Aptos Community Garden Update
www.aptoscommunitygarden.org
By Melanie Larson
We could not have asked for a more beautiful day to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Aptos Community Garden! Close to 100 people turned out to meet their new neighbors, share some food, enjoy the music by Guy Routley and plant their gardens. Surf City Growers provided organic seedlings for the garden launch. Several gardeners worked until closing time (8:00 p.m.) and helped me secure the main gates. The party was so successful we are getting requests for another one. Tarmo Hannula from the Register-Pajaronian wrote and photographed a wonderful front-page story covering the event.
We had a large turnout of CLC members, including Janet Blomquist and her daughter, Lisa, who came from Isle of Wight, VA to present us with a scrapbook from her fellow Master Gardeners. Our local Master Gardeners of the Monterey Bay set up a display of helpful materials, thanks to the efforts of Cathy Baker. And Pastor Dale blessed the garden after all of the words of thanks, signaling it was time for the gardeners to begin.
The weeks leading up to this were busy getting the beds, paths, and irrigation ready for the opening. We got support from workers provided by Mark Zabel: Juan Bolanos, Jose Robel, and Salvador Rodriguez. Fred Lopez and gardener Roy Vigliecca have been a great help as well. They were joined by another workday with Rotary members from Santa Cruz, Aptos/Capitola, and Watsonville. CLC members Warren Gilbert, Mark Zabel, Austin Pruitt, Tom and Melanie Larson, Jan Sollom-Brotherton, and Garden Supervisor, Gene Sanden pitched in as well.
We are very grateful for the latest donations from local businesses. Far West Design and Landscaping and Ewing Irrigation teamed up to help us get the irrigation installed. Thanks to Ecology by Design, Nature First provided wood chips for the paths. Warren Knox donated two elevated beds called Knox Boxes, and we are waiting for a delivery of lumber from Big Creek Lumber to build the remaining raised beds. We have also had anonymous donations of materials (gopher wire and cutters), sponsors for very low-income gardeners, and cash for garden materials.
At the suggestion of Lisa Joseph, we would like to start a collection of donated garden tools for people who cannot afford them. If you have some extra tools, just let us know. And, equally important, if you have an extra garden shed, please donate that, too!
In closing, I would like to share this conversation I had with a La Selva Beach gardener. He commented to me that he has belonged to lots of community gardens over the years and that gardeners are nice people, but this has to be one of the nicest group of gardeners he has ever met. He went on to say over three-fourths of the gardeners are from the church. I suppressed my laugh and clarified that only one plot went to a CLC Renovare group. He said that just about everyone he talked to at the Grand Opening was from the church. I explained that they were my helpers, and they were here to make sure everyone had a good time. I also told him this is a community garden, and we want to make sure the community has first choice.
I drop in daily and chat with the gardeners, while checking on the CASA plot (#42). I, too, am meeting the nicest people and feel that we have a new extended family. If you haven’t had a chance to visit, swing by, and meet our new neighbors.
Tags: Aptos Community Garden, community garden, grow your own food
