Write up in the California Heights Newsletter

Thank you John and California Heights for the article in your newsletter and for organizing the clean up effort on February 19th. See you all there!

For the newsletter in its entirety please click here.


A Future for Willow Gulch?
Most of you have driven past Willow Gulch without giving it a glance. Why would you? From the street, there’s not much to see. Bounded by California, Orange, Spring and the cemetery along Willow, the 55 acre site is used primarily by Signal Hill Petroleum for access to oil wells and as a catch basin for 405 Freeway runoff. In 1933 it accommodated the rubble from hundreds of buildings that failed in the Long Beach earthquake, and more recently it was considered for the now defunct sports park, doomed by a lack of funding. The rusting Amerigas plant at Orange and Spring finally came
down last fall, and Sasha Kanno, of Wrigley Garden fame, is in the midst of cultivating a small urban farm on the site near 28th and California.
On December 11th, Councilmember Johnson invited active community members to tour the site, led by Larry Rich, City of Long Beach Sustainability Coordinator, who has been introducing locals to the history and future possibilities of Willow Gulch for the past several years. Once enveloped by the rolling nature of the property, we quickly lost sight of the city surrounding us and began to understand how the land could become a gem of an urban oasis where residents and visitors might escape the hustle and bustle of urban life. We learned that Willow Gulch got its name from a natural spring that ran to the LA River, lined the entire way with native willow trees. In fact, the area near the Willow Blue Line stop was home to a small farming community called Willowville, dubbed “Hicksville” by higher society Long Beach folks. To remove the stigma, the residents cut down the trees and eventually covered over the creek altogether. Today it lives on only in the names of Willow Avenue and Spring Street, where drivers speed by, oblivious to the history in their midst. The rolling topography and a steep hillside along the eastern edge that contains the second highest point in Long Beach were an expensive obstacle for the sports park. Uplifted by the Newport Inglewood fault, Willow Gulch rests along a chain of hills that stretch from Cal State Long Beach through Alamitos Heights and the inclines near PCH and Redondo, to Signal Hill, through Cal Heights and Bixby Knolls and off to Dominguez Hills. “Why flatten one of the most topographically interesting sites in our city?” asked Mr. Johnson. Limiting grading significantly reduces expenses while preserving the hills that lend shelter and unique character to our mostly flat cityscape.
We’ll keep you posted on progress for possible plans at Willow Gulch, where reduced activity has given rise to a young crop of willow trees already reestablishing themselves!
If you are interested in learning more, contact the 7th District Council Office at 570-7777.

Plan to join Cal Heights Clean Streets on February 19th as we dedicate our next quarterly
Saturday Clean Sweep to removing litter and debris here.Join Cal Heights Clean Streets for our quarterly Saturday Clean Sweep at Willow Gulch, with our 7th District Council Office and Litter Free Long Beach.
Volunteers will pick up litter and debris in and around the site. Community hours will be signed for, tools and refreshments will be provided and two lucky volunteers will win tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific!
Litter Free Long Beach will also be collecting tires and e-waste - if it has a cord attached, it’s e-waste, excluding large appliances.
To join the Clean Streets email list visit calheights.org, click on Clean Streets. Please wear sturdy shoes.
Parking will be limited so carpooling is recommended.

Wrigley Heights Community Meeting

Dear Residents,
One of my highest priorities as your Council member is to continue to maintain a high level of transparency. I have sought to develop green space throughout the 7th District.
Please join us on March 27th as we discuss the creation of more green space in the Wrigley Heights. As your representative, I will keep you informed with updates on all concerns. Contact my office with any concern at 562-570-6139.
Best Regards,
Tonia Reyes Uranga
7th District Council Member


Wrigley Heights Community Meeting
Saturday, March 27th, - 9:30 am
3332 Magnolia Ave, Long Beach 90806

Please join your neighbors for a discussion on the development of a Dog Park and Community Garden.

For more details, please contact Ricardo Linarez at (562) 570-6139 or ricardo.linarez@longbeach.gov

The City of Long Beach, City Council
(562) 570-6139—Fax (562) 570-6954
www.longbeach.gov/district7

Message from Shortnin Bread...

