Since 1978, UC Cooperative Extension's Common Ground Program has made gardening possible for many Los Angeles County residents, particularly low-income and traditionally underrepresented families. The program goals are to improve nutrition; increase access to fresh, low-cost produce; offer gardening education; build bridges between neighbors and communities; help create employment opportunities; and encourage a cleaner, greener Los Angeles.
Families learn how to garden, grow their own food and prepare it in a healthful manner. In addition, the program trains community volunteers and Master Gardeners, who in turn, volunteer their time to community and school gardens.
In 2008, 181 Master Gardeners volunteered 9,272 hours, serving 87,376 low-income gardeners in Los Angeles County at 28 community gardens, 46 school gardens, 15 shelter gardens, 5 senior gardens, and 13 fairs and farmers markets.
To view our brochure, go to Program Brochure.
Master Gardener Fresh from the Garden
Contact Information
Gloria Mitchell, Administrative Assistant
(323) 260-3348
gjmitche@ucdavis.edu
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NEW FOR LA COUNTY RESIDENTS! 2010 Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program
(Must be on either or both of our elists of our program priorities--please see below)
JOIN OUR E-MAIL LISTS
1) Community Gardening and Food Security: E-mail Yvonne Savio (ydsavio@ucdavis.edu) asking to be added to the "Community Gardening and Food Security--LA County Residents" e-mail list.
2) School Gardening: E-mail Yvonne Savio (ydsavio@ucdavis.edu) asking to be added to the "School Gardening--LA County Residents" e-mail list.
Everyone on the local version elists will automatically receive the November email announcement of the following year's Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program for Los Angeles County residents only. Deadline to request an application packet is January 15. Deadline to submit the completed application packet - including LiveScan fingerprinting, background check and payment - is January 31. Notifications, accepted or not, are sent out on February 15. Class is every Saturday in March, April and May, from 9 am to 4 pm in our office. Major criteria for acceptance include previous community service (not necessarily in gardening), passion to help low-income county residents grow and eat more nutritious vegetables, and initiative to network, establish and conduct projects. If accepted into the program, you can miss only one class with prior arrangement.
If you live OUTSIDE Los Angeles County
3) Community Gardening and Food Security: E-mail Yvonne Savio (ydsavio@ucdavis.edu) asking to be added to the "Community Gardening and Food Security--Non-LA County Residents" e-mail list.
4) School Gardening: E-mail Yvonne Savio (ydsavio@ucdavis.edu) asking to be added to the "School Gardening--Non-LA County Residents" e-mail list.
From the campus to the commuity