“We see it as a gathering place.”
In front of a small crowd at Central Park for the groundbreaking for the Community Gardens of Santa Clarita, Diane Benjamin detailed the history of community gardens in the United States, from their foundation in the 1890s, the “Victory Gardens” during World War II, their resurgence in the 1970s amid environmental reforms and their usefulness in the new millennium.
Benjamin, head of the Community Garden Management Committee, thanked the City for funding the project, and discussed the social merits of a community garden.
Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking news alerts delivered right to your inbox.
The site at Central Park, on Bouquet Canyon Road and directly across from Alamogordo Road, is three-fourths of a square mile and is currently slated to hold a maximum of 80 plots, depending on the sizes chosen. Applicants have options of 10’ x 10’, 10 x 20’ or those raised above ground for wheelchair access.
The garden, set to open in March 2011, is already coming together, with the irrigation system in place.
When the garden is complete, it will contain a storage facility as well as access routes in the park.
Those interested can purchase inscribed bricks that will eventually be laid in the garden.
“You’re as close to nature as you’re going to get,” said Mayor Laurene Weste. “We’re really getting back to our roots.”
Plots are still available. Write to dianetheflowerlady@earthlink.net for more information.
Photos by Will Davison