Happy New Year to all friends of Milagro Allegro!
This month marks my ‘farewell’ to Milagro Allegro Community Garden as I transition to dedicating my attention to a new community project – LA Sprouts.
As the founding director of Milagro Allegro, it has truly been a gift to serve the Highland Park and Los Angeles gardening communities and beyond. We have accomplished many incredible feats in our short history at Milagro beginning with building the garden in and of itself; developing a rich community educational programming; sponsoring community workdays; working with students; hosting seed, seedling and fruit tree giveaways and much, much, more! (check out the many pages of posts on the Milagro website for more of a flavor of our incredible accomplishments!) From approximately four years ago when the garden was just a dream to the current day, I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know so many dedicated, passionate and talented individuals. The only greater gift than being able to develop such a significant project has been the seeing the community flourish with the resources provided in Milagro Allegro. While any departure has its bittersweet aspects, I know that there is much more important work ahead to improve the health of our communities.
LA Sprouts, which has been in development over the last several months, will build four school gardens to host our after-school nutrition/cooking and gardening program aimed at reducing the risk of childhood obesity in youth. With my colleagues, I showed that our 2010 LA Sprouts pilot program was effective in reducing the rate of weight gain and blood pressure, in increasing intake of fiber and vegetables, and in impacting attitudes and motivations about healthy eating.
LA Sprouts kicks off this February at Monte Vista Elementary School on Ave 54 and Monte Vista in Highland Park, just a few blocks from Milagro Allegro. LA Sprouts will be funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health; Farmlab, a project of the Metabolic Studio,
a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation under the direction of Artist and Foundation Director Lauren Bon; and the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council.
Follow our progress at www.LASprouts.org and please continue to stay in touch nicole.gatto@lasprouts.org
Wishing you the best in 2012!
Nicole M. Gatto, MPH, PhD
August 21 – Organic Sundays, 5pm and Garden Swap, 6pm
September 10, 11, 24 & 25 – Grow LA Victory Garden Fall 2011 class offering
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August 21 – Organic Sundays, 5pm and Garden Swap, 6pm
Milagro Allegro welcomes two special guests, Megan Bomba and David King, for this month’s Organic Sundays which will focus on saving seeds.
Saving seeds encourages diversity of plant species, preserves a tradition of cultivating heirloom gardens, and allows you to share your garden legacy with your community. Join Megan Bomba, as she teaches this relatively easy and satisfying process. This lecture will cover the general principles, followed by specific vegetable seed saving techniques. David King, from Seed Library of Los Angeles will also be joining us and will give us the opportunity to join SLOLA and check out seeds from his mobile seed library!
What: “Organic Sundays” & “Garden Swap”
When: Sunday, August 21, 2011
Where: Milagro Allegro Community Garden
Time: 5pm Organic Sundays
6pm Garden Swap
(Spanish Translation provided)
Please bring your own canvas bags to take your swapped goods home! Suggested donation $10, no one turned away for lack of funds.
A $10 lifetime SLOLA membership lets you borrow seeds FREE, grow them out, enjoy the bounty, then return a like quantity of seeds at season’s end.
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September 10, 11, 24 & 25 – Grow LA Victory Garden Fall 2011 class offering
Learn to grow your own vegetables quickly and easily in containers, in your backyard or at a community garden. Join together with local families and neighborhoods to share your experiences, skills and produce.
Participants will be able to turn this new interest in gardening into successful, productive gardens that will generate positive changes in their homes by helping to lower grocery bills and enhance opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods.
Highland Park residents who wish to register or for more information, please contact Milli Macen-Moore, at (800) 863-5476, or milli@modern-sustainability.com. The Highland Park course will cost $20 per workshop, or $75 for the four-class series.
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News of LA Sprouts results as summarized on USC’s website
Latino children who participated in an interventional gardening, nutrition and cooking program experienced significant health improvements, including lower body mass index and lower blood pressure, according to a study by researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the UCLA School of Public Health.
The research, led by Jaimie Davis of the Keck School and Nicole Gatto of UCLA, resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure, an increase in fiber intake and a drop in body mass index and rate of weight gain among children who participated in the 12-week L.A. Sprouts program. According to Davis, this is the first research to look at the effects of a gardening program on obesity measures. The research is published in the August edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
“There has been a grassroots movement across America for a garden-based approach to nutrition, but not a lot of hard science on outcomes,” said Davis, assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School. “It surprised me that this intervention worked as well as some of our clinical metabolic studies. We’re happy that a more community-based intervention based on gardening and cooking worked so well.”
