Victory Gardens San Diego
Connecting San Diego's Local Food Web
14 Organizations, over 450 Members. . . plus you?
Vol. 6 VGSD Newsletter September 2009
Hi VGSD'ers,
It's been an exciting, eventful summer so far and there's much more on tap as we head toward Autumn!
VGSD Receives $1500 grant from Patagonia!
Victory Gardens just received grant funding from the Patagonia store in Cardiff-by-the-Sea to the tune of $1500! These funds will be used to help fund our home, school and community garden projects throughout San Diego. In looking at our list of requests, we have over 30 different projects either in progress or under consideration. We thank Patagonia for their partnership and support of our efforts.
Click here to visit the Patagonia Store's website
In addition to this grant, our fiscal sponsor, San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project has been selected to participate in the Patagonia "Voice Your Choice" program this September and October. Roots was chosen along with two other non-profits in San Diego to share our environmental programs with Patagonia shoppers. We'll be tabling and encouraging all VGSD'ers, Rootsters and anyone who values and savors healthy, Earth friendly food (isn't that everyone???) to visit Patagonia between September 26 (We'll be tabling there...there may be food too!) until October 24 and cast your vote for San Diego Roots. You may vote each time you visit...so visit a lot! Top prize is $2500! Thanks again to Patagonia for their clear commitment to our environment.
Recent & Current Projects
Schummer Daycare Garden Completed
August 22 found 12 VGSD'ers busily cleaning mulch, digging, wheel-barrowing and building a raised bed garden for the Schummer family in Chula Vista complete with a simple drip gardening system on a timer. This project had been scheduled for July, but an illness in the family required postponement until August. No matter! There were so many great volunteers, we finished by lunchtime! Many thanks to Bill Tall at City Farmer's Nursery for donating a cubic yard of soil to the project. Thanks also to the Schummers for keeping us energized with delicious snacks and lunch. Finally thanks to our volunteers Juanita, Dorothea, Marjorie, Yvonne, Richard, Diana, Erin, Ian, Yvette and Karl! As always, the pictures tell the story best!
IRC/New Roots Community Farm Grand Opening
September 10, 5 to 7pm
54th St. & Chollas Parkway
City Heights (just south of University Avenue)
Victory Gardens has been working closely with the International Rescue Committee at their New Roots Community Farm on 54th St. and Chollas Parkway, just one block south of University. We donated $400 to help buy passion fruit vines, hoses and digging tools. VGSD also coordinated the construction of a shade house and green house with Hoover and Crawford High student interns and volunteers from Lowe's and the Rotary Club.
Projects in the works
Rolling Gardens for La Vita Del Mar
VGSD is working with the gardeners at La Vita Del Mar, a retirement community in Del Mar to create 2 raised rolling beds for their garden club. The raised beds will accommodate those who want to sit, stand or need a wheelchair for assistance. By next month photos should be posted to show what we came up with.
Hope Garden Project in Oceanside
This is an ongoing project led by VGSD'er, Joelle Budzynowski. Joelle meets each Monday at the MHS Family Recovery Center to teach garden education to program attendees. Judy Ezratty of the Center describes Joelle's work this way " Joelle is an exceptional instructor who ignites the women’s passion about gardening." We couldn't ask for any more. The women now want to extend their learning into Nutrition. Great job, Joelle!
Click here to download information about the Family Recovery Center.
On the horizon..
VGSD Garden University (U Garden!)
Class Series #2 begins September 12
This class filled in about two days from a list of prior applicants! We'll be teaching at new locations including an exciting opportunity to work with the Teachers at High Tech High Media Arts on both garden projects and a multi-media celebration of student's work in December. We have terrific instructors lined up and lots of "dirt time" planned. The best way to get into the next class (Date TBA later) is to sign up now. Early applicants get a 2 day headstart on applying. Don't delay!
Future possible projects include: partnerships with Shakti Rising; the City of National City; the Childhood Obesity Initiative and the City of Chula Vista; Lake Jennings Mobile Home Park; and several home gardens as well. Keep checking emails for volunteer opportunities.
Input needed
Celebration of Community Gardens: The Next Step?
We need your input!
The success of our Inaugural Celebration of Community Gardens, long waiting lists at established community gardens, and the start of several new gardens within San Diego County over the last two years demonstrates how much interest there is in community gardens.
Please join us in supporting and defining the future of community gardens in San Diego and take a minute to fill out a brief questionnaire. You responses will be used to help determine future events and initiatives in support of community gardens.
Click on this link to go to the questionanaire.
Thank you! Judy Jacoby and Dominick Fiume,
Co-Chairs Community Garden Committee, San Diego Master Gardeners
