By Kim Glazzard
With the continuing escalation of national and global economic challenges, many Sacramentans not only wonder what the future holds, but also at what point they may need to worry about having money for basics such as food to feed their families. Sacramentans are blessed, however, to be located in the middle of one of the most abundant agricultural meccas of the country (if not the world), at the confluence of two rivers and with a climate which supports a nearly 365-day growing season. They are in an ideal position to take control of their situation and turn the treasure of Sacramento’s rich river-bottom soil into food for their dinnerplates.
At the forefront of a movement to see vegetables pave the front, side, and back yards where grass is traditionally grown, the City of Sacramento, Organic Sacramento, and the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition are spearheading a large-scale movement
Transitioning conventional lawns into edible organic landscapes and gardens where our valuable water resources can be conserved through sustainable water irrigation practices and with an end-product of food rather than mere aesthetics, not only makes sense, but is a win-win-win-win situation. Increased gardens can reduce Sacramento’s green-waste generation, conserve precious water resources, reduce stormwater and chemical runoff, as well as provide fresh and healthy food for Sacramento families.
As an initial orientation phase, the City of Sacramento launched their "Grow Gardens Grow" campaign on April 18 with a total of four introductory garden trainings throughout the city during April and early May. This year Sacramento plans to sponsor a series of additional free gardening classes and workshops on various topics such as soil structure, vegetable gardens, drought tolerant plants, water conservation, mulching, composting and much much more.
Sacramento’s Community Garden Coordinator Bill Maynard explains "We want to give people the basic tools and encouragement to try to grow things. Everybody thinks they have a brown thumb and can’t do it, but the most important thing is to just get out there and try."
Like any worthwhile endeavor, gardening has its own learning curve, but the pure joy of eating fruits and vegetables that you grow yourself is well worth the nominal effort and investment in time and resources that it takes to be successful. Additionally, growing gardens can help address major health and obesity concerns by allowing Sacramentans access to the greatest nutritional value of freshly picked produce—right off the vine. Gardens can also help build and rejuvenate communities, beautify neighborhoods, and reduce an area’s carbon footprint.
How much food can be grown in a normal yard, you might ask? While advanced bio-intensive methods and compost teas can greatly improve the quality and quantity of produce, food yields primarily depend on basic variables such as the health and composition of the soil, access to sunlight, and attentive care and watering. These "anti-depression" or "prosperity" gardens need not be considered incidental however, as the Victory Gardens of World War II produced nearly 40% of our country’s food at the time.
While the City of Sacramento is taking the lead, Organic Sacramento, the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition (
www.saccommunitygardens.org), as well as other community organizations, are all working to mobilize this effort through outreach and education, arranging supplementary classes and workshops, in addition to initiating sample prototype gardens throughout the greater Sacramento community.Who knows, but if this "garden in every yard" movement takes hold and Sacramentans are able to significantly help supplement their monthly food budgets, there may again be a sense of hope and empowerment to reestablish at least a semblance of control over Sacramento’s economic future.
For additional gardening information, go to w
ww.organicsacramento.org.
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