Learning the optimum time to harvest is an important part of becoming a gardener.
Read MoreLONG BEACH ORGANIC
Planting seeds, growing community
UPCOMING Events
Karen, our Director of Education and Gateway to Gardening, will be having regular volunteer "garden club" sessions from 10am to 12pm on the third Friday of the month starting in April. Participants must register in advance and have a waiver on file with Long Beach Organic for these volunteer times - no drop-ins. Volunteers can expect to have hands-on gardening experiences with planting, weeding, watering and general garden maintenance. Interested people can contact Karen directly at knhaney@verizon.net. Through June, the dates will be April 21, May 19, and June 16.
Plants R Us Fundraiser
Join us for fun, informal information sessions during our PLANTS R US fundraiser. Info Below:
Board member John Walker’s pop up pea garden! Great for educating kids about permaculture! #permaculture #organicgardening #sidewalkgarden #foodsecurity
Flooding in the garden, isn’t like flooding in the streets. Gardens are porous, and absorb water into the underground aquifers. Gardens are natural permeable sites for water in an otherwise non-permeable environment, concrete and city streets. This is another important function of community gardens: Anti-Flooding! #communitygardens #antiflooding #naturaldrainage
Hi LBO Gardeners! Join Karen Haney, LBO Director of Education, in the Zaferia Junction Garden for a fun workshop: We will explore the plants, sights and scents of the sensory garden area, add some new plants and refresh the sensory garden sign! This is a family-friendly event – please RSVP to Karen to let her know you will be coming! Karen Haney knhaney@verizon.net
Join us for a fun, free, family-friendly class on Seed Starting at South 40, November 5th at noon! PLANTING COOL SEASON SEEDS with Educators Kate Thomas and Kerrina Sanchez South 40 Community Garden 2813 South St. 12:00 to 1:00 PM See the attached flyer for more information. Space will be limited, so make a reservation now! RSVP: LBO Education Director Karen Haney: knhaney@verizon.net
Don't miss out on this tour of top-shelf sipping tequilas led by Matt Harrison, co-owner of Roadrunner Spirits, Beer, and Wine, a boutique store in Los Alamitos. The tasting includes a variety of delicious tapas, a hand-blown copita (tasting cup), and a Salsa Mania dance session. This special Long Beach Organic fundraising event is limited to 24 participants, so sign up fast. To make your reservation, email karlsnider@earthlink.net and include: the number of persons in your party, your phone number, your choice of Salsa Mania session (5:30-6:30 p.m. or 7-8 p.m.) (if interested). Visit https://www.longbeachorganic.org/donate to make your $120 per person donation to attend. (Note that donations are non-refundable).
Come to the LBO Zaferia Learning Garden for a multi-sensory adventure exploring culinary herbs. Join LBO Educational Director Karen Haney to learn how to grow, harvest and prepare some kitchen favorites. Participants will have the opportunity to plant herb seeds, pot up a special chocolate peppermint plant, and make lavender herb sachets. When: Saturday June 11 from 10:00 to 11:30 Where: Zaferia Junction Garden 3709 East 10th Street, 90804 RSVP: Karen Haney knhaney@verizon.net This is a free, family friendly event open to all! PLEASE RSVP TO KAREN SO THAT WE KNOW YOU WILL BE ATTENDING!
Don't miss LBO's annual plant fundraiser to get a jump on your spring and summer vegetable gardens! Tomatoes, peppers, squash, lettuce, eggplant, herbs and much more. Stop by the Zaferia Junction Community Garden between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 26. Thanks for supporting Long Beach Organic!
Join us to begin the process of making Long Beach Organic’s largest community garden accessible to people of all abilities. Volunteers will help plant a new, accessible, multi-sensory therapeutic garden with culinary herbs, California natives, and pollinator-friendly plants. Volunteers can also tour the largest garden and meet the gardeners. All are welcome, including children 6 and older. Come prepared to get dirty! Please wear closed-toed shoes and sun protection. Garden gloves would be useful. We could use extra shovels and garden tools if you have them! Parking may be limited, car pooling is recommended. A light lunch of wood-fired pizza and garden salad will be provided. RSVP at info@longbeachorganic.org
On Saturday, Dec. 11, LBO Director of Education and UCCE Master Gardener Karen Haney will be preparing saved seeds for planting next spring. Join Karen for an informal exploration of seed saving techniques and ideas to incorporate planting with seeds into your gardening practices. Please bring your own envelopes or containers to bring home some seeds! Where: Zaferia Junction Community Garden 3709 E 10th St, Long Beach, CA 90804 When: Saturday Dec. 11 from 10 -11:30 a.m. Email Karen at knhaney@verizon.net to reserve your space
Donate
Your contributions will help transform urban, vacant lots into beautiful community gardens for local, sustainable food. Download your 1099 and review LBO's financials.
If you start your Amazon shopping at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the price of eligible purchases to Long Beach Organic.
If you start your Amazon shopping at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the price of eligible purchases to Long Beach Organic.
$100.000
LBO
Long Beach Organic is a nonprofit organization operating eight organic community gardens in the city limits of Long Beach, California. Founded in 1994, the organization locates urban vacant lots from public and private owners and turns them into beautiful community gardens for local and sustainable food production. Garden plots are rented on a six-month basis, March to August and September to February. Long Beach Organic donates produce to alleviate food insecurity and holds cooking and gardening workshops for LBO members and the community.
