Green Space Public Workshop, Wednesday, May 9, 7:00-8:30pm, Garden Room, Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Ave. (at Culver Blvd.).

Open to all who use Culver City parks, paths, and open spaces.

Participants will learn and share ideas about the types of passive recreation, or wellness activities, they would like to see and do in the City’s parks and open spaces. This is an important chance for the public to exchange ideas: Subsequent workshops will focus on preliminary designs for possible eco- and people-friendly improvements.

This project is a collaboration of North East Trees, the City of Culver City, the Culver City Unified School District, Ballona Creek Renaissance, and the Green Space Advisory Committee. Learn more about the plan here.

The Bike Corral came in handy as the TCC Bike Tour of the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase  arrived en masse at the first garden on their itinerary.

After lemonade and snacks, the group settled in for TCC’s presentation, “D.I.Y.: Yes You Can! Creative Lawn Conversions on a Budget.”   Attendees picked up some helpful tips for finding inexpensive and creative ways to convert a conventional lawn into a drought-tolerant landscape.

This Showcase location exemplifies the D.I.Y. philosophy:  it features a bistro-style patio hardscape, “urbanite” terraces, meandering flagstone walkways and a homemade park bench, dwarf fruit trees & stealth edibles mixed in with drought tolerant natives, plus two methods of rainwater capture—all accomplished D.I.Y. and under strict budgetary parameters (everything cheap, recycled, or free!).

The TCC bike caravan then rode five blocks west to the next Showcase garden on their itinerary, Yuling’s fabulous Chinese herbal garden, before heading to points beyond. Perhaps a full report of the Bike Tour will appear here soon…

Below is some information from the hand-out from D.I.Y. presentation,  including resource links… Enjoy!

• • •
D.I.Y.: Yes You Can! Creative Lawn Conversions On a Budget
(Recycled • Used • Repurposed • Unwanted & Abandoned: It’s All Good!)
Presented by Transition Culver City
Saturday, April 21, 2012 • 11:30 a.m.

Design:

•1st Step is Observation: How does nature function on your property thru the seasons? (sun, wind, water).
• Identify your Zones around your home & personal usage patterns
• Will the project be gradual, step-wise, or a grand transformation?

Gathering Materials:

SOIL, COMPOST, MULCH, & OTHER HARDSCAPING MATERIALS:
• Neighbors, Noticing Your Environment, Word of Mouth in the Community
• Freecycle, Craig’s List, Free Green Exchange, etc.
• Our Time Bank: Sharing Economy (from materials urbanite to tool borrowing)
• Free Mulch & Compost from LA City
• Mulch: Ask local tree trimming companies working in your neighborhood
• Soil: look for local remodel activity
• Venice Learning Garden (donations appreciated) — mulch & compost

THE PLANTS:
• Sharing clippings & seeds with neighbors
• Venice Learning Garden — just ask what needs cleaning up… and reap the benefits by leaving with clippings & rootballs
• Seed Library of Los Angeles (SLOLA) — non-GMO, heirloom seed — come swap & learn about seed saving!
• Unlabeled plants at the gardening shops— deep discounts
• Once again, Freecycle, Craig’s List, Free Green Exchange, etc.

Repurposed & Make It Yourself Items:

• “Stacking Functions” = many yields from a single element
Examples: Benches, bistro planters, pavers, bamboo trellises and gates, “hugelkultur,” greenhouse.

Getting The Work Done:

• Work parties — Barn Raising Style
• Our Time Bank — work trade
• Teen or college-student labor from the neighborhood or recommended by friends

What does it REALLY mean for a school to be right next to a freeway?

Advocates 4 Cleaner Air: El Marino invites the Culver City community to this documentary screening and discussion about an issue that affects all the people—young and old—who spend their weekdays  at El Marino Elementary which is adjacent to the 405 Freeway.

The 21 minute documentary film will be followed by a community Q&A discussion featuring an AQMD representative and a UCLA scientist who is an expert in roadway air pollution issues.

The Right To Breathe
DOCUMENTARY & COMMUNITY DISCUSSION
Wednesday, April 25

6:30 – 8:00 pm
El Marino Auditorium • 11450 Port Rd • Culver City, CA 90230

There is free childcare for potty-trained children available in t he EM library. For questions or to RSVP for childcare, please email A4CAEM@gmail.com

Join us on a bike tour of the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase on Saturday, April 21st, 2012, including a FREE D.I.Y. presentation!

TCC Bicycle Meet-Up:
11:00 a.m.
The fountain in front of Vet’s Park
(corner of Culver & Overland)

Our first stop on the Tour is House #5H (see description), for refreshments & a presentation by TCC:

 D.I.Y.: Yes You Can!
Creative Lawn Conversions on a Budget
11:30 a.m.
11375 Matteson Ave., LA 90066 

TCC's D.I.Y. Presentation @ the 2011 MV Green Garden Showcase

Bike Parking provided for the TCC Bike Tour!

