Community garden knowledge grows

Breanne Sorrells of Open Door Community Health Centers, far right, introduces conference attendees to the new community garden at the Del Norte Wellness Center during a community gardens tour. Submitted

The event was sponsored by the Community Clinics Initiative (CCI), a joint project of Tides and The California Endowment, that is also supporting the on-going development of the community garden and playground at the Wellness Center.

CCI grantees from as far away as San Diego joined local community gardeners for a day of learning and sharing about gardening and building garden communities.

The conference offered 10 sessions showcasing the knowledge and experience of community gardeners from Del Norte, Humboldt and Curry counties. Our presenters covered topics from school gardens to aquaponics to planning your garden and menus together.

Joe Gillespie talked about his 18 years of gardening at Crescent Elk Middle School. Erin Derden-Little, Humboldt County’s Farm to School coordinator, taught us how to add wonder to children’s gardens. Jennifer Ewing, a garden instructor from Port Orford, provided a hands-on demonstration of raised bed gardening techniques — including real slug control!

At the end of the day, participants toured school and community gardens in and around Crescent City and met with gardeners at each site. Participants were impressed by our gardens, which is a credit to the gardeners who work hard to grow healthy food for their families at all Crescent City community gardens.

Our local sponsors helped everyone feel welcome, with products donated by OrganicEssence, Eco-Nutrients, Open Door Community Health Centers, the North Coast Clinics Network, North Coast Growers Association, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, and the American Community Gardening Association.

Meals were provided by Bar-O Boys Ranch, Good Harvest, and Vita Cucina.

Our weather mostly cooperated, out-of-town participants loved stepping out of Oceanfront Lodge’s conference room directly onto our beautiful beach, and everyone left with a very positive view of Crescent City.