Hey gardeners,
What an amazing week it's been visiting our garden community! Last week was filled with incredible experiences: we witnessed how a school garden can transform education, saw Ocean Beach guerrilla gardeners reclaiming space to grow in the heart of their community, and we visited an inspiring agri-hood that's redefining community living with a food-centered approach. This gardener is bursting with inspiration and excitement to share more!
Let's start with Miramar Elementary School, a beautiful institution with spectacular grounds that quickly became the beacon of schools in the area when it was built and landscaped. Thanks to the efforts of Rolando Moreno, an avid gardener, a previously dated and underutilized area has been transformed into a vibrant hub of nature learning. Here, kids, parents, teachers, and the community at large can explore native plants, pollinators, vermiculture, and much more. The passion for nature-based learning and sustainability that Rolando, also known as "Oya Man," shared with us was truly inspiring, and we're grateful for the opportunity to support the garden at Miramar.
Sustainable Shane recently reached out to us with a vision for Ocean Beach. Reclaiming the space between the sidewalk and road, much like the incredible Ron Finley did years ago in LA (see his TED talk here!). Along with several pals passionate about their community, we burried some Oya™ Watering Pots and talked about greener communities. We are so inspired by their action and activism! We will definitely be supporting and following along with what they do. The localization and grassroots-based action is so powerful in transforming our communities!
Finally, we attended Ecofest, put on by the City of Encinitas. This year, the event was hosted at the incredible Fox Point Farms. In addition to spending time with local businesses and civic voices, we were right in the middle of what I envision will be our future: intentional food-centered living! A working farm, brewery, grocery store, and community space—this place blew my mind!
How do you connect with food in your own communities? Where is the garden activation and inspiration? What does your own community need?
Let's share our stories and inspire each other. Whether it's through school gardens, guerilla gardening, or intentional agri-hoods, every effort counts. Together, we can cultivate a greener, more sustainable future.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead
Happy gardening,
Josh, Co-founder
