The Giving Garden - July 2009

Life has been so full! I apologize for not keeping this blog updated. I had the best intentions but haven't been consistent with uploading the progress.

So, here are some pics of what our lovely garden looks like right now. Thank you SO much to everyone that contributed to making it beautiful!


Thanks to:
Gidget Granillo - for always saying yes, except for one time
Will Shivers - you were such an inspiration at the inception of this project
Alfie Granillo - for her ability to work more and harder than anyone I've ever met AND for growing plants from seed! This lady can do anything!
Mac Maker - for your support and creative inspiration
Juan Marcial - for your excitement and muscles!
Thais Camacho - for being part of our 2nd mulching and giving us the biggest bad-ass tomato plant in the garden
Laura Shape and Stuart Scanlon - for donating the lovely river rocks that are grace our raised bed and border the bamboo
Simone Schulz - for flying in and doing things when no one is looking
Pamela Huezo - for lugging some rocks and constant words of encouragement, support and love
Sandra and Sofi Valenica-Braver - helping to build the raised bed and loving on the garden
Jessica Viola - for the passion fruit vine, design advice, nursery run and constant support. You are an inspiration
Anna Cummings and Marcus Ericksen - for our beautiful crystal that was the first to grace our fire-pit ring and for the visiting worms
Monica Granados - for showing up on work days and willing to help with anything
Chris Noell - for planting, building, driving and supporting our garden
Feather El - for your yummy treats and your wonderful spirit
Fei and his fellow students and Doug - you guys rock...the bamboo is growing
Todd Steiner - helping us with our fire-pit area
Refugio Mata - helping to build the raised bed
Sara Laimon and Whakpaingia - helping with mulching, donating a tomato plant and thanks for digging those holes W!
Ray Cirino - helping with the fire-pit area, and of course, your endless genius ideas!
George Szabo - helping with the fire-pit area, the POD and of course for your smile
Sam - helping out with the fire-pit area
Vivian Farley - helping out with the fire-pit area, POD help and your wonderfulness
Veronica - helping with the fire-pit area
Eric Anderson - helping with the fire-pit area and your knowledge that you so readily share!
Alex Gorosh - for helping with the fire-pit area and your sense of humor....love playing with you...so much fun!
Antonio G-r - for our black mats. We love playing acro yoga under the tree!
Gabriel Avenna - for helping off load the mulch and your pumpkin, berries, artichoke and mystery plant donations. AND your willingness to answer ALL my gardening questions (even when you don't know the answers)!
and Brighid - your generous donations are flourishing in our beautiful garden!

The Giving Garden Projects

Organic Garden (currently mulching)
Community Garden (currently mulching)
PODS (Ray Cirino's design)
Laying down stone floor around fire pit (in process)
Mural above Organic Garden (scheduled to paint in Mid-January - help us make this a reality)
Greenhouse
Composting station
Cobb Benches
Rocket Stove
Rain Water Catchment System
Grey Water System
Solar Panels
Outdoor Shower
Outdoor Composting Toilet

Currently asking for contributions: plants, fruit trees, gardening tools, solar panels, 50 gallon barrels for rain water collection and carpenters, plumbers and all around jack-of-all-trade types please come and share your knowledge.

We rely on the expertise of our friends. Any input, thoughts, and/or muscle you're willing to share is much appreciated! Please let us know how you would like to contribute.

The Giving Garden

The Giving Garden is a new project under the Green Ambassdor program.
Our mission is to provide sustainable living education to the community. The Giving Garden provides the community with a hands on approach to learning about growing organic food, permaculture landscaping, cobb building, rainwater system, rocket stove, solar panels and more. Projects are ongoing and free to the public.

Students that work on the garden receive community service hours.

Donate to the Giving Garden for a free tax write off.

We are accepting: seeds, mature fruit trees and plants, gardening tools and gloves, building resources - hay, sand, clay, stones, wood, wire meshing, recycled rubber flooring, landscape fabric, wood window boxes etc.

We accept any materials that you think may benefit our project.

For mural project: paint, brushes, buckets, your hands and creativity to make the project possible.

We also accept money donations. All proceeds go to the Giving Garden Projects.

Removing Ficus trees from the front yard and getting ready for sheet mulching.

Took us about 4 hours but the end result was worth it! I was so giddy all day. We had a great time!

Laying the wet cardboard down.






























Pre-soaking cardboard - Ray Cirino' suggestion. Saving water. Otherwise, we would have to water for 2 hours to throughly saturate the cardboard and the soil.