A garden oasis downtown Long Beach where mom and son grow vegetables and love
Asked whether he would rather go to the garden or watch TV, Honor answered diplomatically: “Both!”
By Rich Archbold
Press-Telegram
February 5, 2021
Excerpt:
As he has gotten older, he has helped his mom plant vegetables like cauliflower, corn, beets, kale and Swiss chard, in addition to his favorites: broccoli and brussel sprouts. If you look closely, you also can see strawberries growing among the vegetables.
“Honor is really committed to his garden,” his mother said. “His dedication to our small plot is inspiring in and of itself.”
Honor’s plot is one of 20 plots in the community garden at Seventh and Chestnut operated by Long Beach Organic, a nonprofit started in 1994 with a mission of converting vacant urban lots into community gardens for sustainable, healthy food production. There now are eight LBO community gardens spread across the city.
There is a small annual membership fee plus plot rentals per each six-month season, starting on March 1 and September 1. If you are a member of LBO, you are required to commit to helping clear and beautify the entire garden. There are community garden work parties once a month where members pull weeds, turn compost and clean trash.
“We all support each other and look out for each other’s gardens, like watering a plot if we see it’s a little dry, and sharing vegetables, fruits and seeds with each other,” Baldwin said. In addition to the individual plots, there are lemon, kumquat, fig and apple trees in the garden. And on the parkway by the sidewalk alongside the garden are beautiful aloe vera plants maintained by members.
