"Ron Finley had no idea a complaint issued against him would turn into a life-changing journey. After all, he was only planting fruits, vegetables and sunflowers on a green strip of grass in his South Central Los Angeles neighborhood.

âÂÂI figured, âÂÂWhy grow grass when you can grow food?âÂÂâ he said. He wanted to beautify a corner usually populated with dirty old mattresses and beat-up couches.

âÂÂYou have to embrace your haters because they can make you famous,â said Finley, who is now a sought-after speaker after delivering a TED Talk on the importance of urban gardening in February 2013. A fashion designer by trade, he now travels the world teaching communities how to build and cultivate urban gardens.

Finley believes people are connected by the soil. âÂÂThe garden is really a metaphor for life,â he said. âÂÂGardening made me look at things in a totally different way.âÂÂ

When he first created his garden, Finley planted an abundance of vibrant, fragrant flowers. He wanted people to be infused with the colors and aromas of lavender, jasmine and ginger. âÂÂGardens bring out the colors of nature. They attract the bees and the birds. ItâÂÂs just another form of creativity and artistry,â he said.

A hurdle, Finley believes, is getting people to care. âÂÂThe biggest disease in our society is this belief that opportunity doesnâÂÂt exist,â he said. âÂÂItâÂÂs hard for many people to envision the future because they are living day to day.âÂÂ

Finley said nature has to be seized and worked. âÂÂI want everyone to learn how to become a gardener. Because this is really where you can find the power,â he said. âÂÂAir inspires me, and I am doing my piece of inspiring each and every day.âÂÂ

To learn more, visit ronfinley.com."

Here is a link that might be useful: http://aetnaafricanamericancalendar.com/2014/pdf/aetnaafricanamericancalendar2014_06.pdf