It's been a while since we have sent an email on what is new and thought we would share some some news with you!!

For Sunday March 7th we will be offering our Tarts with Pink Lady Apples, Red Raspberry and new this week a Meyer Lemon filling!!

We have also added a Nutella Hazelnut Biscotti with Semi-sweet chocolates to our selection as well as we have reintoruiduced our White Chocolate Rice Krispie featuring Salted Peanuts!!

New this month in our Short Bread cookie line is a Meyer Lemon with Pistachio that has been a great hit with the Lemon Fan's!! We should point out that a California Height's home owner has been bringing us local grown Meyer Lemons for the past few weeks and we have been using them as much as possible!!

Great news with our Granola, Bee Canyon Honey (who sells at he Long Beach Sunday Market) has been selling it at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market for the past few weeks. This is now available in pound sizes in addition to our half pounders. Great stuff and it is good for you too!

In addition to the Long Beach Sunday Market we can also be found at the Local Harvest Farmer's Market held at Marine Stadium on Wednesdays from 2 until 7 (just Google Will Roger Mini Park for directions)! Hope to see you soon!


Shortnin Bread
Justina Fenton and Keith Russell

Wrigley Heights Garden & Dog Park Meeting

Hello gardeners-

Today's meeting was canceled due to the rain. It has been rescheduled for March 6th @ 9:00am. I will get back to you with the location as I think they will try to have it at the nearby church in case of inclement weather.

We will need everyone to attend this meeting. If you are one of our gardeners or a supporter of Community Gardens this meeting is a must. We had originally scheduled a work day at Wrigley Garden but will have to move the time up a bit. Our planter box building will now start at 12 instead of the original 10 am. I'm sorry for the change of plans but this meeting is very important in securing the future location of Wrigley Garden.

I will keep you posted as to the location of the meeting but please plan on attending. We need to show up in numbers in support of our project. If you have questions or concerns please call me or come by the garden on MWF to discuss our proposal.

Thank you-

Happy Growing!
Sasha Kanno
Director, Wrigley Garden
562.230.7207
sasha@wrigleygarden.org
http://wrigleygarden.org

http://www.facebook.com/wrigley.garden?ref=name

Advisory Committee for the Proposed Wrigley Heights Dog Park / Community Garden has been canceled

Due to the heavy rain expected tonight and Saturday, the meeting for the Advisory Committee for the Proposed Wrigley Heights Dog Park / Community Garden has been cancel.

It is reschedule for March 6th 2010 at the proposed site at Golden Avenue and Wardlow Road from 9 am to 10:30 am.

Feel free to give me a call if there is anything you need.

Kindest Regards,

Ricardo Linarez
Office of Tonia Reyes Uranga
Councilmember, 7th District
Member, SCAQMD Governing Board
333 W. Ocean Blvd. L.B., CA 90802
Tel. 562/570-6139 Fax 562/570-6954

February Newsletter Article

I originally wrote this in November or December so its a tiny bit behind. Still a great read. :)

Jamie Oliver

Its a great speech and a vision we all have. Please copy and paste to view.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/765

http://www.tedprize.org/tedprize-updates/watch-jamies-talk-now/

Seattle is on the right track!

http://www.seattle.gov/urbanagriculture/

Good article on brassicas - broccoli and the like

Good article from Earth Matters.

An Uncommon Garden

Earth to Kitchen: Mustard family greens called Brassicas pop with fresh flavors and big yields.

