Where grass grew, a veggie garden grows in Edmonds
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Chris Goodenow / For the Herald
From left, Ravi Myers, Josh Myers, 13, Nathaniel Kreiman, 14, and Carlo Voli (right) harvest vegetables Aug. 9. Voli recently tore up the lawn at his Edmonds home to plant a vegetable garden to share with his neighbors. Voli also uses a windmill to create some of his own power.
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Chris Goodenow / For the Herald
Carlo Voli uses twine and stakes to support tomato plants as his neighbor, Ravi Myers (right), and son Josh, 13, harvest lettuce.
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Chris Goodenow / For the Herald
Josh Myers, 13, of Edmonds, eats a lettuce leaf as his father, Ravi (left), and neighbor Carlo Voli (center-left) harvest other vegetables.
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Chris Goodenow / For the Herald
Carlo Voli shares a radish with neighbors Nathaniel Kreiman (hand at left), 14, and Ravi Myers (background-left).
Carlo Voli tore out the lawn from the front yard of his suburban ranch-style home and planted a vegetable garden to share with his neighbors.
"The food is right here. There is no transportation or storage taking energy," Voli said. "Anyone can grow food. You just have to start somewhere, even if it is growing food in a planter. Everyone has the power to change the system as individuals, you don't have to wait for governments to do it."
As an organizer of an annual clean-up of a neighborhood green belt, Voli felt that a community vegetable garden would be a good use of his sunny front lawn. His neighbors share watering duties and in the bounty.
Ten years ago, following a decade as a volunteer in Third World countries, Voli came to the quiet street in the Firdale neighborhood of Edmonds, where his family had originally settled in the 1860s.
"I was depressed to see what we are doing here," he said. "I want to live my dream of renewing the environment and growing food."
To that end, Voli has given up his clothes dryer and does not use disposable cups, napkins or food containers. He bikes to work and takes the bus. When he needs to use a car, he drives a biodiesel-fueled compact.
And he makes it a habit to reexamine habits.
"There is always a new level," he said. "You always have to look for the next thing. Next, I am getting hens."
Voli uses renewable energy as much as possible -- he has solar panels, a wind turbine and a solar oven. Rain, collected from the rooftop, is used to operate his dual-flush toilets and water his garden.
Voli said he doesn't look harshly on those who haven't followed in his carbon footprint.
"I recognize that my being able to help bring real change cannot come from a space of anger, resentment or negativity," he said.
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