A Twist On Edible Gardening In South LA
Katie Guevara and David Guevara Rosillo loved the idea of growing their own food, but never had the budget or know-how. After nine hours knuckle-deep in soil, all that's in the past.
"This is the last strawberry plant going in, and we’re all really exhausted and we just can’t wait to eat it, and eat everything else we planted," said Guevara.
South Los Angeles residents are known to have difficulty accessing fresh, organic produce. Grocers like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's who offer a wide variety of organic produce don't have locations in South LA. While many farmer's markets have sprouted near Downtown Los Angeles, they don't reach far enough south for residents in South LA to attend. Locals also struggle for access to fresh food for other reasons.
Community bonding and sharing through food, is what Green Grounds hopes to foster in low income neighborhoods across Los Angeles. That's why Guevara and Guevara Rosillo were granted a backyard garden. Once they harvest their fruits and vegetables, they've promised to open a "farm stand" in their front yard for their whole neighborhood to enjoy and bond over.
"Native plants are mostly drought tolerant, but not all," says Steve Wong, a Green Grounds volunteer. "They require a very different type of care, because they send their roots very deep into the ground."
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Education is a key ingredient for more than the success of one garden; it's a step in ensuring an organization like LA Green Grounds can sustain itself and reach more communities. Green Grounds is entirely volunteer based and can undergo changes in staff. That's why they want to educate and support communities after a garden is installed. They hope this will provide the tools necessary to take ownership over cultivating more gardens in their community.
However, it all starts one garden at a time. Guevara and Guevara Rosillo are thrilled at the sight of their new garden and can't wait for it to flourish.
Reach Staff Reporter Tahsin Hyder here. Follow her on Twitter here.