Previous research by the USC Childhood Obesity Research Center indicates that more than 50 percent of Latino children in Los Angeles are overweight and more than 30 percent have health issues that may lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular problems later in life. This population tends to eat a lot of refined grains and added sugar but few fruits and vegetables.
The study followed 100 mostly low-income Latino fourth- and fifth-graders at a nearby Los Angeles elementary school who were participating in L.A.’s BEST, an after-school enrichment program. L.A. Sprouts brought 34 students once a week to the Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park for 90-minute educational sessions focusing on cooking, gardening and nutrition. Seventy other students were controls.
Students participating in L.A. Sprouts learned easy, healthy recipes, as well as tips for adding healthier foods to their diets, how much hidden sugar is in sodas and other beverages, and other food information. A University of California Cooperative Extension master gardener taught students the basics of gardening. Students also were given vouchers by the Old L.A. Farmers Market and traveled monthly to the market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for their families.
Students’ dietary habits, weight, blood pressure, attitudes toward food and classroom engagement were measured at the beginning and end of the 12 weeks. Compared to controls, the L.A. Sprouts children charted a 5 percent decrease in diastolic blood pressure and a 22 percent increase in consumption of dietary fiber. Participating overweight children saw a 1 percent decrease in body mass index compared to a 1 percent increase in body mass index in the control group, while overweight L.A. Sprouts participants only gained two pounds compared to an average of more than four pounds by children in the control group.
L.A. Sprouts participants also showed a 16 percent increase in overall preference for vegetables. Participants’ view of their ability to cook and garden changed, and most children believed fruits and vegetables from the garden tasted better than store-bought fruits and vegetables.
“Kids feel more invested when they know where the food comes from,” Davis said. “They find that vegetables taste better if they grow them, pick them, cook them and eat them. Being more involved in processes makes them feel proud of themselves.”
On the horizon is a USC Childhood Obesity Research Center study involving four Northeast Los Angeles elementary schools that will measure the effect of a gardening intervention on school performance, dietary intake, body mass index, type 2 diabetes risk factors and metabolic syndrome, Davis said.
The study was supported by the USC Childhood Obesity Research Center and the Kaiser Permanente Foundation, as well as volunteer efforts by USC and UCLA preventive health and public health students, the Milagro Allegro Community Garden, South Central Farmers, Whole Foods Arroyo Parkway (Pasadena), Old L.A. Farmers Market, Homegirl Café, Slow Food Los Angeles and L.A.’s BEST.
This month’s topic: “Forest, Orchard, Landscape, Garden, and Us” with Consulting Arborist, Ecological Landscape Designer, and Gardening Expert, C. Darren Butler.
Since 2005, as a teacher, speaker, designer, and consultant, Darren Butler has been at the forefront of the movement in Southern California toward ecologically sane stewardship of our landscapes, gardens, and trees. In this special presentation he will cover a broad range of ideas and topics with interrelated scientific, philosophical, practical, and spiritual approaches to growing food, solving plant and tree problems, developing living soil, and managing everyday problems with our plants and landscapes using ecofriendly methods. Lecture to be followed by questions and open discussion.
What: “Organic Sundays” & “Garden Swap”
When: Sunday, July 17, 2011
Where: Milagro Allegro Community Garden
Time: 5pm Organic Sundays
6pm Garden Swap
(Spanish Translation provided)
Please bring your own canvas bags to take your swapped goods home! Suggested donation $10, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Garden News: *Exciting new project born out of Milagro Allegro! *New volunteer opportunity at Milagro.
May 22 – Organic Sundays, 5pm and Garden Swap, 6pm
May 21 & 22 – Grow LA Victory Garden class final weekend of series
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May 22 – Organic Sundays, 5pm and Garden Swap, 6pm
May’s Organic Sundays topic is “worm tea”. Don’t know what to feed your organic vegetables this summer? Learn the benefits of worm tea and how to brew your own at home for pennies! Suggested donation $10; no one turned away for lack of funds. Spanish translation provided.
The Garden Swap is back so don’t forget to bring your extra seeds, seedlings, produce, compost, magazines/books, preserves, baked goods & everything to do with organic gardening! Swap will begin immediately after Organic Sundays.
Please bring your own canvas bags to take your swapped goods home!
Sunday, May 22nd, 5pm Organic Sundays & 6pm Garden Swap
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May 21 & 22 – Grow LA Victory Garden classes final weekend of series!
Learn to grow your own vegetables quickly and easily in containers, in your backyard or at a community garden. Join together with local families and neighborhoods to share your experiences, skills and produce.
Participants will be able to turn this new interest in gardening into successful, productive gardens that will generate positive changes in their homes by helping to lower grocery bills and enhance opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods.
