Choppers Garden
Chopper
Warren “Chopper” Palmer is an incredible gardener from whom we have learned so much. He has grown 4-garden beds so far at our Andry Street location— including a mosquito repellent bed (so volunteers could garden pest free), a garden of herbs to supplement his mother’s (pictured below) cancer treatment, a butterfly shaped garden full of plants to attract pollinators and a garden dedicated to putting nitrogen back in the soil. His spring and fall gardens have been some of the most productive and his family has been part of the journey. Solitary Gardens was honored to be part of Chopper’s parole hearing and package to support his release. Although he was denied in a split decision, he will be up or parole again in 2020 and we will support his journey the entire way!
“I did 10-years in solitary confinement... I studied a lot... I had to. Anyways, I learned a lot about plants, from little joys to lots of love. Horticultural ways are what opened my eyes!”
Chopper’s gate before the Luffa took it down! An intentional design of the project, we look to plants to overpower manmade symbols of oppression- like prison gates. We look to nature to show us the way.
