Grow LA Victory Garden classes to be offered in spring

As Los Angeles County continues its love affair with growing backyard gardens and supporting the garden-to-table living, UC Cooperative Extension in Los Angeles County is pleased to announce the fifth season of the “Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative” gardening classes this spring. Taught by UC-certified Master Gardeners, the locally celebrated series will be held at local gardens throughout the county, starting in March or April.



The initiative helps new gardeners start their own gardens quickly and easily in a container, in the backyard or at a community garden, bringing together local families and neighbors to share their experiences, skills and produce. Participants will be able to turn their new gardening interest into successful gardens, “from the ground up,” and generate positive changes by helping to lower grocery bills and enhance opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods.



Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener volunteers will organize and lead low-cost gardening classes and teach the basics of gardening. Eighteen gardening classes are scheduled throughout Los Angeles County. Each class will meet four times, on weekends, to discuss gardening techniques and engage in hands-on activities. Upon successful completion of series, participants will become UC-certified Victory Gardeners.



“Learning with our Master Gardeners is a wonderful way to play in the garden and grow your own really fresh, harvested vegetables,” said Yvonne Savio, Common Ground Garden program manager.



Partners in the initiative include local schools, community gardens and organizations, such as the Altadena Community Garden, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Watts Towers Art Center.



For more information on the “Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative,” contact Yvonne Savio at (323) 260-3407, ydsavio@ucdavis.edu.



To view the schedule of classes for spring 2012, visit http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Common_Ground_Garden_Program/Grow_LA_Victory_Garden_Initiative_Classes/.



For general Common Ground Garden Program information, visit http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Common_Ground_Garden_Program/.





About UC Cooperative Extension

As part of the University of California, Cooperative Extension was established in 1914 to connect local communities to their state’s land grant university. An office in each county in California responds to the changing needs of its local populations, designing and carrying out research-based programs in the areas of food, health, agriculture and the environment. For more information on Cooperative Extension and its programs, please visit http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/.