By John Lyons | Wednesday, 13 January 2010 | 18:12

EARTH TO KITCHEN: BRASSICAS Third in a series on growing what you cook and cooking what you grow. The large group of plants belonging to the mustard family Cruciferae -- genus Brassica -- covers a range of common and not-so-common vegetables: from broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts to kohlrabi, rutabagas (Swedes), turnips, collards and choy. Brassicas are edible from flowers to roots. Depending on the plant, cooks prepare the stems (kohlrabi, choy), leaves (cabbage, choy, mustard, kale and collards), flowers (cauliflower, broccoli), roots (turnips and rutabagas) and seeds (mustard and rape). Rich in potassium, soluble fiber, folic acid and vitamins C and K, these vegetables are an absolute must in a daily diet. When home-grown, the taste and vitality of the vegetable is unsurpassed. Growing Brassicas are quite easy to grow, though knowing the correct soil type is important. Most prefer a rich, well-draining soil that has been prepared with well-rotted manure and compost. Ideally the soil should be slightly acidic. Adding lime can increase the ph and adds calcium and magnesium to the crop. Recommended Seed Companies Landreth Seed Company John Scheepers Renee's Garden Seeds Franchi Sementi Seed Savers Exchange Territorial Seed Co. Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply Pinetree Garden Seeds Seeds of Change Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds In Southern California, the ideal time to plant the winter garden is November onward when planting established plants, or as early as August when starting from seed. Southern Californians can continue to plant in succession through late January, but in the rest of the country Brassicas should be grown in early spring. Brassicas need their space in gardens. They grow large -- albeit slowly -- but eventually their habit of spreading can shade anything planted too close. When harvested, the yield will be substantial, especially with cabbages. Broccoli will form a main head, which should be removed; this will prompt the plant to produce side shoots that can be harvested for many weeks. Turnips can be easily grown from seed, just remember to thin out the plants to a 5-inch spacing once the plants reach 3 to 4 inches. (The removed plants can, of course, be eaten as turnip greens.) Allow extra garden space for a succession of plantings every six weeks and you'll have a steady supply of fresh vegetables throughout the season. Pests There are a few really pernicious pests that enjoy eating these plants. The insidious, soil-borne fungal disease commonly known as club root is one of the most serious. If your soil becomes infected, this disease can remain in your garden for many years. A great advantage in growing brassicas from seed is that you avoid accidentally bringing such a disease into your garden via nursery-bought seedlings. The cabbage white butterfly is another opportunistic pest that can wreak havoc in crops. The butterfly lays large amounts of eggs, and its voracious caterpillars render leaves skeletal in a matter of days. An organic solution is a spray of Bt (bacillus thuringiensis), a parasitic bacterium that effectively kills the caterpillars when ingested. Such products can be found at most garden stores and are applied through spraying. Another solution: Cover the crop with fine netting to physically prevent the butterfly from gaining access to the plants. Aphids also can congregate in large amounts and be effectively controlled by a short, sharp blast of water from the hose. Finally, some of these plants may be eaten by rabbits and birds, something problematic usually in rural areas. Again, netting is the best solution to keep animals away from plants. Heirloom and hybrid varietals for the garden Select breeding and hybridization has resulted in a wide array of choices within each variety, but it can be hard to find them all at nurseries. Seed companies are where you'll find a full complement of options. Broccoli: Legend, Packman, Fiesta, De Cicco Broccoli raab: Zamboni, Spring Sorrento Kale: Winter Red, Nero di Toscana, Improved Dwarf Siberian Brussels sprouts: Long Island Improved, Vancouver, Rubine Collards: Champion, Flash, Georgia Mustard (red and green): Southern Giant Curled, Osaka Red, Green Wave Turnips: Gold Ball, Purple Top Globe, Seven Top Choy: Pac Choi, Bok Choy, Ching-Chiang, Tatsoi Cabbage (red and green): Early Jersey Wakefield, Ruby Ball, Red Acre, Copenhagen Market, Savoy Kohlrabi: Dyna, Kongo, Purple Vienna Cauliflower: Snowball Early, Self Blanche, Cheddar, Snow Crown Rutabagas: Marian, Laurentian, Champion Collet Rouge John Lyons is the founder of Earthmatters, a gardening school in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood, and The Woven Garden, a firm specializing in edible landscaping. He has written on gardening for the Los Angeles Times and California Gardener. Photo by Ledette Gambini

Sunday Farmers Market

Everything Long Beach will be there!

