Meet our NEW Board Chair, Nisha Parekh!
Meet Nisha Parekh, LACGC’s New Board Chair.
Read our interview with Nisha below,
Q: Tell us who you are and how did begin to garden?
Nisha: Both my grandmothers and my mother kept food gardens and used herbs and crops they grew in their cooking, so eating directly out of the garden has always been an important part of my relationship with food. I spent 2009 in Brazil on a Fulbright scholarship researching agricultural labor, amongst other things. Digging into the worldwide and historical abuse of farmworker labor on agroindustrial farms (and plantation farms during the colonial era where labor was stolen from enslaved people) made me realize the crucial importance of growing our food locally and in the community – instead of through exploitative labor practices. Over the years, the more I have researched community gardening and urban agriculture, the more I am convinced it is the way of the future — for our planet and our health.
Q – Why did you get involved with LACGC?
N – LACGC does amazing work around Los Angeles County. I believe in the organization and the amazing work of the member gardens.
Q – What are some of your goals as the new Board Chair?
N – I would love to build out LACGC’s capacity to better serve our member gardens and to build more gardens around the County. Additionally, I’m interested in expanding our partnerships with the elected officials presiding over areas where we have gardens and with other organizations doing amazing work around environmental and food justice in LA County. If you have ideas for how LACGC could better serve member gardens or the community, please let us know!
Q – What do you want our partner garden members to take away from participating in community gardens?
N – I think this is the beautiful thing about LACGC — gardening is so personal and it is important to people for so many different reasons. Whatever reason you garden for — to grow crops specific to your culture, to eat fresh food, to meet others who love gardening, to care for our environment, or divest from the agro-industry — these are all crucially important to the fabric of our society. Drop a line and let us know why you love to garden — we would love to hear from you!
Q – What are some ways folks can get involved or support the work that we do?
N – Please donate to LACGC if you can. We are trying to build out capacity, but cannot do it without funding to expand. If you work somewhere where your employer has a donation matching program, please add LACGC as an organization that folks can donate to. If you know wealthy people looking to support a good cause, please ask them to donate to LACGC. When you see our posts asking for help to donate — please donate, or spread the word to your community. If you know celebrities looking to support a worthwhile cause, please connect them with us.
Also — please let us know how we can better support you. We’re working to build out our organization, so it might take a while before you see the exact change you would like to see. However, let us know what you are looking for so we can build in that direction.
