This is a photo of a school garden that was created by volunteers and tended by children from 7th Street school in downtown LA. “7th Street students planted neat rows of flowers and vegetables that won awards. Their garden was a renowned success, and the program expanded with additional land. By 1913, under Larkey’s watch, more than 70,000 students across the city tilled and sowed 150 formerly vacant lots. Teachers encouraged this planting zeal by integrating garden study into classes on geometry, science and art. Parents participated, reading the books that became bestsellers in a greening America.” Amazing how history repeats itself… in a good way. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/02/lost-la-school-gardens.html

This is a photo of a school garden that was created by volunteers and tended by children from 7th Street school in downtown LA.

“7th Street students planted neat rows of flowers and vegetables that won awards. Their garden was a renowned success, and the program expanded with additional land. By 1913, under Larkey’s watch, more than 70,000 students across the city tilled and sowed 150 formerly vacant lots. Teachers encouraged this planting zeal by integrating garden study into classes on geometry, science and art. Parents participated, reading the books that became bestsellers in a greening America.”

Amazing how history repeats itself… in a good way.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/02/lost-la-school-gardens.html

LAUSD signs the dotted line! WHPLG is coming to life

Yes!!! After 3 years of planning and negotiations, and over 18 years since the garden was inspired by dedicated LA Ecovillagers, the White House Place Learning Garden is coming to life.  LAUSD signed the joint use agreement last week, and looks forward to working with the Beverly Vermont Community Land Trust to operate the garden and making it accessible to students and families from the 8+ schools in our neighborhood.

The real estate guys, who once talked about bulldozing the land for a parking lot are now excited to see this as a model development of a school- community joint use garden. Thank you to Lara Morrison, Lois Arkin, Kristen Benjamin, Dore Burry, and Irma Garcia who helped move the WHPLG to the next stage.

Thank you to Lois Arkin, Lara Morrison and architect Ian McIlvaine for putting the vision to paper & help bringing this garden a big step forward!

Thank you to Lois Arkin, Lara Morrison and architect Ian McIlvaine for putting the vision to paper & help bringing this garden a big step forward!

Hope you can come. Will be the first in a series, so check back if you can’t make it.

Hope you can come. Will be the first in a series, so check back if you can’t make it.

Thinking, dreaming & planning for our the White House Place Learning Garden, found a video of Proyecto Jardin & my friends Rob & Daisy who volunteered countless hours to its creation It features the medicine garden & water fountain I designed with Dadisi & Sheena for our Permaculture class back in 2004. So inspired to see its evolution & hopeful for bringing its spirit to our neighborhood.

@ the Garden at Larchmont Charter School

Garden

In our third year, we added a credentialed teacher to create and implement a garden/science curriculum, loosely inspired by Alice Water’s The Edible Schoolyard. Garden studies at LCS are aligned with California State Science Standards. Children keep a garden journal to record data, impressions and reflections on garden activities. Children grow their own vegetables from seeds that they plant, while they learn about the life sciences. The 3rd grade is learning about composting and composting food waste in a donated composter. Our planting focus is on a “salad bar garden” based on a design from Heartbeet Gardening, a group run by graduates of a nearby school, The Marlborough School. The holistic curriculum includes eating healthy lunches and healthy snacks.

We have a Master Gardener who volunteers on a bi-weekly basis to assist with the garden class, along with parent volunteers from the garden committee to assist in the different activities. There are raised beds for every classroom in our school plan, which also includes a native garden, zoo garden, five senses garden, child-scaled sundial, weather station, butterfly reading garden and flower teepee.


LCS is currently writing a green school plan to include:
1) environmental awareness and support
2) edible garden
3) further the use of the garden integrated with science instruction
4) instructional landscaping
5) recycling program
6) service learning
7) utilization of non-polluting cleaning supplies and maintenance of site

Inspired by gardeners throughout the Philippines, here’s our mini film in Filipino. Big thanks to Joana Leonido, garden crusader & MCLC Academy of Social Justice alumnus for her translation help.

Here’s the design proposed by architect,  CRSP board member, and long-time LA Eco-Villager, Ian McIlvain.

Here’s the design proposed by architect,  CRSP board member, and long-time LA Eco-Villager, Ian McIlvain.

LAUSD meets with LA Eco-Villagers to consider Saving the White House Place Gardens

Thanks to Joe Linton for sharing this good news on his blog. LAUSD is still considering the proposal. So please continue to encourage their progress, follow the link above, then

SIGN THE PETITION HERE!