By Kea M. Duggan | Marketing & Volunteer Engagement Director
We've been very busy since our last update!
In late March, we held our very first Leadership Academy. This newly-established quarterly gathering of leaders from each of our community gardens, is designed to share best practices on effective garden management. It's also a great opportunity for the gardeners to network with their contemporaries. Our second-ever Leadership Academy was held in late June.
The Little Green Fingers Collaborative also completed the build on our new community garden -- the seventh of eight planned gardens -- located at the East Wilmington Greenbelt Park. During each of the build days, we had countless volunteers from the Wilmington area, as well as the "Friends of Baby Buggy" volunteers and Councilman Joe Buscaino enthusiastially helping to bring this new garden to life!
The progress of this garden has also attracted the attention of Potential Industries. Potential Industries is a Wilmington-based recycling company and they recognized the need to support the local community and provide access to fresh fruits and vegetables to Wilmington residents. They are helping to provide tools and other supplies to the gardeners to ensure they have what they need to make the garden a success.
The Wilmington gardeners will be holding their first garden leadership meeting for the end of July!
Last, but certainly not least, on Saturday, May 30th, the Little Green Fingers Collaborative celebrated the grand opening of East Los Angeles' very first community garden. Located at the Eastmont Community Center, this garden is the sixth of eight planned gardens as part of the First 5 LA grant.
The grand opening was a rousing success. We heard stories from some of the gardeners and our distinguished guests, which included Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, representatives from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, and Cynthia Harding, Interim Director of Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Throughout the day, though, many families shared that this garden not only allows them to grow together as a family and learn how to sustain themselves with a healthier lifestyle, but they can build friendships with neighbors and have a safe place for their children to play.
You can read more about the day here: http://www.theeastsiderla.com/2015/05/a-community-garden-grows-in-east-l-a/
We are closing in on our eight and final garden. As soon as we have more details, we will be sure to share it with you. In the meantime, we are so thankful for supporting our growth and our mission to help local families live healthier lifestyles.
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