This Sunday at the Farmers Market- US!

Get Growing at Long Beach Sunday Market This Weekend

Join the Wrigley Garden for free fruit trees and advice on growing local fruits and vegetables this Sunday, January 17. Supporters of this successful community garden will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to pass out free information and answer gardening questions at Long Beach Sunday Market at Longfellow Elementary School, Bixby Road and California Avenue.

Right now is a perfect time is get growing in sunny Long Beach. Whether you’re a new or experienced gardener, drop by and talk to the Wrigley Garden folks about what you’d like to plant—and pick up a bare-root fruit tree before supplies run out. Find out how you can get your own community garden plot.

Long Beach has been ranked No. 3 out of 10 featured cities for having the most urban gardens per capita, according to the Trust for Public Land. Long Beach was among other U.S. cities including Seattle (No. 1), Portland, St. Paul, Honolulu, San Jose, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Anchorage, and Louisville.

Since opening this summer, The Wrigley Garden has fed about 40 families from its raised garden beds on the site of two former drug houses. The subject of a recent LA Times article celebrating the positive effects of gardening on the community, the Wrigley Garden is a two-year project located on land owned by the City of Long Beach. Supporters include The Long Beach Neighborhood Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation, Wrigley is Going Green, The Long Beach Community Foundation, Connected Corridors and the 6th District Council Office.

For more information, contact Wrigley Garden Director Sasha Kanno at 562-230-7207.

CNN

Thanks to Chris Morrow of CNN for coming to the garden and filming this piece. You guys look great!



Also thanks to Michael Poompan for setting this up. Did your cauliflower grow in time?

LB Post

Here is a follow up article on the Long Beach Post...

Los Angeles Times

Thanks to Robert for seeking us out for his article. Also thanks Cailey, Brianna and Don for getting some of their fall crop in the ground!
Click on picture to take you to the full article.

Press Telegram Article

This article is a week old now, sorry for the late posting. Thanks to Greg and Steven for seeking us out to write about the garden. It was very nice for our neighbors to be involved in the article.

Wrigley Community Garden Opens
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer

Posted: 07/17/2009 08:12:19 PM PDT

The beginning stages of a new community garden on Henderson Avenue in Long Beach that will officially open Saturday. (Steven Georges / Staff Photographer)

LONG BEACH - The mulch has been spread out, plots staked with yellow and pink ribbons, lumber stacked in the back of the lot and today the Wrigley area's first community garden on Henderson Avenue will be open for business.

Within walking distance on the 2000 block of Pacific Avenue, the land has been cleared between a gourmet nut shop and a barbershop and in two weeks the area's second community garden will be up and running.

Suddenly, the Wrigley District is abloom.

For Guy Vigil and Cynthia Arevelo, who live in apartments south of the Henderson location, the Wrigley Garden has been transformative.

The two lots the garden will occupy for the next two years had been home to two notorious apartment complexes.

"It was bad, real bad," says Vigil. "It was noisy all night, all day. There was shooting, stabbings, drug activity, prostitution - lots of things."

Arevelo said she couldn't invite friends to visit because they would be accosted.

"It was always, `Where you from?"' Arevelo said of the street challenge her friends faced when they visited.

As a result, residents felt trapped in their homes and rarely came out and talked.

"You'd be quiet. You couldn't be friends, because you didn't know (people)," Arevelo says.

Now, Vigil and Arevelo say neighbors regularly come out to converse and the garden is becoming a gathering place.

"It's going really well," says Sasha Kanno, director of the garden. "We've been selling plots and generating funds. But like everyone else in this economy we're struggling to raise more."

The garden still needs soil, seeds and water before it will be fully functional, and those cost money.

Today's opening and plant sale may help that effort.

The space has already been divided into 39 plots, measuring 4 by 12 feet each. Some plots are half-sized for children and disabled residents. Most are already reserved.

Plans

Sasha Kanno, the director of the Wrigley Garden. (Steven Georges / Staff Photographer)

are in the works for an orchard of potted fruit trees and a pumpkin patch. The garden will be fronted by California native plants.

