Calimesa Community Garden celebrates historic groundbreaking
CALIMESA - Isaac Kim stood on the fertile ground of the 4.7 acres of land on south Avenue L that the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church owns. The land lies unused, but in the near future, he envisions this patch of yellow stubble being transformed into a flourishing vegetable and herb garden in which the entire community can partake of its bounty.
As the Acting Senior Pastor of the church, Kim says that the church is pleased to offer part of the land for a useful and much-needed community project in Calimesa - a community garden.
"We are excited about this," Kim said. "This is all part of neighbors wanting to be good neighbors. This is what a church should be doing in a community. This is a wonderful bonding and sharing with our neighbors."
On Tuesday, Kim, community garden organizers, Calimesa city officials, and community gardeners and supporters were on hand for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the Calimesa Community Garden.
As Dennis Morgan hung a banner reading, "Calimesa Community Garden," on the chain link fence adjacent to the future garden site, he couldn't help but smile. For the past several months, Morgan, and a strong contingent of volunteers - including the Calimesa Chamber of Commerce and its Executive Director, Nanette Peykani - have been holding meetings and fundraising in an effort to make this groundbreaking day possible.
The final hurdle to overcome is raising about $8,000 to install a water meter at the garden, which South Coast Mesa Water Company officials say costs that amount to install. About one-third of the money has been raised, and Morgan insists that garden organizers will get the meter installed. He has appealed to South Coast Mesa to find a way to reduce the costs and continues to solicit the company's support.
Morgan said that the cost of the meter, a box in which the meter would be installed, and the labor should cost less than what the water company wants to charge. "The meter costs about $300 and the box about $100," Morgan said. "How much labor does it cost to install a meter and a box?"
Along with the Seventh-day Adventist church representatives, Mesa Grande Academy Principal, Alfred Riddle was also on hand. He said that the school supports the garden project and that his school is ready and able to lend a hand.
"We are excited to get the school involved with this community effort," Riddle said. "We have always had a garden at the school, so we are excited about being involved. Our students help in the community in a variety of (volunteer) ways. This will be another way for our kids to be out in the community and help."
Calimesa Councilmember, Ray Quinto, also took part in the groundbreaking and he said that projects such as a community garden bring people closer together and that he is firmly behind the effort to see the garden come to fruition.
In looking ahead, Morgan sees the garden blossoming in hues of reds, greens, oranges, and lush greens - all the vibrant colors commonly found in a healthy, flourishing garden.
"Gardeners will be planting tomatoes, all the different varieties of the pepper family, radishes, carrots, rhubarb, and lettuce, and so much more," Morgan said.
For more information about the Calimesa Community Garden visit the links to the following websites:
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