Could City Hall Soon Be Surrounded By Citrus Tree Groves & Edible Gardens?
As you may have heard, Los Angeles City Council approved a plan Tuesday to restore the park surrounding City Hall post-Occupy L.A. The approved option calls for 51% less grass and more native, drought-tolerant plants. But what about other green, sustainable ideas like edible gardens? Farmscape, California's largest urban farming operation, has quite a few of these ideas and has been striving to get them heard.
Adhering to their mission to provide access to quality food across L.A. and promote a sustainable future, Farmscape created an impressive plan for a "farm-forward, water-wise, cultural heritage and native landscape" at City Hall. It's kind of amazing, and we wish we were there now, relaxing to the gentle swaying of native trees.
Included in the plan, which you can view here, is a native woodland garden, an employee native garden walk, enhanced historical gardens, a citrus tree grove (!!!), farm-forward landscape, informal and formal lawn areas, a native berry and edible garden and an enhanced sloped lawn area. As part of the farm-forward landscape, City Hall employees would have access to vegetables grown in raised planters, with surplus to go to the needy. An educational garden to teach children how to grow food is also part of the master green plan.
Thomas Gibson of Parks and Recreation "mentioned that although there was an approved plan, there might still be room for additional food gardens," says Farmscape Chief Marketing Officer Rachel Bailin. Gibson is reportedly sharing the plan with his colleagues. "At least the edible gardens are in the discussion," says Bailin, who also noted Farmscape's hope that the edibles will be considered, especially following the formation of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC). The council aims to ensure "healthy, affordable, fair and sustainable" food in Southern California. Bailin added, "A citrus grove just makes sense in L.A., considering at one time, the entire city was just one large fruit orchard."
Just recently, Farmscape installed a rooftop garden atop The Jonathan Club in downtown L.A. "We want to work with other restaurants, schools and institutions because it's been our goal to provide access to quality food across Los Angeles and encourage the city to a more sustainable future," said Bailin.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to approve the proposal agreed upon by City Council, and work on the new landscape could begin as early as this week. Who hopes they squeeze in an edible garden or two?
