Todmorden, a town in West Yorkshire, England, was once a center of the textile industry. But its factories had long since shut down, and unemployment was high. By 2008, the global financial crisis had left the town’s economy seemingly beyond recovery. In response, a few residents came together to find a way to revive their town. Realizing that people especially need food in hard times, they began by planting vegetables on unused land. During harvest time, they hung signs that read, “Please help yourself.”
The effect was profound. The kindness of sharing food spread throughout the community, and the town came back to life. Encouraged by the positive power of planting vegetables, more citizens joined in. This became the start of the “Incredible Edible” movement, which eventually transformed Todmorden’s lifestyle, culture, and economy.
Dozens of community gardens sprang up around the town, and patches of green from vegetable plots and flower beds brought color to every corner. A hospital with fruit trees, a butcher shop growing herbs, and a police station with a vegetable garden became the town’s new landmarks. Anti-social behavior like violence decreased, and the local market came alive. What began as a small effort by just a few people became the force that changed the town’s future.
If there’s something you hope for, start with whatever small step you can take right now. Good results don’t come to those who simply wait for a persimmon to fall from the tree; they come to the one who picks up a pole and reaches for it.
Just start. Begin with the small things you can do today.