A local crisis was averted on Thursday night, thanks to a crew of landscapers. Walking into town around 9 p.m., I crossed paths with the men working on the abandoned lot at 201 N. Greensboro St. Noticing the unsightly gate along Center Street was wide open as the group trimmed, cut and mowed, I engaged one of the workers in dialogue. Visible from afar by only his uniform neon orange shirt against his dark skin, the worker said he knew little about the politics of the lot and was simply part of that night’s crew. I told him about my connection to the “Garden Everywhere†plot, as well as vegetation and beautification work around the perimeter of the lot, hinting at my reasoning for stopping to talk with him. Of course, I speak of the communal gardening projects spearheaded by the loose affiliation of citizens known as Carrboro Commune.
The man expressed genuine interest into what we grow; I began the tour with the basil, mint, peas and tomatoes along Center and Weaver streets. As we approached North Greensboro, to my shock and deep sadness, workers were in the process of uprooting maturing plants from the ground and tearing the just-about-to-bloom morning glories from the most northern face of the fence.
The workers paused as my peaceful yet concerned presence was recognized. Understanding that they were just following orders, I asked to speak with the messenger of such destruction. Ant, described by one of the workers as a “big ass black man,†informed me that the orders were to clear the fence. Rather sympathetic and seemingly apologetic, the man I first encountered handed me a bouquet of bright orange daylilies, which had already been misguidedly yanked from the earth. They have since been replanted.
I asked one of the workers what the repercussions would be for disobeying orders. Sensing my light tone, the workers laughed and shook their heads. Thinking that my great success for the night was saving the rest of the plants, I carried on my way. As I returned home a few hours later, I noticed that the morning glories remained. The men nonviolently disobeyed violent orders at my simple nudge. Thanks to them, a majority of the garden remains and my energies can be focused on the developers’ plan for their future CVS. Helen Keller said, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.â€
Alanna Davis
Carrboro