebook page to help expand our reach. We need garden coordinators/directors for each garden. We need canning jars and supplies. Experienced gardeners can volunteer to be at a garden once a week or once a month to help inexperienced gardeners be more successful! Any and all are invited to participate in whatever way they are able!!!

What are your goals for this year? What are your goals in the next five?

This year we want our gardens to thrive and for the gardeners to have fun and enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of their labor. Two new gardens is a big challenge. We will also be supporting the Hope House garden and a garden at Noah's Ark daycare. For me, the goal is to get these gardens (and the Sylvan Nook garden) up and running - with plenty of gardeners and support.

In five years, I would be thrilled to see 10-15 neighborhood community gardens all over the city of Richmond. Every neighborhood has at least one garden. There are small flower gardens drizzled throughout the city. Where there once were drab, colorless signs of urban blight, there are now green and colorful gardens, sprouting out all over the city! I believe people are sick and tired of all the negative - establishing and nourishing the growth of community gardens does much more than produce veggies. Community gardens build neighborhood pride and a sense of community.

I agree, and I am sure the gardens will be something all of Richmond will take pride in! Thank you so much Susan Isaacs, and ladies of Sprout of Control for graciously answering my interview request! I wish all of the gardens this year a very abundant harvest!

If you are interested in learning more about Sprout of Control, "like" their community Facebook page to stay in the loop. Visit them at their informational/registration meetings held throughout Richmond next week on April 13th at the Richmond Farmer's Market in the Townsend Center, the Innovation Center or the Depot. Please feel free to check the Official Local-Lady Community Calendar for the dates, times and locations for these upcoming events and more!

This is a wonderful opportunity to beautify the city, engage and enrich the lives of our residents. Kudos, Sprout of Control!