“Si hortum in bibliotheca habes, deerit nihil.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
This quotation is often mistranslated as “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Despite the mistranslation, the sentiment remains true. We are happy to provide the library, but what about a garden?
Food, and access to it, is, whether we like it or not, a political issue. Rising food costs exacerbate socioeconomic inequality. Climate change, tariffs, and the state of the global economy all impact how and what we eat. In the face of these challenges, the humble act of growing your own food is an act of resilience.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in gardening and developing skills for self-sufficiency. From backyard beds to balcony pots, from community plots to city rooftops, home gardening, victory gardens, and urban farms are blossoming, not just as sources of nourishment but as tools for equity and change.
During World Wars I and II, victory gardens helped support the war effort by reducing pressure on public food supplies. These gardens brought neighborhoods together and instilled a sense of community solidarity and self-reliance during uncertain times.
Today, a new generation of gardens is rising in response to a different kind of crisis: food insecurity rooted in systemic inequality. Food deserts, areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food, disproportionately affect low-income households and communities of color. Black and Latinx neighborhoods, in particular, are more likely to lack nearby grocery stores, due in part to historical redlining, disinvestment, and ongoing policy neglect. Due to gentrification in some of these communities, food is available but at a price that creates hardship for locals. Rural areas also face challenges, with long distances and sparse infrastructure making fresh food access especially difficult. Children and the elderly, those most vulnerable to poor nutrition, are often hit hardest.
In response, urban communities are reimagining food production in creative and hyper-local ways. Community farms transform vacant lots into vibrant ecosystems that not only grow produce but also offer education, employment, and environmental stewardship. At the same time, individuals are contributing to food resilience in unexpected corners of the city: rooftop beehives that support pollination and provide local honey, and backyard chickens that lay fresh eggs while helping to reduce food waste and enrich soil.
These practices, once considered rural or niche, are being reclaimed in cities as part of a larger food justice movement. They reflect a deeper shift toward sustainability, self-sufficiency, and community empowerment. These gardens, hives, and coops are more than green spaces—they’re grassroots resistance to a broken system. They empower people to reclaim control over their health, land, and future.
Whether it’s a tomato plant on a windowsill, a shared neighborhood plot, or a rooftop apiary, every seed, hive, and henhouse brings us one step closer to a more just and resilient world.
Curious about community farms in Baltimore? Check out the Farm Alliance of Baltimore!
Interested in learning more about gardening, food security, food policy, how food impacts cultures (and how cultures impact food), or even how to cook food? Check out our offerings at the library and/or talk to your librarian.