VOA慢速英語：洛杉磯市允許居民耕種未開墾土地

Farming Takes Hold in Undeveloped Areas of Los Angeles

洛杉磯市允許居民耕種未開墾土地

For years, farming on empty land was a big issue in one of America's biggest cities -- Los Angeles, California.

多年來，在美國最大城市之一的加州洛杉磯市，在空地上耕種都是一項大的議題。

The city government refused to permit planting of crops in vacant, undeveloped areas.

洛杉磯市政府不允許在空置和未開墾土地上種植作物。

But Los Angeles residents pressured local leaders to let them grow food in open spaces, including strips of land between the street and sidewalks.

但是洛杉磯居民迫使了當地領導允許他們在露天場所種植農作物，這些場所包括街道和人行道之間的條狀土地。

Two years ago, city officials gave residents permission to plant crops in such spaces.

兩年前，市政府官員允許居民在這類地方種植農作物。

Ron Finley is now growing food on a small piece of land near his home. He spends most of his mornings there.

羅恩·芬利(Ron Finley)現在在他家附近的一小塊土地上種植食物。他大部分早晨都花在那里。

"This is a food forest. There's fruit trees, there's also weeds that are edible in here. I want to educate people to the fact that there's food all around you."

他說：“這是個食物森林，里面有果樹、還有野菜。我希望教育人們，身邊到處有食物。”

The Los Angeles man often speaks to groups. He urges them to start community gardens much like his.

這位洛杉磯男子經常向各個團體發(fā)表講話，督促他們像他一樣開創(chuàng)社區(qū)菜園。

Finley has been growing crops in the city for many years -- even before the government gave its permission. Until recently, he had been told by city officials not to do so. He had even been ordered to go to court.

芬利多年來一直都在洛杉磯市種植農作物，甚至是在市政府批準種植之前。不久前市政府官員還告訴他不要這么做，他甚至被告上法庭。

Tomatoes, edible flowers, fruits and vegetables are not often seen in the inner city. It is easier to buy unhealthy food and alcoholic drinks.

西紅柿、食用花卉、水果和蔬菜在城市內并不常見。人們購買不健康的食物和含酒精飲料更為容易。

Tamiko Nakamoto helps 22 people grow crops in their community garden in South Los Angeles. He says they are growing both fruits and vegetables.

中本民子(Tamiko Nakamoto)在南洛杉磯幫助22個人在社區(qū)菜園中種植農作物。他說他們開始種植水果和蔬菜。

"Collard greens, sugar cane, banana, tomato trees, cabbage."

“有羽衣甘藍、甘蔗、香蕉、番茄樹以及白菜。”

This month, the Los Angeles city council agreed to lower property taxes for people who let their vacant land be used as community gardens.

這個月，洛杉磯市議會同意降低那些把他們的空置土地用作社區(qū)菜園的人們的財產稅。

Finley says urban gardening is good for everyone. Because of the gardens, more families in the city are eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

芬利表示，城市菜園對大家都有利。因為這些菜園，更多城市家庭吃上了新鮮水果和蔬菜。

"And it's making you healthy all over, not just your body, your mind-set, everything because looking at this, smelling this affects every sense in your body."

他說：“而且它會讓你渾身都健康，而不只是你的身體、精神狀態(tài)。因為看著這些、聞著這些會影響到你身體的每個感官。”

I'm Dorothy Gundy.

多蘿西·甘地報道。