Meet Ciro Gomez from
Florence-Firestone Community Garden

“Gardening with a bit of love,” Ciro Gomez of the Florence-Firestone Community Garden

We had the pleasure of interviewing Ciro Gomez, a longtime member of the Florence-Firestone Community Garden who also serves as one of its Garden Masters. Initially from Mexico, Ciro finds in the garden an opportunity to relax and connect with his agrarian past “You see, I come from working the fields. Being at the Jardin Florence-Firestone gives me something relaxing to do during my free time, and it reminds me of my life in Mexico.”

                As a farmer in Mexico, Ciro learned from a young age that caring for plants requires more than just watering, and caring for a garden community means helping all gardeners have a bountiful harvest. “In the garden, you must caress and talk to your plants for them to succeed. Our garden has many seniors. It is our responsibility as younger gardeners to help the seniors in the garden so that they too can have a beautiful garden bed. I am always happy to help.”
When asked about how community gardening has improved his life here in the United States, Ciro mentioned that “In our neighborhood, we don’t have supermarkets that offer fresh vegetables. At the garden, I grow and harvest fresh nopalitos (cactus) that I take home for me and my sister. I also used to eat a lot of red meat and depended on coffee to stay awake at work. Since joining the Florence-Firestone Community Garden, I cook with more vegetables, often using swiss chard in my plates. For a long day at work, I rely on spearmint leaves from my garden to make teas that relax me—a tasty  alternative to coffee.”
Ciro’s passion for gardening and helping his peers make him an excellent leader and person to talk to. Schedule a trip to the Florence-Firestone Community Garden soon!

Florence-Firestone Community Garden is located at NW corner of E 98th St & Pace Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90002.
By Board Member, Jose Gutierrez