Long Beach has been ranked No. 3 out of 10 featured cities for having the most urban gardens per capita, according to the Trust for Public Land.
Long Beach was among other U.S. cities including Seattle (No. 1), Portland, St. Paul, Honolulu, San Jose, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Anchorage and Louisville.
Nine urban gardens are located throughout Long Beach, where neighbors produce fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs, while satisfying their green thumbs.
Three community gardens established in Long Beach this past year are:
-- The Wrigley Village Garden, 2044 Pacific Ave. Long Beach Organic, a non-profit organization, has turned this once vacant lot into a thriving community garden space. The garden grows anything from sugar cane and lemongrass to sunflowers and tomatoes.
-- The Long Beach Community Action Demonstration Garden, Long Beach Boulevard and Spring Street. The non-profit Long Beach Community Action Partnership created the garden to show how edible gardening can save money, bring physical and mental wellness, and create a sense of community.
-- The Civic Center Edible Garden Project, located within the courtyard of Long Beach Civic Center, was built with sustainable and organic practices.
"Urban gardening is ideal for Long Beach residents who live in apartments, condos or houses without a yard, or anyone who wants to increase their physical and mental well being, develop fresh and healthy eating habits, and reduce their weekly grocery bill by growing your own vegetables," said Larry Rich, sustainability coordinator.
For more information on urban gardening resources, visit www.sustainablelb.com
Joe Segura, a mild-mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, has covered Gotham City, er Long Beach, for 34 years. During his very, very long -- endless -- tenure, he's covered almost every beat, and he was the main writer for BeachWeek, which focused on life and lifestyles of the shoreline communities from downtown Long Beach to the Huntington Beach pier.
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