The Lamorinda Weekly has the latest news from Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center.
A special aspect of the garden and learning center site is that it sits along the Lafayette Creek and is graced by a number of native riparian plants. These plants are highlighted in a natural riparian oak garden and along a short nature trail, which will be accessible during open hours beginning in March
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Photo by Andy Scheck
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Sustainable Contra Costa’s fourth annual Leadership in Sustainability Awards Gala was held on Wednesday, October 24 and Janet Thomas won the “Individual” award.
The evening’s biggest splash was the 2012 Leadership Awards. A 13-judge panel of local community members who understand or work in a field supporting sustainable practices selected winners in seven categories, and honored one individual for Lifetime Achievement. The awards were presented by Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich and Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez.
- Janet Thomas, winner of the “Individual” Award, is a founding member of Sustainable Lafayette, and her vision of a community garden inspired $90,000 in support, volunteers in the hundred’s, and 50 households who now tend the food-sharing, education-spreading, Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center.
Read more here.
The very first class was held yesterday at the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center. Did you know that the Saclan Tribe that lived along Lafayette Creek used ground up buckeyes (which are toxic) to stun the fish they caught? Neither did we. Learn more at the Lafayette Historical Society.
Generally well behaved students at Janet Thomas’ class on our creekside ecology.
Read about the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center in the Lamorinda Weekly. The article is here.
It’s been a long time coming, and it required the tenacity of the Sustainable Lafayette Food Group, including Janet Thomas, to finally create a community garden in Lafayette.
The community can visit the community garden site on Earth Day, April 22, along Mt. Diablo Blvd. across from the Reservoir. But if you want to become a member of the garden, you must work there two hours a week, take your crop home – and sign up early. The first plants are not in the soil yet but 50 families have already signed up and only four spots are left for this year. The garden will also serve as an outdoor education center, free and open to the public.
Holding a map of the garden are, from left: Leah Ingram, Beth Ferree, Janet Thomas, Susanne Frey Photo Sophie Braccini
We are pleased to introduce Leah Ingram, our Garden Manager. Leah has gardened most of her life. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly with minor degrees in land rehabilitation, soils science and sustainable environments. During college she worked on the Cal Poly organic farm and performed small scale design and residential landscape installation in San Luis Obispo. Following graduation, as an AmeriCorps volunteer, she assisted in conservation management of a forest preserve, restoring native plants in Hawaii. She has also taught fourth graders
Leah Ingram - Garden Manager
in Alameda County about local creek ecosystems and watershed awareness.
Now with agreements agreed and permits permitted, the fun begins at the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center. First, we want to share some updated design ideas.
A special Joint Meeting of the Lafayette City Council, Planning Commission, and Design Review Commission is scheduled for Monday, February 27, 2012 at 7:00 PM. Approval of the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center is on the Agenda as item 9.6. In fact, if you click on item 9.6, you can read the 39-page Lafayette Staff Report recommending that City Council approve our garden project.
Tomorrow is going to be a great day for Lafayette’s next great civic improvement!
2012 is starting fast. Check out the latest ideas for the design of the Lafayette Community Garden & Outdoor Learning Center below. And stay tuned for some exciting news about our new Garden manager!
Imagining the Lafayette Community Garden & Outdoor Learning Center
Last night our request for a building permit was approved by the City of Lafayette Planning Commission. Thanks to all our friends and supporters we now have enough money to start building our fence and garden beds. We look forward to building community as well.
The next step is to formalize an agreement between the City and EBMUD.
We plan to hire a garden manager in January to help coordinate our efforts.
Check back here for regular updates on fundraising, garden membership and our official groundbreaking.