Highland Park residents who wish to register or for more information, please contact Milli Macen-Moore, at (800) 863-5476, or milli@modern-sustainability.com. The Highland Park course will cost $20 per workshop, or $65 for the four-class series.
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Exciting New Project born out of Milagro Allegro
An exciting new project born out of Milagro Allegro is breaking ground this month. The garden’s co-founder and current Director, Nicole Gatto, is pleased to announce the creation of a new garden at Monte Vista Elementary School on Ave 54 and Monte Vista in Highland Park. Gatto, at UCLA and now herself a Master Gardener trainee, is working with LAUSD, USC and a local landscape architect to design and build a new school garden in order to host another offering of the successful, “LA Sprouts” afterschool program developed by a collaboration between Gatto, USC and Master Gardeners. Existing asphalt will be removed on the school campus to make room for the beautiful new garden. The LA Sprouts afterschool program is being funded by a generous grant from the Metabolic Studio, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation led by Artist and Foundation Director Lauren Bon. More details about upcoming volunteer activities to come.
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New volunteer opportunity at Milagro
Milagro Allegro is experimenting with a new opportunity for volunteers at the garden called “Sustainable Thursdays” from 5-7pm during which time interested volunteers can come to the garden to give an hour or two of their time. A summer workday is also being planned and we will send more information as the date approaches.
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Celebrate Earth Day at
Milagro Allegro Community Garden
- Open House and Workday -
Sunday, April 17th, 11am – 3pm
Mark your calendars for our Earth Day open house and first garden workday of 2011 which we’ll be holding as part of the Los Angeles Community Garden Council city-wide community garden celebration of Earth Day on Sunday, April 17th!
Come on out and give an hour of your time to Milagro! Meet our gardeners! Tour our garden with your family and friends!
Plan to come out and given an hour of your time! As always, we greatly appreciate your contribution to helping maintain our beautiful space.
Milagro Allegro Community Garden
Calendar of Events for April 2011
Garden News: *Our March 13 seedling/fruit tree giveaway was a resounding success; we plan to do another giveaway on the future *Many thanks to the folks behind Closed On Mondays and everyone who came out for our Canele restaurant dinner fundraiser on March 14!
April 6 – Speak out for Community Gardens! 9:30am
April 17 – Celebrate Earth Day at Milagro, 11am – 3pm
April 24 – Second installment of food preserving class, 12-1:30pm
April – May – Grow LA Victory Garden classes added by popular demand
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April 6 – Speak out for Community Gardens! 9:30am
Did you know that the Department of Recreation and Parks has been discussing some fairly dramatic policy changes that includes a fee hike to $120 per plot per year for community gardens located on their property. Milagro is not on Recs and Parks land so the changes at least for now do not appear to affect us. However, several other community gardens will be impacted by these changes which are summarized in the following report. In addition to the $120 plot fee, the changes include a much greater role for Recs and Parks in managing community gardens and in setting rules that gardens and gardeners must follow, including garden hours of operation, etc.
http://www.laparks.org/commissionerhtm/pdf2011/apr06/11-105.pdf
If you wish to weigh in on this, please attend a public meeting with the Recs and Parks Board this Wednesday, April 6th at 9:30am at The EXPO Center, 3980 S. Bill Robertson Lane 90037, Second floor. Parking is in Lot 1 at the corner of MLK
Blvd and Bill Robertson Lane.
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April 17 – Celebrate Earth Day at Milagro, Open House and Workday 11am – 3pm
Mark your calendars for our Earth Day open house and first garden workday of 2011 which we’ll be holding as part of the Los Angeles Community Garden Council city-wide community garden celebration of Earth Day on Sunday, April 17th!
Come on out and give an hour of your time to Milagro! Meet our gardeners! Tour our garden with your family and friends!
We’ll celebrate Mother Earth and our special guest, Tim Dundon (aka the “guru of doo doo” among other nicknames), who has generously provided organic compost to the gardening community for many years.
Plan to come out for part of the day! As always, we greatly appreciate your contribution to helping maintain our beautiful space.
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April 24 – Food Preserving Class, Second in Series, 12-1:30
Pickling & food fermentation is the ancient process of food preservation. Every culture has its traditional fermented dishes. Learn about why it’s healthy to incorporate these pro-biotic foods back into the modern diet. Acquire the knowledge to make your own pickles from scratch with just a few simple ingredients.
We will be making Labneh (yoghurt cheese), whey, fruit kimchi and preserved lemons. There will be samples of each for students to taste and recipe hand-outs to take home.
