The Los Angeles Community Garden Council (LACGC) partners with 42 communal gardens in LA County to provide training and resources to members of the community who want to grow their own fresh produce. LACGC offers traditional gardens where patrons can rent a plot of land; educational gardens where they teach gardening, nutrition, and culinary arts; as well as urban farms where volunteers grow vegetables for local markets and people in need.[adsenseyu2]
WHAT
Come out to celebrate our successful community gardens over Earth Day weekend. Relax in the beautiful garden enjoying the music, appetizers, and drinks, while meeting other supporters of community gardens in Los Angeles County. Attendees will be able to tour the new South Pasadena Community Garden, learn more about the work of the Los Angeles Community Garden Council, and support low income families who want to grow their own food locally.
WHERE
Private Home in South Pasadena
WHEN
Sunday, April 23rd, 2017 3p.m. – 5p.m.
GUESTS
Honoring Maria Alonso and her work at Huerta del Valle
Emcee Chelsea Galicia
Jeanne Kelley, Chef and Author
South Pasadena Councilmember Diana Mahmud
Anand Bennett Trio
The Los Angeles Community Garden Council aims to strengthen communities by building new and supporting existing community gardens, where every person in Los Angeles County can grow healthy food in their neighborhood. LACGC strives to create a garden network for Los Angeles where people of all ages live healthy, active lives in a clean environment by growing fresh food. This network creates and fosters the meeting of people from diverse cultures to share the best growing techniques and urban agriculture practices, reduces household expenses, provides job training, and beautifies our community. We invite you to attend this event and help Los Angeles County move towards a sustainable future.
SPONSORS
Arcadis, Chocotal, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Grumpy Owl Soap Co, Old Focals, South Pasadena Beautiful, Pure, Cafecito Organico, The Rental Girl, Silver Lake Wine Company, Cypress LLP, Citadel Information Group Inc, RAC Design Build, South Pasadena City Council, Streamline Networks, Momentum Solutions, Tracey A. Stone Architect, Margie Whalen,
HONOREE BIO
Maria Alonso is the founder and director of the 4 ½ acre Huerta del Valle community garden and urban farm in Ontario, CA. Just six years ago, she had no idea how to grow her own food. She was motivated to learn when her 10-year- old son was diagnosed with ADHD and instead of putting him on medication she decided to change his diet to include more fresh, organic vegetables. Maria’s husband worked an extra two hours each week in order for the family to afford these. Maria became involved with a school garden and realized how much her family could save by growing their own food. She soon became a passionate gardener and community leader and, when the City of Ontario considered opening a community garden in the Bon View Park, they invited Maria to design and manage it. She opened the garden in four stages: first, she set up plots for 60 families to grow their own food and then she gradually added the communal areas, an educational area, and a large area for intensive production for sale. She sells the produce for just $1 per pound to anyone in the community. All the vegetables grown at the Huerta del Valle are natural, free of pesticides and chemicals, and none of the seeds are altered. There is a large greenhouse where tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers thrive in the winter months. Maria partners with local colleges, including Pitzer, to find students to help work the land.
While many community gardens have many pages of rules that they attempt to enforce, Huerta del Valle simply has four values that are posted on hand-painted, inspirational signs throughout the garden: Respect, Responsibility, Support, and Justice. Maria has found that she can refer back to these values if something goes wrong in the garden and the other gardeners understand. She believes that offering regular educational opportunities in the garden is how she has grown such a strong sense of community. It is this simple approach to community building that makes Huerta del Valle such a unique place.
