The Milagro Allegro community garden at Avenue 56 and Figueroa hosted a garden giveaway this weekend. Advertised to start at noon, by 12:30 some 500 people had made a line that stretched down the block and around the corner. By 12:45 the trees were gone. That left 50,000 vegetable seedlings to make sure everyone ended up with something to plant at their school garden, in their neighborhood or yes, their backyard. more ›

Since 1975 a 4.2-acre orchard just north of Hollywood Blvd has served as a massive, low key community garden. Originally part of the Wattles Mansion estate, the community garden has between 200 and 300 members and is run by a nonprofit organization in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Inquiries about membership are handled via the Wattles Farm and Neighborhood Gardeners website, and they take "community" seriously -- gardeners must live within a five mile radius of Wattles to even be considered. more ›

Long Beach really wants to be the greenest city in the country. They are working towards being a truly walkable city, complete with a large bicycle network. Another sustainable goal of theirs are community gardens and urban farms. To date, there are 15 of them with a 16th to be announced on Monday. more ›

A one and half acre community clinic, garden and urban farming site at Fremont High School was approved today by the L.A. Unified School District board. The project fits into two district goals: one, a health care master plan and the other to create community parks and gardens on school campuses to address safe open spaces and healthful living. more ›

April, among other things, happens to be National Garden Month. And what an ideal time--it's spring, and it's the right time to get your planting done for the months ahead of garden goodness. But this isn't just about people with yards to dig up, or with seasoned green thumbs. The great thing about gardening is that you don't have to be a pro to give it a go, or even do the gardening where you live! In fact, you can celebrate National Garden Month, we say, without even setting foot in a garden. Here are 7 things you can do. more ›

North Hollywood: What do you do when the city owns a vacant lot that's being used by people as an unofficial trash landfill? Clear it out and make it into a park. On Monday, Councilwoman and Controller-Elect Wendy Greuel and others will make the first ceremonial dig on the Bellaire Pocket Park Project, located at the corner of Bellaire Ave and Strathern St. more ›

If you're an area resident and ready to dig in and get your hands dirty (and grow yourself some tomatoes and the like), there's a morning-long (9 a.m. to noon) work day happening today for the Fountain Community Garden at 5260 Fountain Avenue. The garden is the fruit of the neighborhood's labor; they have been working together to transform this empty lot at the southwest corner of Fountain and Mansfield Avenue into a beautiful community garden. Activities today include tree plants, weeding, laying mulch between the garden beds, and meeting new neighbors. The steering committee has finalized an 'application of interest' form for those interesting in securing a plot. Email Edith Darling if you're interested. more ›

Waiting lists for popular community gardens can be years long, but many have grown weary of waiting. As 21st Century "Victory Gardens" have come into vogue in our yards, in our neighborhoods, at our schools, at our state capitol, and on the White House lawn, many would-be green thumbs want to get their hands dirty and their veggies and flowers growing. more ›

During World War II they were called "Victory Gardens"--home-tended sections of land yielding money-saving produce for folks without much money to spare. While "Victory Gardens" might call to mind PBS programming an older relative might enjoy, the impulse to plant and grown has taken root once again nationwide. Now we call them "Recession Gardens" but by any other name the rose--or tomato plant--will still smell as sweet:

Industry surveys show double-digit growth in the number of home gardeners this year, and mail-order companies report such a tremendous demand that some have run out of seeds for basic vegetables such as onions, tomatoes and peppers. (Daily News)

Echo Park resident Erik Knutzen of the blog Homegrown Evolution was featured last night on ABC7's news broadcast. Knutzen and his wife Kelly Coyne recently authored "The Urban Homestead" that talks about urban gardening/farming and includes a chapter on sustainable transportation (Damien Newton talked Knutzen up in two separate interviews). more ›