Neighbors gather with volunteers from Children's Hospital L.A. and East Hollywood Community Garden for the first ever Summer Kick-off event
by Esther Tseng | All photos by John D. Lugolecki
On June 10, 2023, the East Hollywood Community Garden commemorated a new partnership with Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Thanks to the generosity of the private, non-profit hospital nearby, there was lots to celebrate as we kicked off the start of summer following a season that showered Los Angeles with record-breaking rainfall.
Gardener Sean Gustafson gives a tour of the garden
After our quarterly all-gardeners' meeting—which featured an informative workshop by L.A. Compost—residents in the community came to the garden to partake in free, tasty and plant-based food prepared by Louise Leonard of Plot 3, our resident chef, food stylist and cooking competition show winner.
Volunteers from Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Funds for ingredients in Leonard's delicious orzo salad, potato salad, greens salad, sub sandwiches and berries with whipped cream were made possible with produce donations from the Hollywood Food Coalition and a generous grant donation from CHLA. In total, the oldest freestanding children’s hospital in California donated $10,000 to the garden to provide for community outreach events; new, accessible and sustainable plot construction; supplies and tools for communal use by volunteers and garden members.
Look for more joint efforts with CHLA that will grow our community garden initiatives.
Enjoying plant starts from Lettuce Grow
Also in attendance at the event was Alexis Sepkovic, Creative Director of Lettuce Grow, the company behind the famous hydroponic plant stands. They generously donated starts for bok choy, butter lettuce, jalapeno peppers and more for each attendee to take home with them or plant right in their own plot. We look forward to partnering with Lettuce Grow again for an upcoming community event to take place in the fall!
| Speakers: Sean Gustafson, Ellen Zaman, Alexis Sepkovic, Arnali Ray, and Erika Chenshaw |
