Description

Sharecropper, is a micro farming installation, by Artist, Leah Gauthier happening in New York City, summer of 2009.

I am stitching together a working micro farm, (total size yet to be determined) for one growing season, from parcels of donated land or growing spaces, located in assorted environments in each of the five borroughs around the city. Possible sites include, private residences, office buildings, schools, small business, non-profits, hospitals, galleries, museums, community gardens, government facilities, and vacant lots. Working under a traditional sharecropper agreement, rent will be paid with a portion of my harvest, and the balance shared with local soup kitchens.

I will be using organic growing methods, planting heirloom vegetables and herbs, and cultivating wild edibles. Heirlooms are rare antique varieties with colorful histories, which have withstood the test of time, and varied growing conditions, but are now endangered, due in good part to industrial agricultural practices. A series of cooking performances around the city are being planned so folks can gather together to see, smell and taste.

This work is a personal journey exploring agricultural plant matter, and wild edibles as sculptural material, community building through growing and cooking food, and ways of re-incorporating agrarian sensibilities and simplicity into modern life.

All documentation of Sharecropper appears here on this website.