The project came about as a collaboration between nonprofit Wrigley is Going Green, Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews' office and the Long Beach Housing Development Company, which bought the property.

The buildings were demolished in 2007 and the lots will be available to the gardeners for two years before it is developed for affordable housing.

Organizers hope after the lease ends that they'll be able to find a permanent site.

Meanwhile, the Wrigley Village Community Garden is getting ready for its unveiling Saturday, Aug. 1.

Located at 2044 Pacific Ave., it is a collaboration between several organizations including the Redevelopment Agency and Neighborhood Leadership Program, private individuals and Long Beach Organic, which will oversee the lot.

The Village garden will offer a youth gardening and educational workshops.

Arevelo is looking forward to plunging her hands into the earth and wants to plant carrots and turnips. She says her granddaughter, Fantasia Salazar, already has plot and hopes to use it for flowers.

Asked what she liked best about the new garden, Kanno said, "Just the mix of energy - and the smiles."

greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291

Wrigley Garden- Everything Long Beach Article

Our first work day was featured on everythinglongbeach.com. Please post a comment and subscribe to this site, it hosts lots of wonderful information.

Wrigley Community Garden takes root on Henderson Avenue

Posted July 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment |

A fresh new community garden spanning two city lots now blossoms at the site of a former drug house. Wrigley is Going Green (WiGG) and Council member Dee Andrews have secured the use of 1950-1960 Henderson Avenue for use as a temporary space for the Wrigley Community Garden.

Volunteers turned out last Saturday to prep the land and get ready for the first season of gardeners. Thanks to mulch from the Long Beach Mulch-a-Lot program and the group of hard working residents, the empty land was transformed into 39 ready-to-plant plots.

The Wrigley Garden is a two-year project designed to positively change the lives of local residents by helping them grow their own food. Available to all Long Beach residents, it’s first come, first served with a sliding scale starting at only $20 per year for Henderson Avenue residents.

The Wrigley Community Garden will officially open with a ribbon cutting ceremony and Plant Sale Saturday, July 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the garden 1950 & 1960 Henderson Avenue. The sale and celebration will feature plants, plots and baked goods, with proceeds going towards the installation of an irrigation system for the garden. Donations will also be accepted.

Anyone interested in a plot should contact Sasha Kanno, Director of the Wrigley Garden, by email at sasha@wrigleygarden.org. There are 20 plots left. For more information visit the Wrigley Community Garden online at wrigleygarden.org

Later this summer, Long Beach Organic will collaborate with the Long Beach RDA to put another community garden on Pacifc Avenue. Look for more information about the Wrigley Village Community Garden coming soon on EverythingLongBeach.com.

Saturday July 18th

MEDIA ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Day: Saturday
Date: July 18
Time: 9 to 11 AM
Event: Wrigley Community Garden Ribbon-Cutting & Plant Sale
Place: 1950 & 1960 Henderson Avenue, Long Beach, 90806

Featuring: 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews

A fresh new community garden spanning two city lots now blossoms at the site of a former drug house. Councilman Dee Andrews will officially open the Wrigley Garden at 9 am; a plant and bake sale follow. The Wrigley Garden is a two-year project designed to positively change the lives of local residents by helping them grow their own food. Available to all Long Beach residents, it’s first come, first served with a sliding scale starting at only $20 per year for Henderson Avenue residents. Congresswoman Laura Richardson (D-37th) will also attend if her schedule permits.

