Dan McKenzie Community Garden

Very small!

You’d be surprised the things you will find moving at 8mph on a bicycle that you would probably miss at 30 mph driving in a car.
Today I rode my bike to El Camino College and tried a few back streets that I had never been on. Along the way, in Lawndale I came across this community garden. It was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Rows of corn, squash and other vegetables in a tiny little neighborhood lot that all the neighbors share. I wish I had one of these where I live.
After riding home I hopped on the internet and found out that the Dan McKenzie Community Garden is run by The Los Angeles Community Garden Council. This organization apparently helps communities that are interested to have a community garden in their neighborhood. Here’s a few words from their website:
«Approximately 70 community gardens are growing in Los Angles County, serving 3,900 families. Community gardens are vibrant, cooperative organizations that build neighborhood self-​reliance, and reduce poverty, mitigate global warming and benefit the LA River and Ballona Creek watersheds. Los Angeles devotes little taxpayer money to community gardens yet they return abundant neighborhood benefit.
Community Gardens and Real Estate
Community gardens are a special type of park: they are open to all who apply, but they are self-​maintained and self-​policed by the membership. Unlike most parks, community gardens occupy three categories of land: private land with short-​term leases, public land with short-​term leases, and garden-​owned land.
Several vacant, developable lots in public or private ownership are currently leased for community gardens. Experience has shown that the maintenance costs of vacant lots borne by both public land owners, like the Department of Pubic Works, and private land owners, is high, and to lease their land for a community garden until it is needed for development has benefits for everyone.»
Needless to say, I think this is awesome. Los Angles needs more community gardens. Check it out for yourself…