Regrowth : January 2022 Newsletter
After demolition, The Learning Garden began to take shape again in 2021
In 2017, to make room for a new science and admin building LAUSD chose to demolish the garden and all of its legacy buildings, in entirety. Twenty years of soil health, rare tree and plant species, student gardens, passion projects and memories - destroyed. Amidst the destruction came the pandemic - highlighting the absence of community TLG has fostered for decades in Venice and with VHS.
But in 2021, with limited workdays and covid protocols, we began to heal.
In honor of a new year sure to bring both challenges and possibilities to The Learning Garden, let’s take a look back on some of what was accomplished in 2021 as well as announce exciting new developments slated for 2022.
With the help of our partners and dedicated volunteers, new gardens were erected on devastated and compacted dirt. In January, we started seeding alfalfa throughout the barren field as a cover crop.
Then the Boy Scouts got to work helping to revive the Rose Garden.
A group of knowledgeable and dedicated ladies designed the Native California Garden and the Bio-Intensive Garden project continued.
In February the Artemisia Spiral was created by the TCM Crew and the Ayurvedic Garden Took form.
In March we got our first load of wood chips! Things were starting to come together. Paths were laid and the garden started to come to life. The Rainbow Garden was cleared of old raised beds.
April brought the Three Sisters Garden and the Chef’s garden - growing everything from basil to parsley to Greek oregano and everything in between. Next up, Za’atar.
In June, Mr. Bailey was hired as the new horticulture teacher and got to working getting things ready for the VHS students!
In September the fiber arts garden was planted.
October brought the pumpkin patch and a very scary scarecrow (if you know, you know)!
November saw the planting of the ancient grains garden and in December it finally rained!
In January, we celebrated in the garden by pouring tea and announcing the development of the tea garden!
What’s Next
We’re looking forward to build more gardens and build out our programming (virtual for now). Catch us at the Green Tent at the Mar Vista Farmers Market January 30th and lettuce love you! A planting frenzy has given us 100s of organic Frizzy Headed Woman seedlings. Come say hi and bring one home!
There’s so much to look forward to.
We’re going to continue to build back the garden. But we need the help of our community. In 2022, let’s #regrowthegarden together.