The garden’s July 17 workday would never have been a success without Chris Arcudi, Susan Borden, James Cramer, Nichelle Harris, Erika Higgins, Al Renner, Illeana Ruiz, Jesus Sanchez, Barry Walker and David Zahniser. Every now and then we take some time to weed, water, prune, and mulch-mulch-mulch.  We cut back the native Salvia Cleveland, pinched the chrysanthemums back, and dead-headed the roses in preparation for the late summer weather.  We built new beds, and ended with a pleasant picnic. 

Collaboration has been very satisfying for the Echo Park Community Garden and three other community gardens nearby.  The city can help a little, but success comes to those who help each other.  The Solano Canyon Community Garden is getting underway and Al Renner, who helped us start and now is indispensable to us, has been hustling to get them underway with great success.  They built their own fence, have won two big grants and a few nice donations, and have done great work organizing the Solano Canyon Neighborhood.

The Rosewood Avenue Community Garden is just starting out with great help from Hays Witt of Councilmember Jackie Goldberg’s Office, and many others. Gardeners from Echo Park have been helping then design their garden.  In spring the Burlington Avenue Community Garden contemplated shutting the gate for the last time, but this summer they have too few plots for all the eager members.  Some Echo Park Gardeners, and many others, gardened over there and got the neighborhood re-excited about their garden.  You might have heard Rosewood’s Nola Mott interviewed on KCRW’s “Good Food” a few weeks ago.  On the web you can hear her by clicking HERE, and you can read about the Echo Park Community Garden in Kitchen Garden Magazine by clicking HERE.

The Echo Park Community Garden is at 2223 Sunset Boulevard, at the corner of Rosemont and Sunset.  The gate is open between 10:30 and 2:00 every Sunday (except holidays or when we’re tired), so come on up.  The Community Garden has no plots available as of this writing, but the waiting list is just four people long.  There are countless gardening opportunities. Everybody who likes to garden (or dig, cut wood, etc.) can participate, Call (213) 882-4835 for more information.