Get to Know a Garden: Spring Street
Marty Berg had been wanting to put a community garden on this spot in the heart of
downtown LA for a long time. So had a lot of other people. But it took a chance meeting
between his wife and the manager of the Joe’s Parking Lot where it sat for it to happen.
“She just walked up to him and said, ‘What do you think about putting a garden here?’
And he said, ‘Yes!’”
The timing may have had a lot to do with it. The long skinny lot in a nondescript stretch
of Spring Street had been home to little more than weeds and trash for many years. But
the neighborhood was changing, and neglect was not what people wanted to see. “I think
they decided it was time to engage in some community relations-work,” says Marty.
Continued here
By Cyndi Hubach
Want to visit? Spring Street Community Garden is located at 220 S. Spring Street, LA CA 90012
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Get to Know a Gardener: Monifa Brown
Monifa Brown joined the Spring Street Garden almost on a fluke. “I was researching square foot gardening when I ran across this new garden right in my neighborhood!” Home gardening is a lifelong passion for the Las Vegas native - her grandmother always had a garden in their backyard when she was growing up. “She grew sweet potatoes and watermelons - the really hot weather crops. I’m more into greens.”
Before finding Spring Street, she had been growing in containers inside her downtown apartment. “There was so much light streaming in, I just had to grow something there,” but it made her want to do more. She didn’t find Spring Street until it was almost too late. They operate on a lottery system, and she didn’t apply until the very last night. “I really didn’t think I’d get in. I feel very lucky.” She’ll have possession of the plot for one year, but can still help out with the community plots when her term ends.
After just a few weeks, Monifa is already making a fresh salad from her garden almost every night. “I commute from Westwood every day, so this is a great little oasis to come home to.” And she’ll have a lot more to look forward to in the months ahead: in her 3’x4’ plot, she’s got kale, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, bok choy, garlic, onions, and yes, even potatoes and a miniature watermelon. “I hope it only produces one, two at the most,” she says. “That could really take over my entire plot!”
By Cyndi Hubach
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Grand Opening: Belvedere Community Garden
 On Saturday, July 16th, join the Conservation Corps, LACGC, and Little Green Fingers in celebrating the brand new Belvedere Park Community Garden. Help us welcome this sweet gem to East LA with a ceremony, refreshments, and more! Our thanks go to First5LA for the funding for this garden, to LA Conservation Corps and Little Green Fingers for building the garden, to LA Neighborhood Land Trust and DakeLuna Consultants for helping to organize the gardening community!
When: July 16th, 8:30-11:30amWhere: Belvedere Park
337 N. Mednik Ave, LA CA 90022
Details: More information here.
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LACGC Garden Guidance Series: Plant Survival
The sun is in full force this summer and as much as we love it, our plants do not! As recent heatwaves have shown, our gardens suffer immensely in drastic heat. Join us on Saturday, July 16th, to learn how to combat the high temps and protect your fruits and veggies to make sure they survive summer. This class is FREE but donations are welcome.
When: Saturday, July 16th, 10am-12pm
Where: Solano Canyon Community Garden
545 Solano Ave, LA CA 90012
Details: Visit our site for the scoop!
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Garden Build & Fruit Tree Planting
Netiya's building a garden at the Emmanuel HM Turner AME Church! On Friday, show your support by providing muscle to help plant fruit trees and get the garden in working condition. Kid are welcome so bring friends and family!
When: Friday, July 15th, 8am-12pm
Where: Emmanuel HM Turner AME Church
5202 Compton Ave, LA CA 90011
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Organic Pest Control Workshop
Curb the creeps and critters with us on July 23rd at Wilmington Community Garden! Master Gardener Dalila Mendez will teach you how to keep pests of all sorts out of your garden, using organic and natural methods to protect your precious produce. This workshop is free!
When: Saturday, July 23rd, 10am-12pm
Where: Wilmington Community Garden
918 N. Sanford, Wilmington, CA 90744
For more information: contact Noelle at 323.989.3237 or visit our site
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East Hollywood Work Day
More hands make less work! On Saturday, July 30th, we'll continue our work in turning an empty lot into the East Hollywood Community Garden. Join in for a morning of dirt, weeds, seeds, and sweat! Don't forget the close-toed shoes, water, and sun protection!
When: Saturday, July 30th, 9am-12pm
Where: East Hollywood Community Garden
1171 Madison Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
For more information: see here for the dirt
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Sheet Mulching at Crescent Farm
Crescent Farm at the Arboretum wants to help you become even more sustainable! How? Take that cardboard and newspaper to use as mulch and build fertile productive soil. This is also a proven method for removing your lawn and reducing the weed load as you transition into a water wise landscape. There will be a visual presentation and a hands-on activity to help build the Crescent Farm.
When: Saturday, July 30th, 10:00
Where: Crescent Farm at the LA County Arboretum
301 N. Baldwin Ave, Acardia, CA 91007
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Composting Workshop at Wilmington Garden
We all want to compost but it can seem a bit daunting to beginners. Let us break down the breakdown of compost for you at a FREE workshop at the Wilmington Community Garden on Saturday, August 6th. The workshop will teach you how to use kitchen scraps and natural materials to make compost, discuss the various methods you can use, and how to maintain it. Learn how to reduce waste, improve soil, and NEVER have to buy store compost again! Michael Martinez, founder of LA Compost, will teach the class.
When: Saturday, July 30th, 10am-12pm
Where: Wilmington Community Garden
918 N. Sanford, Wilmington, CA 90744
For more information: Details here!
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Nutrition for Families Workshop
Nutritious cooking can be affordable and easy! Join us for a morning of healthy eating for families at the Eastmont Community Garden in East LA. Our workshop will show you how to cook for all ages, using veggies from the garden. The workshop will be in English and Spanish and is absolutely FREE!
When: Saturday, August 6th 9:30-10:30am
Where: Eastmont Community Garden
717 Hoefner Ave, LA CA 90022
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Composting Workshop in Echo Park
Want to learn what to do with all the leftover fruit and veggie kitchen scraps you guiltily toss into the trash? Me too! Join us at the Patton Street Community Garden on Saturday, August 13th, for a compost workshop taught by veteran gardener Al Renner. The tutorial is free, hands-on, and open to all!
When: Saturday, August 13th, 10am-12pm
Where: Patton Street Community Garden
303 Patton St, Los Angeles, CA 90026
For more information: Lean more here.
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Recipe of the Month
Last week, the mango trees at Manzanita Street Community Garden were starting to fill out with tons of fruit. Inspired by all the mangoes that will soon be ready for picking, I decided to make a mango sorbet, perfect for summer picnics and cooling off. Full recipe on our site!
Do you have a recipe to share using produce from your garden? Pass it on to us and we'll share it! The gardens that cook together, grow together!
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Ask Al
Dear Al,
Our world is full of unpredictable occurrences! Recently, a huge Eucalyptus branch fell in our community garden! What do we do about large tree branches that fall down in our gardens or backyards? I
- Eucalyptus Grieving
Hello Eucalyptus Grieving,
Being careful not to make the tree come down further, you'll want to immediately remove the outer-most limbs so that you can see the damage and size of the main branch. Next, you'll remove the next-largest branches down to the closest. After you remove each branch, cut it up into smaller pieces for compost. Depending on the size, you may need to use a chainsaw to finish off the main piece. Once you're left with the bare branch, you'll want to hack it up into usable pieces for lining a walkway, turn stumps into seats, etc. Get creative!
-Al
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Mango Sorbet
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Do you have a gardening question for Al? Send it this way and check next month's issue for an answer!
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"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today"
-Dale Carnegie
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