Have you seen a hummingbird in your garden?

  Hummingbird season is upon us! And you can attract beauties like this to your backyard, without using a sugar-water feeder.       For nectar loving-species like hummingbirds, the Los Angeles Audobon Society suggests planting the following natives: California fuchsia  (Epilobium canum), Wikipedia Entry Heart-leaved penstemmon (Keckiella cordifolia) Manzanitas (native) (Arctostaphylos spp.), Wikipedia Entry… Read More

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Working on a new garden in Florence-Firestone

Jewish Federation, LA Conservation Corps, LA Community Garden Council, and Florence-Firestone Community Leaders work side by side to ready sites for a pair of new community gardens. The Jewish Federation is rallying Angelenos to end hunger in Los Angeles with its “Fed Up With Hunger” campaign. On June 13, 2010 JF volunteers came out to… Read More

Community Gardens May Enhance Property Values

For skeptical neighbors who suspect that community gardens negatively impact property values, please direct them to this piece in the Business section of the Los Angeles Times which suggests that prospective homeowners may regard community gardens as a desirable neighborhood amenity.

LACGC Supports California Parks Advocacy Day; Awarded as State Parks Grassroots Champions!

LACGC President Mary Tokita and Board Member Kavita Sharma participated in this year’s California State Parks Advocacy Day in Sacramento. The day involved various activities, including a rally that generated awareness about the critical importance of Saving our State Parks; one-on-one meetings with senators and legislators to discuss proposed bills and issues; and a celebration… Read More

Stanford Avalon CG in Saveur Magazine

Check out Jonathan Gold’s article in Saveur Issue #127 about the the part that Stanford Avalon CG is playing in the Farm to Table Revolution by providing a source of fresh produce unique to the food traditions of the Mexican and Central American growers that garden there. The digital version pales in comparison to the… Read More

More Bang for your Buck!

A recent study by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy estimates that $1 invested in non-profit advocacy groups results in approximately $91 in benefits to the residents of the target community! More details available in the LA Times story.

Fruit Tree Pruning Seminar Gives Backyard Gardeners an Edge

Many thanks to Don Hodel of the University California Cooperative Extension, who led a hands-on demonstration of pruning techniques at Solano Canyon Community Garden in late January. Thanks, Don and all the participants! Don taught more than 25 participants how to properly use thinning out and heading off techniques when dealing with fruit trees. Download… Read More

Food Forward

FOOD FORWARD is an all volunteer grassroots group of Angelenos who care about reconnecting to our food system and making change around urban hunger. We convene at properties we have been invited to and glean the excess fruit on their trees, donating 100% to local food pantries. Visit Food Forward to participate! Our current receiving… Read More

What is my garden soil like?

The New York Times ran an article May 14, 2009 “For Urban Gardeners, Lead is a Concern”. Los Angeles Gardeners might learn more by reading an article by Don Hodel (UC Coop Ex) and Andrew Chang (UC Riverside). This article discusses many trace elements that appear in urban gardens, including lead, what levels of them… Read More