Wrigley Garden- Signal Tribune Article

*Please note that the plot fee's are different than what is listed in this article. Click on the 'application' link to see the plot fee's.
Thank you-

As Wrigley community garden breaks ground, residents can buy plots

July 10th, 2009 · No Comments

From left: Mauna Eichner, Sasha Kanno, and Lisa Wibro, all members of Wrigley Is Going Green

BY NICK DIAMANTIDES
Staff Writer

The Wrigley Community Garden is finally a reality, and some planting could begin this Saturday, July 11. Garden director Sasha Kanno described its progress at a presentation she gave during the monthly meeting of the Wrigley Association on Monday night. About 30 people attended the meeting at the Veterans Park community center.
“We are here tonight to promote our garden,” she said. “We are now taking plot reservations, and we will be there this Saturday laying out all the plots.”
The garden, located at 1950 and 1960 Henderson Avenue, was conceived by the unincorporated nonprofit group Wrigley is Going Green (WIGG). That organization and 6th District Long Beach City Councilman Dee Andrews worked together to persuade the city council and the Long Beach Housing Development Company (LBHDC) to allow the garden to be developed on the site that once contained two apartment buildings notorious for the drug dealers that occupied the units.
The two properties were acquired by the LBHDC (an arm of the City of Long Beach) several years ago, and the buildings were demolished in 2007 to make way for affordable housing that will eventually be developed there. The land has been vacant since the demolition.
“We have the garden space for two years before we turn it back over to the city which will use it for Habitat for Humanity housing,” Kanno said. “Our goal is to turn this property into a temporary learning space for the neighbors that live there and actually teach them to grow their own food.”
She added that the garden will also encourage residents to step out of their homes more and get to know some of the people who live in the area. “We are also going to take those neighbors into the permanent (garden site) that we are looking for,” she said. “The plots start at $20 for Henderson Avenue residents, $25 for other Wrigley residents and will go up depending on how far from the Wrigley area you live.” Standard plots are four feet by 12 feet. Half plots are also available at a lower cost.
Kanno said the garden will grow pumpkins and have art and social activities. “We are super neighborhood friendly, and we are going to have a really good time,” she added. “Later, we are going to write grants and have plant sales.”
After Kanno’s presentation, Wrigley Association President Annie Greenfeld told the audience that the Henderson Avenue apartment buildings were right behind her house. She explained that she had tried for nine years to get the city to force the owners to get the buildings up to code and to screen potential tenants properly. “There were huge drug dealers (operating) any time of the day or night,” she said. “It was graffiti ridden, gang ridden and a horrible place to live. I am really, really happy to see this garden go in.”
Greenfeld noted that 72 percent of the people in Wrigley are renters. “If we have the opportunity to have apartment dwellers come out and grow their own food, by all means let’s do it,” she said.
After Greenfeld’s comments, WIGG members Kanno, Lisa Wibro and Mauna Eichner spoke more about the garden with the Signal Tribune. “The Long Beach Housing Development Company approved the garden on June 17,” Wibro said. “There are some conditions of approval.” She explained that WIGG had to appoint a garden director, agree to vacate the site in two years and agree to conduct community outreach so that the public understands the garden may only be located on Henderson until 2011.
“We are looking for a permanent site, hopefully along the river,” Wibro added. “The garden on Henderson will be our showcase so we can show a future landlord what we will do at the more permanent location.”
Kanno noted that LBHDC also required WIGG to take out liability insurance and establish rules for all gardeners to follow.
Eichner said it is not too late in the year to start a garden and many vegetable plants grow better in late summer and early fall. “Last winter, in my own garden, I had bok choy and Swiss chard, and parsley grows all year round,” she said. “Lettuce, spinach and all the greens grow better when the weather is cooler.”
Wibro noted that a crew working in the city’s “Operation Mulch-A-Lot” program mulched the garden site recently at no cost to WIGG.
For more information about WIGG or the Wrigley Community Garden, send an email to wrigleyisgoinggreen@hotmail.com,or call Andrews’s office at (562) 570-6816.

