LONG BEACH ORGANIC

Planting seeds, growing community

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: Kim Campanelli, Valerie Condon, Tony Damico, Christina Dolkiewicz, Alison Flowers, Karen Haney, Carrie McCraw, Karl Snider, Gabriela Yates

Introducing the Gateway to Gardening Newsletter: Recipes, gardening tips, news, and more.

grants to fund all-abilities renovation

LBO had been selected as the recipient of two generous grants. The Long Beach Community Foundation has named Long Beach Organic as the sole recipient of its Philanthropy Day Grant. This grant includes a monetary award of at least $5,000 and a day of collaborative volunteer work. Wells Fargo has also selected LBO for a Community Impact Grant. This grant includes a monetary award of $8,600, and also included a day of Wells Fargo employees joining LBO volunteers.

The grants will help fund the Interactive Multi-Sensory pathway and other portions of the Zaferia Junction Community Garden All-Abilities Renovation. The vision for the project includes wheelchair- and walker-friendly decomposed granite in the pizza oven area, an interactive multi-sensory garden walk to the education garden, an accessible tool shed with adaptive gardening tools, and an accessible porta-potty.

Crown Victory Community Garden | 914 Redondo Ave. | 90804

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.

Grace Park Garden | 401 East Plymouth Ave. | 90805

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.

Mary Molina Community Garden | 1640 West 20th St. | 90810

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.

Orizaba Park Community Garden | 1435 Orizaba Ave. | 90804

The city set aside space for this community garden during an expansion of Orizaba Park in 2010.

Pacific and Sixth Community Garden | 612 Pacific Ave. | 90802

Established in 2001 on a vacant city property, the Pacific and Sixth Community Garden is a small patch of green on busy Pacific Avenue.

Seventh and Chestnut Community Garden | 348 West 7th St. | 90813

Opened in December 2013 with 20 small plots, the Seventh and Chestnut garden in downtown Long Beach is a favorite of nearby apartment dwellers.

South Forty Community Garden | 2813 East South St. | 90805

Started in 2010, the South Forty is a green oasis in an industrial area with 43 plots.

Zaferia Junction Community Garden | 3709 East 10th St. | 90804

Zaferia Junction Garden at 10th and Grand streets is LBO's largest garden, with 90 garden plots.

LBO Gardener Requirements

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.

LBO actively seeks new garden spaces to fill with waiting gardeners. Is there a vacant lot in your neighborhood in need of cultivation? Let us know so we can help you create a community garden in your neighborhood!

Regulations

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.

To pay plot rental fees, please enter the amount for your plot size ($0.70 per square foot)

Your Fees Help:

Enhance charity gardens
Expand education initiatives
Maintain existing gardens
Plan new garden locations

$70.00

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.

$25.00

Harvesting Tips, from Artichokes to Zucchini

Harvesting Tips, from Artichokes to Zucchini

Learning the optimum time to harvest is an important part of becoming a gardener.

Bon Voyage to Ken Yliniemi

Bon Voyage to Ken Yliniemi

A member of LBO since 2003, Ken has moved back to the Midwest, but leaves behind his knowledge of pickles and cover crops.

Hill Planting: How to Reclaim an Unused Garden Bed

Hill Planting: How to Reclaim an Unused Garden Bed

Hill planting can retirn your weed-choked garden bed to prodoctivity.

COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 Update

The gardens are open, but work parties and group activities are cancelled.

LBO Cooks: Broccoli and Cauliflower

LBO Cooks: Broccoli and Cauliflower

Broccoli and cauliflower are showing up more on restaurant menus.

LBO Cooks: Beans

LBO Cooks: Beans

Beans are versatile, low calorie, and nutrient rich.

LBO Workshop: Citrus Greening

LBO Workshop: Citrus Greening

Citrus greening has devastated millions of acres of citrus around the world.

LBO Cooks: Leeks and Onions

LBO Cooks: Leeks and Onions

Leeks and onions can make your mouth water or bring tears to your eyes.

5 Tips for a Disease-Fighting Diet

5 Tips for a Disease-Fighting Diet

Good nutrition is the first defense against disease.

LBO Workshop: Sustainable Nutrition

LBO Workshop: Sustainable Nutrition

Food that’s good for you is also good for the environment.

Citywide Restaurant Group Makes Donation

Citywide Restaurant Group Makes Donation

Local Win Stop supports community food access.

Why Organic?

Organic gardening protects the environment and maintains soil fertility.

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