Compare/Contrast Essay:
Communities Can Become Seedfolks and Grow Together
Have you ever grown something? It is very different than merely planting something. In growing something, one plants a tiny, insignificant seed, and patiently cares for it day after day, until, finally, there is life, and eventually, it blossoms into something incredible. Growing something is significant because it instills a sense of satisfaction and an awe of creation and life in the grower. In addition, growing something with other people, as in a community garden unites people who may have originally been foes. Seedfolks and “Growing Together” are two works that focus on the miracle of growing, with many significant similarities and differences.
In “Growing Together,” the story line jumps all over the place, from town to town and city to city, and many different people. There are many different people in Seedfolks, but they are all part of the same city, the same neighborhood. The significance of “Growing Together” being so widespread is obvious: There is this uniting experience occurring all over the globe. This is miraculous, it is inspirational. But what Seedfolks has that “Growing Together” doesn’t is a fluid story line that develops in a single community. The story of Seedfolks expands just as a tiny seed blossoms into an amazing flower: A small action sparks the growth of an amazing movement that unites so many people who become a community, a family. Just as the author of “Growing Together” says: “The strongest example of a food community I’ve seen was in Detroit, where a vibrant farming scene has sprung up literally from the ashes.” This is in one town, yet it is a stronger force than the rest. Both of the stories can agree, it is meaningful that it the uniting growing movement is happening all over, but it is most significant and strong when it happens in small communities.
In Seedfolks, the emphasis is on planting and growing, while in “Growing Together,” the emphasis is shared between planting and eating. “Growing Together” focusing on the whole cycle of a crop, from growing, to being harvested, to being made into a wonderful dish, and then being consumed is meaningful, but it also dehumanizes the process, making it less about people uniting and more about the crop. Seedfolks focuses on the beauty of life, the beauty of growing, and how that beauty can bring the most different of people into the unity of friendship, just by sharing one common interest. This story focuses on the journey of people, as can be seen by Amer’s pessimistic quote in chapter twelve: “The object in America is to avoid contact, to treat all as foes, unless they are known to be friends.” Coming from this attitude of hostility to this movement of unity is what really makes Seedfolks stand out. These two inspiring stories are beautiful, and there is much to be learned from each of them, similarities and differences.
Whether it is focused on one area or widespread, the effects of uniting over a common interest are more than beneficial – They are wonderful and astounding. When people create, whether that is preparing a lovely meal or growing something from nothing but a tiny seed, it is a miracle, and therefore is celebrated. This amazing uniting experience is visible in both Seedfolks and “Growing Together.” “Ask a stranger anywhere in the world what or where he likes to eat, and chances are he’ll open up. (I’ve unexpectedly gotten out of speeding tickets because I told the officers I was hurrying to get to a local restaurant or gristmill before it closed.)” This is an example from “Growing Together” of a common interest uniting strangers. It is a wonderful occurrence that can happen more and more, if there are more community gardens built.
These two stories contrast each other in significant ways, but in juxtaposing the two, it is easy to see they share the same message. It does not take more than a common interest, such as growing, to unite people who could have possibly been enemies otherwise. Community gardens are springing up all over the place. People are growing closer together just by being able to talk about what they are growing. Even the most antisocial of citizens will open up to others simply by sharing a common interest. So whether it is making your own bread or growing your own baby lettuce, we can all benefit the world while growing closer together.
In “Growing Together,” the story line jumps all over the place, from town to town and city to city, and many different people. There are many different people in Seedfolks, but they are all part of the same city, the same neighborhood. The significance of “Growing Together” being so widespread is obvious: There is this uniting experience occurring all over the globe. This is miraculous, it is inspirational. But what Seedfolks has that “Growing Together” doesn’t is a fluid story line that develops in a single community. The story of Seedfolks expands just as a tiny seed blossoms into an amazing flower: A small action sparks the growth of an amazing movement that unites so many people who become a community, a family. Just as the author of “Growing Together” says: “The strongest example of a food community I’ve seen was in Detroit, where a vibrant farming scene has sprung up literally from the ashes.” This is in one town, yet it is a stronger force than the rest. Both of the stories can agree, it is meaningful that it the uniting growing movement is happening all over, but it is most significant and strong when it happens in small communities.
In Seedfolks, the emphasis is on planting and growing, while in “Growing Together,” the emphasis is shared between planting and eating. “Growing Together” focusing on the whole cycle of a crop, from growing, to being harvested, to being made into a wonderful dish, and then being consumed is meaningful, but it also dehumanizes the process, making it less about people uniting and more about the crop. Seedfolks focuses on the beauty of life, the beauty of growing, and how that beauty can bring the most different of people into the unity of friendship, just by sharing one common interest. This story focuses on the journey of people, as can be seen by Amer’s pessimistic quote in chapter twelve: “The object in America is to avoid contact, to treat all as foes, unless they are known to be friends.” Coming from this attitude of hostility to this movement of unity is what really makes Seedfolks stand out. These two inspiring stories are beautiful, and there is much to be learned from each of them, similarities and differences.
Whether it is focused on one area or widespread, the effects of uniting over a common interest are more than beneficial – They are wonderful and astounding. When people create, whether that is preparing a lovely meal or growing something from nothing but a tiny seed, it is a miracle, and therefore is celebrated. This amazing uniting experience is visible in both Seedfolks and “Growing Together.” “Ask a stranger anywhere in the world what or where he likes to eat, and chances are he’ll open up. (I’ve unexpectedly gotten out of speeding tickets because I told the officers I was hurrying to get to a local restaurant or gristmill before it closed.)” This is an example from “Growing Together” of a common interest uniting strangers. It is a wonderful occurrence that can happen more and more, if there are more community gardens built.
These two stories contrast each other in significant ways, but in juxtaposing the two, it is easy to see they share the same message. It does not take more than a common interest, such as growing, to unite people who could have possibly been enemies otherwise. Community gardens are springing up all over the place. People are growing closer together just by being able to talk about what they are growing. Even the most antisocial of citizens will open up to others simply by sharing a common interest. So whether it is making your own bread or growing your own baby lettuce, we can all benefit the world while growing closer together.