This year’s D.I.Y. presentation by members of TCC will include creative ideas, resources & encouragement for converting a conventional lawn to a drought-tolerant landscape without breaking your budget. This location exemplifies the D.I.Y. philosophy: it features a bistro-style patio hardscape, ”urbanite” terraces, meandering flagstone walkways & a homemade park bench, dwarf fruit trees & stealth edibles mixed in with drought tolerant natives, plus two methods of rainwater capture—all done D.I.Y. & under strict budgetary parameters (everything cheap, recycled, or free!).

Thursday, April 12, 2012
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Samosa House East
10700 W. Washington Blvd.
Culver City 90232
call 310-390-3021 to RSVP

Learn about the worldwide Transition movement and network with locals who are seeking to create a positive future. You are welcome to bring event ideas for communal brainstorming.

BAG IT is a humorous yet penetrating documentary that investigates the effects of plastics on our waterways, oceans, and even our bodies. 

Assemblymember Holly J. Mitchell and the 47th Environment Cabinet invite you to a FREE local movie screening of the documentary BAG IT! , followed by a discussion.

BAG IT!
FREE Movie Screening
Friday, April 13th, 2012
Doors open @ 7 pm, Movie starts @ 7:30 pm
Discussion @ 8:30 pm
West LA College
ATA 128 (Theatre Room)
9000 Overland Ave, Culver City
(convenient parking in Lot #5)

For more info or to RSVP, phone 310-342-1070
or email: Sidney.Kamlager@asm.ca.gov
Co-sponsored by L.A. Green Machine

TRAILER: http://www.bagitmovie.com/

News from the Green Space Action Committee:

The Community Input phase is almost complete (survey closes Sunday April 1).
But there’s still time to voice your opinions:

Here’s a some background about the program from the North East Trees website:

Our Transition neighbors in Mar Vista/Venice are hosting this wonderful community event in honor of the Mayor’s Day of Service to celebrate together while raising awareness around food localization.

100-MILE MEAL: Community Potluck
March 31, 2012
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
The Learning Garden @ Venice High 

Did you know? The average American meal travels 1,500 miles from the farm to your table? Not only does local produce taste better, it’s better for you too! and it saves wear-and-tear on the planet. Positive initiatives to localize our communiy food resources are happening right now on the westside. Come find out what’s going on while sharing a feast with friends old and new.

The 100-Mile Meal gives us the opportunity to stop and ask where each ingredient that we take for granted comes from. We will gather in the beautiful Venice Learning Garden to share our recipes and resources to build a new world, one meal at a time. Think Global. Buy Local!

Your Challenge: Prepare a dish with the intent of using all or most  of the ingredients grown from within 100 miles of your home. Homegrown counts double! See how much you can minimize the carbon footprint of your potluck offering, and be ready to share the tale! —Include a label detailing the source of your ingredients and the recipe.

Note: 100-mile radius spans from Bakersfield to San Diego.

What to Bring

• potluck item to serve 8 (main dish, side dish, vegetable, salad, bread, drink, or dessert)
• comprehensive label detailing the source of your ingredients
• a copy of your recipe to share
• your own dishes and cutlery (encouraged)
• reusable water bottle
• sunscreen

Getting There
The Learning Garden at Venice High School is located at Venice Blvd and Walgrove Ave. Enter the garden from Walgrove, through the chain link gate located between Venice and Zanja.

Please consider walking, biking, taking the 33 or 733 Metro bus on Venice Boulevard, or carpooling to the event. (If you do bring a car, there is street parking on Walgrove and Zanja).

L E A R N  •  S H A R E  •  C O N N E C T

Packing up the bags at a recent Produce Exchange. Photo by Inga Ornelas

Broccoli makes its first appearance at the Exchange! Photo by Inga Omelas

The Westside Produce Exchange is a monthly gathering of people sharing the abundance from their gardens with each other. The core purpose of the produce exchange is to reduce food waste and ensure that the bounty of our yards can provide sustenance for others.

Last month was a record-breaking exchange, including 3 kinds of oranges, 2 kinds of lemons, limes, grapefruit, kumquats, broccoli (a first for WPE!), leeks, swiss chard, mustard greens, baby bok choy, lettuce, arugula, italian dandelion greens, escarole, sorrell, celery, parsley, cilantro, mint, thyme, oregano and lemongrass with roots attached so they could be replanted at home… quite a haul!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Here’s what you do if you’d like to participate.  First – and above all else – SEND AN EMAIL to westsideproduce@gmail.com with:
• what produce you’ll have to contribute this Saturday
• whether you’d like to volunteer to bag or deliver
• whether you will be picking up your bag or need delivery
• include your address and phone number so Naomi can figure out delivery schedules

To be included in this Saturday’s exchange, Naomi will need to hear back from you by this THURSDAY (March 8th) at NOON.
Once she knows who’s in, she’ll send out a final details email to all responding participants by Friday, including confirmations for those of you wishing to bag or deliver.

Participants will drop off their bags of produce at The Venice Learning Garden the morning of March 10th between 9 am – NOON.

The Learning Garden is located at Walgrove Ave & Venice Blvd. Enter from Walgrove through the chain link gate, between Venice and Zanja.

