Star Education, through its Sage (Sustainable Agriculture Gardening Education) Project, is spearheading a campaign to develop a new community learning garden in Culver City.
Star’s goal is an innovative, experiential learning garden melding the gardening spirit and goals of the Westside community with a groundbreaking educational experience for Los Angeles youth.
Two potential sites are under discussion, one close to the intersection of College Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard, owned by West Los Angeles College, the other a six-acre plot owned by the County Board of Supervisors in the Baldwin Hills Conservancy.
Star Education is reaching out to the community, seeking steering committee members and supporters to take part in planning and forming the garden.
The City of Culver City has just one community garden, at capacity for years along with an expansive waiting list. As of June 2011, 30 names on the waiting list with only 16 plots available. Only four of them have changed hands the last few years.
The need for another community garden is not to merely provide movement on a waiting list but to address serious health and nutritional issues that face children today.
This is serious issue for Lee Wolkowitz, Sage Project Manager. “As we become more aware of the serious health issues that have begun emerging in every community, it’s time we do something pro-active, productive instead of watching and waiting. Let us work together in the creation of a new community garden that will not only provide a healthy atmosphere, but also a healthy lifestyle.”
Goals for the Sage Project:
• Start a sustainable agricultural and garden education program.
• Develop a core volunteer base and stewardship program.
• Provide access to healthy organic, non-processed foods to those in need.
• Create opportunities to conduct ongoing research for students in local colleges and schools.
• Create an orchard that is highly visible, instructional and a draw to the garden.
• Create an outdoor kitchen and patio for groups to cook, eat and socialize as well as provide healthy and non-processed food to those in need.
• Begin a Water Wise California Native Plant Garden Initiative and a Backyard-to-Food Production program.
The Sage Project is at a critical stage.
“This is a promising sign for the future of community gardens in our own city,” says Ginny Blades of Transition Culver City. “We are looking forward to lifting our shovels with Lee and the Star crew.”
If this garden is to become a reality, we need your support. For more information or to join our mailing list, email sage@starinc.org or visit sage.starinc.org and start receiving updates about the community garden project.
The Sustainable Agriculture Gardening Education project is a division of Star Education, and its mission is to provide Culver City and surrounding communities with a center for sustainable gardening and agricultural practices. Working with our collaborators, we are creating a hub for environmental education, which will promote community building, better health and more knowledge about food security through building a garden learning center.
Star Education is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization committed to helping students reach their full potential by offering affordable, extended academic, recreational and enrichment programs; supporting and enhancing school curricula; inspiring student achievement; and expanding the cultural base of young people. For 25 years, Star has partnered with schools throughout California to involve students in our innovative, quality programs taught by exceptional, highly-trained instructors.