Garden Variety- Signal Tribune

Garden Variety: Why You Need a Raised Bed Garden

July 10th, 2009 · No Comments

By Jennifer E. Beaver

This year, raised beds suddenly became the must-have accessory for the backyard (or frontyard) garden. These bottomless boxes filled with premium soil have existed for thousands of years. Now they’re hot. Why? Five reasons: Our Victory Garden urge to save when money is tight; great info and products on the Internet; an abundance of locally available plants, seeds and great soil; they’re easy– no need to dig; and in Southern California, our year-round growing season.
How great is that?
Pretty great. When we gather at my neighbor Bill’s home for backyard barbecues, we don’t talk about the death spiral of property values or the size of the local potholes. No, we discuss the height of his corn and the absolute freshness of the zukes that have just come off the grill. Bill’s two well-constructed raised beds are the envy of the neighborhood. They’re so prolific that he has plenty to share.
If raised beds had a Facebook page– and maybe they do– I’d put myself down as a fan.
You might want to become one, too. Raised bed gardening offers plenty of benefits. Like more veggies, flowers and herbs– twice that of conventional gardens, according to a University of Ohio study. Good, healthy dirt– a way to avoid our toxin-crammed, industrial pollutant-filled soil. Easy pest control. Water conservation. And gardening for all ages and abilities when you put a bottom on the box and raise it to chair height.
Interested? Start with All New Square Foot Gardening, raised bed evangelist Mel Bartholomew’s latest book, or visit squarefootgardening.com.
In my next column, watch for a raised bed garden FAQ. Find out where to get one (would you believe Home Depot?), what and how to plant, where to put one (even over concrete), and lots more.
Great news for those who don’t have room for a raised bed or any other type of garden: The Wrigley Garden, a brand new double-lot community space at 1950/1960 Henderson Avenue, is leasing garden plots at extremely low rates. Available to all Long Beach residents, it’s first come, first served with a sliding scale starting at only $20 per year for Henderson Avenue residents. To reserve your plot, visit info@wrigleygarden.org or call (562) 230-7207. Stay tuned for details on the Wrigley Village Community Garden on Pacific Avenue, another great new growing space that will also feature kid-friendly growing demonstrations. Wrigley is the garden district of Long Beach.

Garden Variety: Why You Need a Raised Bed Garden

← Japanese Garden to host annual origami festival LB Municipal Band marks 100 years of performances →

Garden Variety: Why You Need a Raised Bed Garden

July 10th, 2009 · No Comments

By Jennifer E. Beaver

This year, raised beds suddenly became the must-have accessory for the backyard (or frontyard) garden. These bottomless boxes filled with premium soil have existed for thousands of years. Now they’re hot. Why? Five reasons: Our Victory Garden urge to save when money is tight; great info and products on the Internet; an abundance of locally available plants, seeds and great soil; they’re easy– no need to dig; and in Southern California, our year-round growing season.
How great is that?
Pretty great. When we gather at my neighbor Bill’s home for backyard barbecues, we don’t talk about the death spiral of property values or the size of the local potholes. No, we discuss the height of his corn and the absolute freshness of the zukes that have just come off the grill. Bill’s two well-constructed raised beds are the envy of the neighborhood. They’re so prolific that he has plenty to share.
If raised beds had a Facebook page– and maybe they do– I’d put myself down as a fan.
You might want to become one, too. Raised bed gardening offers plenty of benefits. Like more veggies, flowers and herbs– twice that of conventional gardens, according to a University of Ohio study. Good, healthy dirt– a way to avoid our toxin-crammed, industrial pollutant-filled soil. Easy pest control. Water conservation. And gardening for all ages and abilities when you put a bottom on the box and raise it to chair height.
Interested? Start with All New Square Foot Gardening, raised bed evangelist Mel Bartholomew’s latest book, or visit squarefootgardening.com.
In my next column, watch for a raised bed garden FAQ. Find out where to get one (would you believe Home Depot?), what and how to plant, where to put one (even over concrete), and lots more.
Great news for those who don’t have room for a raised bed or any other type of garden: The Wrigley Garden, a brand new double-lot community space at 1950/1960 Henderson Avenue, is leasing garden plots at extremely low rates. Available to all Long Beach residents, it’s first come, first served with a sliding scale starting at only $20 per year for Henderson Avenue residents. To reserve your plot, visit info@wrigleygarden.org or call (562) 230-7207. Stay tuned for details on the Wrigley Village Community Garden on Pacific Avenue, another great new growing space that will also feature kid-friendly growing demonstrations. Wrigley is the garden district of Long Beach.

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