Sunday, April 24, 2011, 12:00-1:30pm
$5-10 suggested donation for materials fee, no one turned away for lack of funds. Please bring a small, clean jar to take home pickled goodies! More info: tendermorsels@gmx.com
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April – May – Grow LA Victory Garden classes added by popular demand!
In response to the demand for this great class, we’ve added a second offering of the UC Cooperative Extension Grow LA Victory Garden course this Spring. In addition, a Spanish language class will be taught in May; tell your neighbors, friends and family!
Learn to grow your own vegetables quickly and easily in containers, in your backyard or at a community garden. Join together with local families and neighborhoods to share your experiences, skills and produce.
Participants will be able to turn this new interest in gardening into successful, productive gardens that will generate positive changes in their homes by helping to lower grocery bills and enhance opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods.
Highland Park residents who wish to register or for more information, please contact Milli Macen-Moore, at (800) 863-5476, or milli@modern-sustainability.com. The Highland Park course will cost $20 per workshop, or $65 for the four-class series.
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The next Closed on Mondays dinner at Canele restaurant in Atwater this coming Monday, April 4th will benefit our friends at the Garden School Foundation.
Consider bringing your family or friends to this delicious dinner to support the great work being done by the GSF, led by their director, Julia Cotts.
Greetings from Milagro Allegro Community Garden!
Thank you to all the folks who applied for a plot at our garden this year. We are truly honored that folks recognize the value in what we are doing to be interested in gardening with us.
We held our lottery for plot selection last month and at this point, believe we have filled the 21 spots we had open. We received 108 applications and entered them in the lottery as follows: applicants who lived within a half-mile from the garden in any direction were given 3 “chances”; applicants who lived in Highland Park (zip code 90042) were given 2 “chances”; applicants who lived anywhere in Los Angeles were given 1 chance. We then randomly drew names to fill the plots.
If your name was drawn, we should have at this point contacted you to let you know that we had space for you. Some people in that first group have changed their minds so this has enabled us to move down the list and contact more people (more than just 21). We will keep the list of names in order as a waiting list and should a space become available, you may hear from us with an opportunity. Click here to see plot lottery results simplified or showing weights.
We strive to provide opportunities for the community to be involved with Milagro Allegro even if you are not gardening here in a plot. We offer free/low-cost classes at least once a month and host numerous other events at the garden. We will send you announcements of our classes and events periodically, and hope you will consider being a part of our programming. You may also continue to check our website for information. We also will soon be offering regular community hours when folks can come for a few hours to visit the garden.
In addition, we are one of about 80 community gardens in Los Angeles, and know that some of our neighboring gardens may have space to accommodate new gardeners. You may want to try the El Sereno Community Garden, Solano Canyon Community Garden or Eagle Rockdale Community Garden in Northeast Los Angeles. Check out the following link for locations and contact information for these and other gardens: http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/files/83655.pdf
Finally, the demand for community garden space is probably the greatest it has been in recent history, and one way we would be able to accommodate this interest is to have more community gardens. Consider directing your energy to starting a garden in your neighborhood. There are many good resources to help support such an effort including the Los Angeles Community Garden Council http://lagardencouncil.org/ and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps http://www.lacorps.org/ and check out this community garden start-up guide put out by the UC Cooperative Extension: http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/files/83504.pdf
Thank you again and hope to see you at the garden!
Nicole M. Gatto, MPH, PhD
Director, Milagro Allegro Community Garden
info@hpgarden.org
www.hpgarden.org
A huge, huge Milagro thank you to everyone who came out to our seedling and fruit tree giveaway on Sunday, March 13th and our dinner fundraiser on Monday, March 14th. Both were huge successes!
On Saturday, we estimate that we had about 400 people who waited very patiently (thank you!) to receive the approximately 350 fruit trees and 40,000 seedlings that we gave away. The trees went fast – in about 40 minutes they all had new homes. We plan to do another fruit tree giveaway soon; this one was made possible by the gift of a generous anonymous donor and the efforts of our Master Gardener, Mill Macen-Moore. Everyone who came left with some seedlings; this made possible by our friend, Mud Baron who does good work connecting gardens with such great opportunities. We’ll do another seedling giveaway in the future as well. The afternoon could not have been made possible without the assistance of a superb crew of volunteers who gave their time to assist us with moving the event along smoothly. Check out our Picasa album from the day.
For folks who have inquired, we gave away every tree and every seedling and do not have any remaining.
We also are in sincere appreciation for the folks at Closed on Mondays at Canele restaurant in Atwater for generously hosting Monday’s dinner in honor of our garden. Their effort makes it possible for us to think about some larger projects that have until now remained on our wish list. Thanks again to the diners who came out and to the ladies of Closed on Mondays and all the staff at Canele. 
