VOA慢速英语：洛杉矶市允许居民耕种未开垦土地

Farming Takes Hold in Undeveloped Areas of Los Angeles

洛杉矶市允许居民耕种未开垦土地

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

多年来，在美国最大城市之一的加州洛杉矶市，在空地上耕种都是一项大的议题。

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

洛杉矶市政府不允许在空置和未开垦土地上种植作物。

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

但是洛杉矶居民迫使了当地领导允许他们在露天场所种植农作物，这些场所包括街道和人行道之间的条状土地。

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

两年前，市政府官员允许居民在这类地方种植农作物。

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

罗恩·芬利(Ron Finley)现在在他家附近的一小块土地上种植食物。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."

他说：“这是个食物森林，里面有果树、还有野菜。我希望教育人们，身边到处有食物。”

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

这位洛杉矶男子经常向各个团体发表讲话，督促他们像他一样开创社区菜园。

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.

芬利多年来一直都在洛杉矶市种植农作物，甚至是在市政府批准种植之前。不久前市政府官员还告诉他不要这么做，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.

西红柿、食用花卉、水果和蔬菜在城市内并不常见。人们购买不健康的食物和含酒精饮料更为容易。

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)在南洛杉矶帮助22个人在社区菜园中种植农作物。他说他们开始种植水果和蔬菜。

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

“有羽衣甘蓝、甘蔗、香蕉、番茄树以及白菜。”

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

这个月，洛杉矶市议会同意降低那些把他们的空置土地用作社区菜园的人们的财产税。

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，城市菜园对大家都有利。因为这些菜园，更多城市家庭吃上了新鲜水果和蔬菜。

"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."

他说：“而且它会让你浑身都健康，而不只是你的身体、精神状态。因为看着这些、闻着这些会影响到你身体的每个感官。”

I'm Dorothy Gundy.

多萝西·甘地报道。