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A Gardener's Notebook: The latest incarnation of my column detailing the trails and tribulations of my garden. Join the list and ask your own questions about gardening Subscribe

Year-end is always a good time for reflection. Reflection on our lives, our gardens and ourselves. At least in the garden we can easily see what has been accomplished and what has been left for another day. If only our lives we so easily sorted out. Even if we sometimes have trouble seeing the successes in our lives, the New Year is also a great time for making plans for the future. A whole new year or, in this case, a whole new century, stretches before us. Who could help but make plans when so much lies ahead? Below are a few of the accomplishments I want to see in the coming years. I have mentioned a few of them in past columns and others have just presented themselves during my year-end reverie. My hope is that they will trigger some thoughts in your mind about how you and your garden might make the world a slightly better place.

Feed the hungry

Each and every one of us should work hard to make sure our garden products are not wasted. (See Plant a row, bush or tree, November 28, 1999) All too often we plant more than we need. Everywhere in the world there are hungry people who can benefit from our over planting. Find a local food bank or other charitable operation that can make use of your surplus. Even if you don't plant a vegetable garden find a place to donate your oranges, apples, olives, nuts and other tree produce. In my neighborhood alone we have enough oranges to keep most of the populace of Los Angeles in fresh orange juice year round. Help those around you receive the bounty that comes from the soil. Both you and they will benefit.

Parks in our own backyard

I have a dream of seeing our urban areas interspersed with parks and open spaces so that everyone can have a place to enjoy the outdoors even if they live in apartments. Here in Los Angeles, especially the San Fernando Valley where I live, there is a dearth of parks. While we are within driving distance of several state and federal parklands, the Valley itself is row upon row of shops and houses. I don't even have a playground within walking distance where my son can play.

I believe urban parkland starts with our own gardens. We need to share our gardens and our gardening knowledge with others so that we can move away from the endless expanses of expensive lawns and into a more naturalized landscaping that not only looks better but costs less to maintain. Part of this sharing involves bringing people into our garden to show them exactly what is possible. Sponsor a neighborhood garden tour. Host a garden party yourself. We may have forgotten it, but we all have a desire for open, green spaces that allow us to connect to nature even in the middle of the city.

Another urban gardening plan involves the transformation of vacant lots into small parks instead of yet another apartment complex. While the "pocket park" idea has been around for a long time I believe there is one aspect missing. Not only should there be small parks scattered throughout the neighborhood, there should also be an on-going effort to link these parks together in some way. Imagine being able to walk for miles though your neighborhood and city, moving from one park to another. This is certainly not a quick fix, but imagine the cities our children and grandchildren would inherit if we started today.

Share your dreams for the new year and the new century by sending them to the AGN Mailing list discussion group. Let us all know what you are doing in your area to make your garden and your city a better place to live.

See you all in the New Year!

Keep digging!