For more than 30 years, UC Cooperative Extension's Common Ground Garden Program has made gardening possible for many Los Angeles County residents, particularly low-income and traditionally under-represented 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.
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
EMAIL LISTS
To receive more information on food security and community gardening within and beyond Los Angeles County (includes throughout the country), please email Yvonne Savio (ydsavio@ucdavis.edu) asking to be added to the "Community Gardening and Food Security--LA County residents" email list. (Recipients on this list receive all community gardening and food security mailings.)
To receive more information on food security and community gardening outside Los Angeles County, please email Yvonne Savio (ydsavio@ucdavis.edu) asking to be added to the "Community Gardening and Food Security--non-LA County residents" email list. (Recipients on this list receive only non-Los Angeles County items.)
To receive more information on school gardening within and beyond
To receive more information on school gardening outside Los Angeles County, please email Yvonne Savio (ydsavio@ucdavis.edu) asking to be added to the "School Gardening--non-LA County residents" email list. (Recipients on this list receive only non-Los Angeles County items.)
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 and 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 9am-4pm 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.
From the campus to the commuity