100 Garden Challenge

My friend, fellow Master Gardener Sarah Spitz asked me to post about the wonderful event that The Westside Permaculture Group and Sustainable Works are sponsoring, the “100 Garden Challenge.” And, she even graciously sent me a press release to make it even easier to do! So, here's the deets:

The purpose of this event is to create 100 edible gardens in a single weekend to build and enhance our community, raise awareness about the benefits of locally grown organic produce, and inspire an appreciation of the gifts nature has to offer. The “100 Garden Challenge” will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, 2009.

There are three primary ways to get involved:

1. Community members who desire to start and maintain an edible garden and who have land for a garden or fruit tree or space for potted plants, are encouraged to register their future garden site for the "100 Garden Challenge" on the Gardens of Gratitude website.
For participants in need of advice or assistance in designing or planting their garden, the Westside Permaculture Group will supply the needed talent and workers to assist registrants in completing the work. Participants may also work independently if they prefer. Financial assistance in the form of materials donations is also available to qualified project sites.

2. Westside Permaculture Group is seeking volunteer gardeners of all skill levels and ages to assist in the designing, planting and maintaining of the gardens for before, during and after the event. Needed volunteers include: both unskilled and skilled gardeners; certified gardeners (i.e.: with Master Gardener, Biointensive Gardening or Permaculture Design certification, or the equivalent); trucks and drivers. Other volunteers desired include artists, musicians, cooks and event coordinators for the Gratitude Parties being held both afternoons of the event.

3. Westside Permaculture Group and Sustainable Works are seeking businesses and organizations interested in supporting the event through monetary or in-kind donations. Proceeds will go toward financing supplies for qualifying low-income participants in realizing their garden, and other direct event costs. Current sponsors include: Sustainable Works, The City of Santa Monica, Co-Opportunity, The Learning Garden, Heal the Bay and The Seed.

Registration for garden sites, volunteering, or becoming a sponsor for the event may be completed by visiting the "Gardens of Gratitude" web site: http://www.gardensofgratitude.org/. For more information please contact Traci Reitz: reitz_traci@smc.edu