On Saturday, I spent the morning learning how to grow tomatoes at Ocean View Farms (OVF).
What is Ocean View Farms?
It is among the largest of more than 70 community gardens in Los Angeles County, with over 300 gardeners, ranging in age from 18 to 90.
Working in 500 garden plots, OVF is a vibrant community spanning all races and income levels.
During the morning conference, I heard a discussion about DWP’s new watering restriction hours and in another, I listened intently about which current crops are now being grown.
What originally began as an open field which once only grew soy beans; today Ocean View Farms is the preeminent authority and haven for growing tomatoes in Los Angeles.
Presented by the esteemed tomato grower, Barbara Spencer, from the Windrose Farm in Paso Robles, it was an exciting class about tomato growing. She provided valuable tips, and how-to’s on her expertise. After giving a background on the various tomato plants she brought–both seedlings and plugs–she opened the floor for questions.
With an audience of over 50 aficionados, there was no shortage of questions–from how to deal with limited water access, how best to feed tomato plants, and the best ways to prune them.
Before the program started, I had a chance to walk through the various paths that intertwined through the garden plots.
Everyone has their own individual style for growing:
Mailboxes, scarecrows, flowers, vegetables, fruits, a chair to relax in, and various gardening paraphernalia decorated each plot.
Here are some examples:
If you didn’t guess, this last picture is a rhubarb plant. When I was a kid, we grew rhubarb in our backyard. And to this day I think that Strawberry Rhubarb is the best pie ever. After seeing this and several other rhubarb plants brought an incredible stream of memories for me.
The Ocean View Farms composting program
OVF also has a very active composting program.
In 2003, 180 tons of shredded soft green waste, 900 cubic yards of woody material and 80 tons of stable waste were combined by Ocean View Farms to produce a virtually unlimited supply of compost for their 300 members who tend about 500 garden plots.
The Ocean View Farms composting program has saved its garden approximately $10,000 per year in disposal fees for the last seven years.
In fact, OVF’s composting program is so successful; it’s won the Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) eleven years straight. WRAP provides an opportunity for California businesses to gain public recognition for their outstanding waste reduction efforts, and helps the business community to take waste reduction seriously.
Do you plant a garden? Have you ever thought about joining a community garden? What plants bring back memories for you?
I continue to be amazed at all the great places I find by Travelin’ Local.
There aren’t any around here and I was amazed to here that you have more than 70 there! Wow! I planted some tomatoes last year, not sure that I will theis year, I had to fight the chipmunks way too much for the maters.
April 10th, 2009 → 6:14 pm
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