Westside Gardeners Raise the Stakes in Their Communities

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.

In Santa Monica, their three community gardens, Main Street, Park Drive and Euclid Park, are full to the brim, so now the city is working to create a 'frontyard and backyard registry,' according to the LA Times, which means residents can allow others to tend a space on their property. The concept is to "connect gardeners with homeowners who are interested in hosting gardens but don't have the time to care for them." Things are in the seedling stage, if you will. SaMo officials "are now developing the registry and looking for homeowners willing to allow a stranger with garden tools and seeds to tend a section of their yard."

Residents on the Westside of Los Angeles, however, can also get on board the home-gardening bandwagon (or wheelbarrow, as it were). The Gardens of Gratitude program is also taking sign-ups for folks growing edible gardens in the area. To get involved, you can follow their instructions for registering your garden, use their suggested resources to help design your site, and then take part in the weekend of planting May 16-17. It's all a part of the group's "100 Garden Challenge," which aims to assemble at least 100 edible gardens on the Westside. If that's you, and you dig, sign up!