Gathering of the Community Gardens

The Los Angeles Community Garden Council presents its third annual “Gathering of Community Gardens” Oct. 24 and 25, a weekend celebration of urban agriculture with an educational conference on Saturday and a Sunday garden tour. Both events are free to local residents and will occur in downtown Los Angeles. A donation of $10.00 each day is requested for attendees.

Space at both events is limited; early online registration is recommended at www.lagardencouncil.org. Event information: (323) 666-2137.

“One good outcome from our bad economy is that more people are growing their own food,” said Al Renner, the Garden Council’s executive director. “Community gardens have been in LA for 30 years, but we’ve never been busier. The ‘Gathering’ is an invitation to learn, collaborate and take action together to help people grow food and create green space in our neighborhoods. Our Sunday garden tour will illustrate how every garden is unique, with its own style and vision.”

The Saturday conference, which will run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at FarmLab (1745 N. Spring St. #4, LA, CA 90012), will include a series of workshops, discussion panels, networking opportunities and a resource fair for community gardeners throughout Los Angeles. Scheduled topics include beekeeping, organic vegetable gardening, composting and California horticulture, led by LA Common Ground (the LA County Master Gardeners) and other garden experts. Three workshops will be conducted entirely in Spanish.

Mirabelle, Square 1, and Larchmont Grill, three prestigious Hollywood restaurants that grow organic food at Solano Canyon Community Garden near Dodger Stadium, will serve lunch to on a first-come, first-serve basis to conference attendees. To minimize waste, all conference participants are encouraged to bring their own plates, cups and eating utensils.

On Sunday, the Garden Council will conduct a guided tour of community gardens, starting and ending at Solano Canyon Community Garden, a 3-acre urban farm just east of downtown LA (545 Solano Rd, LA, CA 90012). Beginning at 8 a.m., the tour will visit gardens in downtown LA and surrounding areas. Most of these gardens, run by volunteers and serving local neighborhoods, are rarely open to the public at large.

The Los Angeles Community Garden Council is a 501-C3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to fostering community gardens and urban agriculture throughout LA County. The Council is largely run by volunteers and works closely with other nonprofit groups and municipal agencies, encouraging local residents to serve their neighborhoods by starting and managing garden projects. Representing over 80 community gardens on city land, utility property, apartment complexes, and private land, the Garden Council offers gardens and their leadership a variety of affordable or no-cost services, including group insurance, design assistance, mentoring, advocacy, and additional support as needed.

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Calendar listing:

Oct. 24-25, 2009 – “Gathering of Community Gardens,” a free educational conference on urban agriculture and a garden tour presented by the LA Community Garden Council in downtown Los Angeles. The educational conference (Sat., Oct. 24) includes topical workshops and discussion panels, a resource fair, a slow-food lunch, and networking reception for LA’s community gardening activists. On Sunday, Oct. 25, a guided tour of community gardens in downtown LA and surrounding areas. Space is limited and early registration is recommended at: www.lagardencouncil.org. Information: (323) 666-2137. Suggested donation: $10 per day.

Oct. 24, 2009 - “Gathering of the Gardens (Day 1)” a free educational conference on community gardening, offering topical workshops, networking, a resource fair, lunch by three slow food restaurants, and a networking session and celebration for LA’s urban gardening activists. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at FarmLab, 1746 N. Spring St., LA , CA 90012. $10.00, suggested donation. Online registration: www.lagardencouncil.org. Information: (323) 666-2137.

Oct. 25, 2009 – “Gathering of Community Gardens,” a free guided tour of LA’s diverse community gardens in the downtown corridor areas and surrounding areas. Starts at 8:00 a.m. at Solano Canyon Community Garden, 545 Solano Rd., LA 90012. $10.00, suggested donation. Advance registration required: www.lagardencouncil.org. Information: (323) 666-2137.