South Laguna Community Garden Park

The South Laguna Garden Park inspires community involvement, friendship-building and environmental
consciousness. The vision of the Garden
Park Project is to bring the joys of gardening and agriculture into the urban
environment in a format that provides for mutual learning and community
interaction. These benefits are not only
for the plot holders, but for visitors, local children, and all members of the
community who participate in Garden Park activities.

Founded in 2009, the South Laguna Community Garden Park on the corner of
Eagle Rock Way and Coast Highway in South Laguna has transformed a weedy vacant lot into a
thriving garden. Currently the SLCGP is fiscally sponsored by Charitable Ventures of Orange County, The organization was originally sponsored by the South Laguna Civic Association, and has been supported through a collaboration of many local residents and seeks donations from individuals, supportive organizations and businesses.  Volunteers installed,
planted and continue to maintain the Garden Park.The project has been so successful and has been received with such enthusiasm by residents and visitors that it has come to be used for community gatherings and as an informal public park.    Now that the Garden Park has been constructed and planted, we are focusing our efforts on communicating the benefits of the Garden Park to the larger community and raising the funds to purchase a permanent site.

The Garden Park features fifty-two plots that are the responsibility of individuals and/or families. Here vegetables, flowers and herbs are grown for the plot holders’ use. Organic methods are encouraged.  Produce is donated to a local shelter. Low-income gardeners are subsidized. Surrounding the plots are community-gardened areas that include succulents, native plants, colorful drought-tolerant shrubs, a butterfly garden, and community vegetable planting areas. There is an antique garden shed for tools and displays. All gardeners are responsible for maintaining the garden as a whole. The garden has received awards from the City of Laguna Beach, the Laguna Beach Beautification Council, the American Society of Landscape Architects-Southern California Chapter and the California Landscape Contractors Association. Accomplishments:   Successfully administered, organized, and presented a beautiful community garden that is used as a public park, all constructed and maintained by volunteers, with donations from the community.Offered free community workshops on gardening and sustainability. Supported and encouraged two children's garden groups.  Parents and children meet and garden weekly.   Tours for school and youth groups are offered.Provided setting for other groups to hold classes and events, exposing more people to its message and benefits.Held quarterly potluck events open to the community, including music by the Garden Band (donated) and children's activities.Raised $160,000 for garden site acquisition and obtained the support of the Laguna Beach city council for a contribution of $250,000.   Goals:  Continue and strengthen these programs and efforts.Develop and expand education and community outreach programs, including children and adults art and music programs.Solidify a plan for a permanent garden park site and raise funds to accomplish acquisition 

In addition to providing a community garden where seasonal produce can be grown and harvested, we wish to raise the funds to purchase the Garden Park property.  The Garden Property has been on and off the market for years and we committed to raising funds to be able to purchase the Garden Park property when it becomes available.  

The South Laguna Community Garden Park is visited primarily by residents and visitors to Laguna Beach, Zip Code 92651 but also residents of the cities of Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, and San Clemente. The Garden welcomes visitors; it is open to the general public every day.

The South Laguna Community Garden Park Advisory Board Statement: While public agencies such as the City of Laguna Beach and the South Coast Water District assisted after the project was underway, it was the community support and dedication, energy, persistence and foresight that brought the Garden Park into being.  Working with enthusiastic volunteers who do everything from digging holes to sophisticated management, we are committed to the Garden Park. The process has instilled a feeling of confidence that a community in a small way can affect its own environment and destiny. The love and care that goes into the Garden Park is felt by all who participate and visit this beautiful spot. Benefits experienced from the South Laguna Garden Park and its programs: Learning how to grow plants—soils, fertilizers, pest issues, planting from seed, weather impacts, which plants to grow in what season—increases the ability to be more self-sustainable and appreciation for our food and the agriculture that produces it. Growing vegetables changes the diets of families, leading to healthier eating patterns. Beauty inspires. The Garden Park converted a weedy vacant lot into a thriving and attractive garden. It sends an upbeat message to all who pass by and improves the image of the neighborhood and commercial area. Leadership emerges as the garden grows. Challenges to the garden project seemed overwhelming at many steps along the way, but they were overcome with persistence, optimism, the development of community linkages, and the growth of confident leadership. A core leadership group of four has grown to fifteen working in five action committees that meet monthly to manage the ongoing Garden Park programs. Other neighborhoods are inquiring about how the Garden Park was created, and leaders share information on expanding the Garden Park concept to other communities.

South Laguna Community Garden Park is the result of exceptional community vision, leadership and persistence. Inspired by a small temporary community garden created by a resident in 2002, the South Laguna Civic Association (SLCA) was determined to establish a permanent community garden. The main challenge was to find a suitable property.  Finally, in 2009 one property owner agreed to allow temporary use of his property for the Garden Park. One by one subsequent challenges were addressed, all by volunteers: • planning, designing, permitting • building the garden—shed moving, steps, fencing, gates, water system and planter boxes, weeding, terracing, pruning and planting. • developing the educational program—public workshops and children’s garden • reaching out to the community—events; workshops; presentations to groups, councilmembers, city staff and community members; creating brochures, mailers, press releases, website and Facebook page. • administering the garden—insurance, rules, application forms, garden maintenance, orienting new gardeners. • fundraising—events, grants, requests for partial city funding. The biggest challenge now is to fund the acquisition of the Garden Park site. Gardeners, visitors, participants in garden programs, neighbors all appreciate the Garden Park, but funds are needed to purchase the property and “make it a Garden Park for keeps.” Dedicated board members include: Morrie and Barbara Granger, retired UCI scientists see the garden as an opportunity for creativity and building community. Morrie negotiated agreements, and keeps the garden “on track.” Barbara organizes social events, initiated the butterfly garden, and is responsible for artistic touches. Sally Coffey, former garden manager, Golden West College, is in charge of garden administration and interface with the gardeners. Ann Christoph, landscape architect, designed the garden, supervised the installation, organizes garden events and meetings, handles interface with city, and writes and oversees publications and grants. Myron Wacholder, retired emergency room physician, advises new gardeners and grows extra produce that is donated to Friendship Shelter. He is in charge of fundraising, Katie Babcock, communications manager, Environmental Planning and Sustainability Dept., UCI, designed and manages the website. Carly Sciacca, artist, organizes the children’s garden. Tony Bisson, photographer and musician, plays guitar and sings at Garden Park events. Tom Joliet, musician and radio host, coordinates and plays at events, construcs garden features and promotes events. Gayle Joliet, artist and retired teacher, organizes garden calendar, coordinates speakers for workshops, designs posters, and communicates with donors. Ruben Flores, horticulturist, advised on construction, donated gates, irrigation equipment, benches, and plants, helped with fundraisers, keeps the enthusiasm going! Nelson Coates, production designer, designed graphics, décor for fundraisers, sings too. Mike Ouimette, communications and management executive, advises on strategic approaches.