Hope Gardens
Inspired by Barack Obama's campaign for President, the Victory Garden movement, locavore philosophy, and the beauty of the natural world, The Watershed Project has created the Hope Gardens program.
We believed the President when he said that the spirit of hope is powerful and can help us get through tough times. If, as a people, we can unite in the spirit of hope, we will strengthen our communities and ourselves. The Watershed Project is encouraging residents around the Bay to plant a garden in the name of HOPE.
Why a garden? Gardens are a way to grow our own food, restore damaged landscapes and ecosystems, build our homes and communities, and simply enjoy the beauty of nature. We can reconnect to our local watersheds and the environment through a garden. Growing your own fruit, vegetables, and herbs can help reduce pressure on the public food supply, avoid negative environmental impacts associated with large scale food production, and save money for your family and community. A blooming garden promotes nourished bodies and optimistic minds.
Anyone can create a Hope Garden. A fruit tree orchard, community vegetable garden, backyard herb garden, and a planter box of flowers are all examples of Hope Gardens. From a fully-staffed urban farm to a single tomato plant in your windowsill, there is a way for every person, regardless of the size of your home or bank account, to join the Hope Garden movement.
Get started today! Print out your very own Hope Garden plant marker to display in your garden.
Send us a photo of your Hope Garden and we will post it on our website!
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Featured Hope Gardens
We're excited to highlight the hard work of hope gardeners around the Bay. Please consider submitting your photos and story today!
El Sobrante Library
The El Sobrante Public Library is located at 4191 Appian Way in El Sobrante, CA. This quaint public space is home to two emerging Hope Gardens. The garden in the back of the library began in 2002 as a project of the San Pablo Watershed Neighbors' Education and Restoration Society (SPAWNERS). The front garden at the library was planted in 2004. Both of these gardens are 1,000 square feet of purely native, watershed friendly plants. The project is maintained by volunteers during monthly workdays and is meant to inspire and teach local watershed residents to garden with natives.
The native plant garden in the front of the library was designed by a local landscape architect and planted by volunteers. This garden consists of a young woodland area, and a beautiful California meadow in the sunny areas. The woodland includes oak, toyon, snowberry, and wild strawberry. The meadow features native bunchgrasses, wildflowers, and perennials such as yarrow and asters. The demonstration garden at the back of the library contains a variety of perennials, annuals and shrubs. An information booklet is available in the library to learn more about the native garden project. For more information, visit the SPAWNERS website at: www.spawners.org.
View more photos of the El Sobrante Hope Garden
The Watershed Project's newest intern, Dan Grannan, was out and about snapping photos of Hope Gardens last week. Read his descriptions of the gardens below.
Highland Elementary School
Highland Elementary School located in Richmond, CA is home to yet another Hope Garden. This garden was a joint effort between The Watershed Project and the school. My contact for visiting the school was Leslie Minarik who is a second grade teacher at Highland Elementary. Upon my arrival it was easy to notice the active involvement of both the students and Ms. Minarik in the garden. Their interest was evident and invigorating.
I observed the second graders running around and tending to a small urban farm, which was quite a sight! The students watered and pulled weeds, carefully tending to the garden with a child's grace. They were excited to welcome the arrival of their first artichoke and expressed many "oohs and aahs".
Ms. Minarik informed me that they make food from the vegetables they grow, including a pea soup, a beet dish, and even a pumpkin pie. This garden provides the children at Highland Elementary a crucial connection with nature and an emerging sense of sustainability.
View more photos of the Highland Elementary Hope Garden
Richmond Greenway Habitat Garden
The Richmond Greenway Habitat Garden is a project that was implemented in a venture between the Watershed Project and local partners in the community who wanted to revitalize and make use of a dilapidated railroad in urban Richmond. This project has completely transformed a rundown, unfriendly environment and turned it into an important open green space in the center of Richmond. The first thing I noticed when I arrived at 6th and Ohio is how striking the colors of the native plants are. These plants, like the sticky monkey flower, are drought tolerant and serve to liven up the space without requiring much maintenance. This ongoing project will engage local residents in an effort to care for a small spot of green to provide a healthier and happier environment for local wildlife and the greater community.
Read more about the Richmond Greenway Habitat Garden
View more photos of the Richmond Greenway Habitat Hope Garden