Bagging volunteers will be needed to count everything and redistribute it at NOON, and delivery volunteers will be needed to deliver at 2:00. Each driver will only have 2 deliveries to make, all nearby, and I will try to pair drivers with drop-off close to their homes.

WHAT TO EXCHANGE:
1. Fresh organic produce: fruits, vegetables, or edible herbs. We will NOT be taking non-edible herbs such as burning sage, many people do not know what to do with non-edibles, and they can be confusing and problematic. This is about free TASTY produce!
2. Fresh beautiful vase-ready flowers (no weeds, fillers, or quick-wilters, please!)
3. Fresh baked goods, preserves, or other individual prepared food items. Not everyone has fresh produce all year round, and we are happy to receive the bounty of your kitchen as well. However, if you go this route, you MUST pre-package each item individually for easy and clean distribution. No sheet trays of brownies or sacks of cookies.

Each bag of produce dropped off should be labeled with the participant’s name, phone number, and address.

Contact westsideproduce@gmail.com to participate and/or to get on the mailing list for this fabulous monthly exchange! Also read an article about the exchange in the Whole Life Times blog here.

See a video clip >>

Our recent Work Party on 1/28/2012 dedicated to learning how to make a Rain Barrel Overflow Rain Garden was a bountiful success! Since the project was a “hybrid” of active and passive urban rainwater harvesting (active catchment in tanks combined with passive diversion into a basin) there were many learning opportunities for the 17 volunteers who helped out over the course of the day.

Since building community is a key Transition principle, the “connecting” or “party” aspect of the day was planned with as much care as the work component. Luckily, the project was a joint venture between Transition Culver City and Transition Mar Vista/Venice which meant many helping hands from planning stages to clean-up! The front yard’s hardscape with its two decks encouraged social cross-pollinating: Since the actual work area was narrow, volunteers frequently rotated out of the work zone to visit and lounge on the cool shady deck. The adjacent sunny deck (beautifully abloom with jasmine!) was a popular place to sit and browse through the collective library of gardening, permaculture and Transition books. Plus the food! Homebaked banana nut muffins and tea in the morning and a beautiful organic vegetarian lunch of pita wraps & greek salad with lemonade was appreciated by the entire crew.

But back to the work component:

The project was coordinated by landscape architect John Tikotsky, an advocate of the Transition movement here in L.A.. John smoothly kept the volunteer crew moving from task to task and also took advantage of naturally unfolding teaching moments.

Transition friend Paul Herzog of Surfrider Foundation also came with shovel in hand to work as well as share about Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Gardens program. According to Paul, urban runoff is a primary source of ocean pollution. The OFG program teaches homeowners how to apply “CPR” (Conservation, Permeability, and Retention) to their garden to help revive our local watershed and ocean.

PASSIVE COLLECTION: Recharge the groundwater
Whenever rainwater can be diverted from a residential roof into a designated area, it helps our ecosystem by replenishing the local aquifer. In this case, the designated unresolved landscape area became a mulch pit fed by the overflow from rainwater tanks.

The day began with helpers plunging into the heavy labor: digging & sculpting the reservoir and berms to create a passive groundwater recharge zone. Thanks to the previous weekend’s heavy rains, digging the mulch pit went quickly and smoothly; in less than an hour, a lovely shape emerged from what had previously been a flat sloping hardpan surface. The crew also made a trench to hide the subsurface diverter pipe. Later, cobblestones were placed at the mouth of the diverter for a lovely babbling brook effect (next time it rains!) and the reservoir was filled with mulch. With this simple and natural passive rainwater collection technique, the homeowners are now able to slow down the rain and let it soak in on the spot instead of flow downhill to the street.

ACTIVE COLLECTION: capture the rain from your roof
Since this family opted for some unusual vertical “water wall” storage tanks instead of the classic rain barrels, the project became an engineering puzzle for the group as they figured out how to daisychain the elevated tanks, create the pvc angles and drill the overflow diverters into place. There were many unexpected spontaneous teaching moments such as how to glue pvc pipe w/ epoxy, how to pour a concrete footing so that wood is not in contact with the soil, and how to use a level to assure best gravity flow. John Tikotsky also provided attendee’s with a guide on how to calculate your own roof’s water-catching capacity.

Additional site-specific challenges — what to grow?
The area where the new reservoir and berms reside is directly under a swath of deep shade from the parkway magnolias. Over the years the homeowners had found this downhill slope to be stubbornly unplantable. But thanks to the efforts of the volunteer work crew, the space is now leveled off with a nicely mulched reservoir for water retention. The plan was to plant edibles into the berm surrounding the mulch pit. But what kind of native CA edibles can handle such deep shade? Research revealed that in the wild, currants & gooseberries (Ribes family) thrive and bear fruit under oak tree overstories. Though currants and gooseberries are a popular fruit in Europe they are largely overlooked as an edible in the U.S. Now the beginnings of a golden currant food forest is growing in east Mar Vista!

Baking Work Party, anyone?
A great big thank you to all who helped make this happen—we couldn’t and wouldn’t have done this without you! Stop by any time to survey your hard work. And we’ll definitely let you know when it’s time to bake some currant tarts together!