The Garden Voice
The current leadership has not been able to contain the fees at the garden. The current leadership has been in place for about 2 years.
If you are un/happy with the current garden leadership make sure to vote this September 2023. If you miss this voting session, then the next time to vote won’t happen for another 2 years in 2025. Together we can be the change you want to see.
Since the reopening of the San Pedro Community Gardens (SPCGs) the fees have increased dramatically. There are more groups involved in the management and need to be compensated for their work. Mainly, the increase is due to the water fees assessed at the garden Section level. Currently, there is no system where bigger plots using more water are charged for more usage as compared to a smaller garden, or an area with less sections or water usage. Keep this in mind as you review the garden fees:
Garden Membership fee: $30/year
Water fee (assessed quarterly) but now fixed at: $20/month ($60/quarter or $240/year)
Total Annual fee: $240 + $30 = $270
Yearly Cost: $270
This is the mailing address for LA Community Garden Council.
LA Community Garden Council
PO Box 147
Cypress, CA 90630-9998
Make checks payable to: LA Community Garden Council
On your check write down in the memo section your section/submeter/plot # + [your name]
Currently, gardeners do not receive any bill or notification of dues other than at meetings. You can pay quarterly or yearly.
If you fail to pay you will receive a verbal communication from your section leader, then a letter will be mailed, and lastly a violation notice will be posted on your garden informing you of garden lock-out.
Previously, the main purpose of this website was to advocate for changes to make the garden a better place. The challenge with the city over the Water Wars turned our mission to advocacy for regular water. Without water gardening was impossible. We also advocated for the need to have more autonomy over garden decisions.
Some of these issues were addressed with the closing of the gardens for the installing the new irrigation system.
The other issue was the questionable management of the gardens by the haphazard garden leadership. To help with this, two non-profits were brought in by the city to help – From Lott To Spot, and LA Community Garden Council. For a fee, they are assisting us with the administration of the garden, including dues, payments, improvements, and leadership.
Moving forward advocacy will still be in the fore-front of our mission, but we realize the important of having an Oversight function as well. Since there are some many parties now involved in the decision-making process it is vital to ensure the leadership is held responsible for their decisions and make ensure that they represent the gardeners.
We will now also function as an Oversight Board to ensure not only the garden leadership is held to account, but also, the other parties involved including, and not limited to LA Community Garden Council, the City, the Major’s office, LA Sanitation, et al. With out proper follow up it is very easy for commitments to fall through the cracks. The start of an Oversight Board will make sure the rules and regulations are being fairly and consistently being applied. Everyone will be able to bring their issues to this website and discuss any violations, inconsistencies and other inequitable issues that will arise in the future. This site will serve as an independent and anonymous way to bring issues to the fore-front so they can be addressed.
Join the Board by emailing your interest to: spcogardens@gmail.com
If you have an issue, please bring it up. If this has happened to you, then prevent it from happening again – do not remain silent.
You can remain anonymous if you like. Please report any issue you think should be addressed here: spcogardens@gmail.com
Each season has its unique watering needs. Combined with light winter rains and decreased sunshine the ground remains wet longer.
The California drought has added more strain on the water needs and the goal of water conservation in the garden becomes very important.
Combining all these factors, plus the fact that gardeners are now responsible for sharing their cost of the water usage, the watering hours have been adjusted as follows:
Mon, Wed, Sat:
Mornings: 6am – 10am
Evenings : 3pm – 6pm
“gardeners are now responsible for paying their cost of the water usage which varies from month-to-month based on each gardeners water usage.”
Paul Pudhnum
Acting Garden President
For most up-to-date information about watering schedules can be found here, and postings will also be made a the garden.
This schedule will be changed each season to reflect the appropriate water needs for that specific growing season. This schedule is also subject to change due to new water conservations rules, leadership discretion, or emergency maintenance.
Please email (spcogardens@gmail.com) water comments/issues to the garden leadership.
The garden reopening date of March 1, 2020, as stated by the Joe Buscaino’s office, is delayed. We are near the the end of March, one month after the date the City announced the gardens would reopen. There still remains is no word on when the gardens will reopen.
The coronavirus has hampered everyone’s lives including the installation of the water piping and therefor the opening of the garden.
As of few weeks ago, I did see workers installing water piping. Now the gardens are complete closed off.
There have been no updates from the city or the groups involved in the renovation of the garden. Many are working from home so updates and communication is possible. They need to commit to updates as gardeners would like to get back to gardening in the fresh air.
These parties have a responsibility to gardens as well as being good custodians to update and communicate the status to us gardeners. Existing in silo in this age of technology is unacceptable.
Times are challenging, but good people rise to the challenge to help others.
If you have info send it to us, so it can be posted here.
Even though the garden has been closed since about August 1, 2019, there were no signs of any work being done.
Beginning on about January 7, 2020 there were finally construction signs posted and people doing work to install new water piping for the garden.
This is the official website for the San Pedro Community Gardens (SPCG). Please check back for updates.
