MAKING A DIFFERENCE : Aid to Gardeners Nurtures Seeds of Community
The flavor of a tomato picked ripe off the vine may be reason enough to take part in an urban community garden. But they also save money, improve family nutrition, strengthen social ties in neighborhoods and can transform blighted vacant lots. Gardens don’t thrive on good will alone, however. Periodic technical and financial support can be essential, especially in low-income areas. Gardeners may need assistance replacing depleted or toxic soil, for example, or repairing a fence or negotiating with a property owner to keep their garden space.
The Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, a job training and service organization involved with community gardening since 1983, has improved gardens in Watts, South Central Los Angeles and the Pico Union/Koreatown areas over the past three years. The consortium launched two new community gardens, restored another and made modest improvements to 15 using funds from a federal grant program established by the U.S. Deparment of Agriculture and Forest Service after the civil unrest in 1992. The program is administered by L.A. Harvest, a group that coordinates financial and material resources to improve the urban environment.
A VOICE OF EXPERIENCE
People would like community gardens to happen overnight, but it can take 18 months to three years to help a group grow crops, run meetings, resolve problems that can come up when you create a neighborhood garden.
Community gardens require community resources to last. It takes involved government. It takes groups like the LA Conservation Corps and groups that are excellent at the on-the-ground installation of gardening projects like PACE. It takes a network of people and organizations who support gardening and greening projects throughout Los Angeles.
Is community gardening an anti-hunger tool? an economic or community development tool? It can be all of these. -Brenda Funches, emeritus Cooperative Extension advisor, UC-Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and former managing advisor of the venerable Common Ground Garden Program, a training and technical assistance provider for community gardeners and community gardening organizations
HOW TO CREATE A COMMUNITY GARDEN
Organizations such as PACE help gardeners to:
1. Locate vacant lots with adequate sunlight, soil and access to water and negotiate with land owner to use property.
2. Collaborate with neighborhood nurseries and community groups to provide soil, raised beds or containers, fencing, signs, tools and labor to prepare the garden site.
3. Help organize a garden club to manage the site and raise money for water and maintenance.
4. Coordinate workshops to train club members on garden designs, seed selection, plants, irrigation and pest control techniques.
TO GET INVOLVED
Contact PACE at (213) 389-2373, LA Harvest at (213) 742-0429, Common Ground at (213) 744-4341.
Researched by CATHERINE GOTTLIEB / Los Angeles Times
