Comments on: OPEN THREAD: Community Garden

By: lim

lim — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 09:18:20 +0000

I recently read about a lady in Pittsburgh that finds vacant land owned by the city and gets a garden variance which gives her permission to improve the space with a garden, with the caveat that when (or if) the city sells the property, she won’t be able to continue.

Apparently she’s beautified quite a bit of property and made a name for herself and got the community to pitch in!

By: admin

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:28:44 +0000

Roberto,

You could find out how the community garden in Alhambra got started, and report your findings back here. I think “D”/Monrovia advocate has some good suggestions as well. Seems like having a tax write-off for stalled project land might be attractive to some companies.

Amanda

By: Roberto

Roberto — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:15:36 +0000

Monrovia definitely needs a community garden. With all the multi-family units being built, a community garden is the only option for people who don’t have yards to grow their own food. I live in Monrovia and have a plot in the Alhambra community garden. It is only $35 a year for a 300 sq. ft. plot. In it, my partner and I grow 9 types of tomatoes (including heirlooms), two types of winter squash, three types of beans, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, bittermelon, sweet peppers, hot peppers, leeks, garlic and strawberries, along with an herb garden. Months ago we had broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, swiss chard, carrots, beets and snow peas. When the weather starts getting cooler, it will be time to plant more root vegetables and delicate leafy vegetables like lettuces, bok choy, asian greens, etc. It’s fun, it nourishes us, and a very educational experience for my nieces.
LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN HELP GET A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN MONROVIA!

By: Monrovia advocate

Monrovia advocate — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:31:00 +0000

Timing is good.
Approach the council and Community Service Commission. With need for a large lot(s) of an acre or so….and with building/development plans slowed due to the economy….a mutually beneficial pursuit would be for the city and developers(the city redevelopment agency/council being one of the largest landowners presently)…to allow demonstration gardens in 2-3 locations within the city.
They have the lands…we have the plans.
D

By: Jenni

Jenni — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:53:35 +0000

I would be interested in participating in a community garden. I live in an apartment and find even container gardening daunting but think that a community garden with other people to share information would be ideal and helpful.

I enjoy the farmers market but I don’t find the savings too significant over the stores. It is fresher though. I just think fresh from the garden is ideal though. I remember tomatoes warm and ripe from my grandmother’s kitchen garden. Nothing better!

By: pete

pete — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:06:37 +0000

How about the area surrounding the new library?

By: frazgo

frazgo — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:29:23 +0000

Nice photo and a great lead in.

A community garden would be a good idea. Watering could potentially be a problem with the drought continuing.

I’d like to see some of our churches start it on a larger scale.

Both Wild Rose and Clifton have small school gardens going. Wild Rose’s Garden Club has been going on for about 4 years now, they tend to do more flowers than veg though. Regardless of what kind of garden a kid has they learn about the earth, plants and themselves so it is a good thing.

By: Juli

Juli — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:20:26 +0000

There’s also the farmers market on Friday nights — if you can find the produce at the end of the long aisle of other stuff!