Board of Directors: Reid Collier, Valerie Condon, Allison Flowers, Masako Kodama, Carrie McCraw, Mark Turpin, and John Walker
Introducing the Gateway to Gardening Newsletter: Recipes, gardening tips, news, and more.
Board of Directors: Reid Collier, Valerie Condon, Allison Flowers, Masako Kodama, Carrie McCraw, Mark Turpin, and John Walker
Introducing the Gateway to Gardening Newsletter: Recipes, gardening tips, news, and more.
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A groundbreaking will soon be held for LBO's ninth community garden at 3121 Long Beach Boulevard. The garden will include an orchard, a sensory garden, a giving garden, a children's garden, and areas for California natives and plants that support bees, as well as 30 community garden plots and four accessible raised beds.
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Long Beach Organic's newest site, the Crown Victory Community Garden includes 22 ground-level planters, two raised planters, and an 8-foot-tall grape arbor.
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The Grace Park Garden, located within a pocket park at Plymouth and Elm streets, is part of a collaboration with the city to provide more green space in North Long Beach.
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Commemorating avid gardener Mary Molina, this garden came to life with the Molina family's donation of land to the City of Long Beach for a community garden.
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The city set aside space for this community garden during an expansion of Orizaba Park in 2010.
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Established in 2001 on a vacant city property, the Pacific and Sixth Community Garden is a small patch of green on busy Pacific Avenue.
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Opened in December 2013 with 20 small plots, the Seventh and Chestnut garden in downtown Long Beach is a favorite of nearby apartment dwellers.
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Started in 2010, the South Forty is a green oasis in an industrial area with 43 plots.
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Zaferia Junction Garden at 10th and Grand streets is LBO's largest garden, with 90 garden plots.
Read MoreRegulations
LBO Gardener Requirements
Membership and Plot Rental Fees
Plot rental: $0.70 per square foot per six-month season (includes $0.15 water surcharge)
Seasons: Begin on March 1 and Sept. 1
Plot sizes: Vary, 10’x10′ foot is common
Minimum plot fee per season: $30.00 (applied to rental of plots smaller than 10’x8′)
Plot fee calculation example:
10’x10’ = 100 square feet
100 square feet x $0.70 = $70.00 per season
Total for one year of gardening: $140.00
Priorities for Assigning Plots
- Complete and sign a rental agreement and waiver of liability with LBO for each season
- Maintain your plot year round.
- Complete a minimum of 10 hours of community work in the common areas per 6-month season (20 hours annually).
- Pay membership dues and plot fees by March 1 and Sept. 1.
- New gardeners must plant their gardens within 30 days of signing the rental agreement.
- Participating in garden events is as important as paying rent! Regular communal workdays and potlucks are scheduled for completion of community work hours, fun, and camaraderie.
- Special arrangements can be made for those who can't attend the workdays to complete their minimum hours in other ways.
Membership and Plot Rental Fees
Plot rental: $0.70 per square foot per six-month season (includes $0.15 water surcharge)
Seasons: Begin on March 1 and Sept. 1
Plot sizes: Vary, 10’x10′ foot is common
Minimum plot fee per season: $30.00 (applied to rental of plots smaller than 10’x8′)
Plot fee calculation example:
10’x10’ = 100 square feet
100 square feet x $0.70 = $70.00 per season
Total for one year of gardening: $140.00
Priorities for Assigning Plots
- Quarterly payment, sliding scale rent, and reduced memberships are available in some circumstances. Contact president@longbeachorganic.org to discuss assistance.
- Some gardens have long waiting lists with little turnover.
- Factors other than waiting list priority may apply. LBO is interested in providing plots to low-income families, especially those with children, who might not otherwise have access to wholesome, organic produce.
- Long Beach residents or those who may live in a neighboring city but near a garden are given priority.
- Some property owners have other special requirements. For example, the City of Long Beach’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Marine requests that those within walking distance of the garden be given priority.
- Special consideration is given to individuals who have no other opportunity to garden.
- LBO does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
Get a Plot
Interested in growing your own produce? Check off the community gardens
that interest you. If you check off a garden that is currently full, you'll be added to the waiting list
and contacted when space is available.
that interest you. If you check off a garden that is currently full, you'll be added to the waiting list
and contacted when space is available.
Plot Renewal
To pay plot rental fees, please enter the amount for your plot size ($0.70 per square foot)
Your Fees Help:
Your Fees Help:
- Enhance charity gardens
- Expand education initiatives
- Maintain existing gardens
- Plan new garden locations
$70.00
Blog
A member of LBO since 2003, Ken has moved back to the Midwest, but leaves behind his knowledge of pickles and cover crops.
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Hill planting can retirn your weed-choked garden bed to prodoctivity.
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The gardens are open, but work parties and group activities are cancelled.
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Broccoli and cauliflower are showing up more on restaurant menus.
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Beans are versatile, low calorie, and nutrient rich.
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Citrus greening has devastated millions of acres of citrus around the world.
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Leeks and onions can make your mouth water or bring tears to your eyes.
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Good nutrition is the first defense against disease.
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Food that’s good for you is also good for the environment.
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Email list signup
Sign up to receive updates about Long Beach Organic workshops, events, and other activities.
Thanks for attending the LBO Tequila Tasting Fundraiser!
Contact
- Long Beach, California, United States
- (562) 438-9000
- info@longbeachorganic.org
- Mon-Fri - 08:00-19:00