A place in the sun

Deirdre Newman

Some plots boast roses the color of fire. Others have a tantalizing

array of fruits and vegetables. Some are sparsely planted, leaving a

lot of open space. Others are so dense with greenery they are

reminiscent of the Brazilian rain forest.

The diverse plots of the Del Mar Community Garden, which is run by

the city, reflect the varied interests of their tenders. Yet a common

refrain heard among these residents blessed with a green thumb is:

“It’s in my blood.”

The Del Mar Garden satiates the eternal hunger for gardening for

59 residents -- plus one person who has since moved. Many more are on

the waiting list.

Earlier this month, despite some objections, the City Council

approved a second community garden for a property on Charle and

Hamilton streets, which could be ready for planting by the end of the

year. This one will have 42 plots.

Mayor Gary Monahan and Councilman Allan Mansoor were on the losing

end of the 3-2 vote to approve the garden. Monahan suggested using

space in existing parks for another community garden, while Mansoor

tried to get a vote on a pocket park instead, which failed to muster

any support.

During all the discussions on the issue, many of the Del Mar

gardeners spoke in favor of another community garden.

“I’ve been a gardener at the Del Mar gardens for eight years and

I’m a real happy person today because I live in Costa Mesa,” Kris

Gold said on July 7, before she shared some of her bounty with the

council members. “It’s given me inner beauty to work in the garden.”

A HISTORY OF GROWTH

The city purchased the parcel of land where the garden is now in

the 1970s with the intent of widening Del Mar Avenue, said Mark

Taylor, a management analyst with the recreation department. Two

houses and a barn on the site were removed to that end. When the

street widening project didn’t pan out, the site lay vacant for a

number of years until a resident suggested it be turned into a

community garden. It opened in 1994 with approximately 40 parcels and

expanded to 60 around 2000, Taylor said.

The city maintains the general area and provides water and a

bathroom facility. The garden basically takes care of itself, Taylor

said.

“We don’t come out that much except to clean weeds and make sure

everyone is following a few simple rules.”

The guidelines include being considerate of your neighbors and not

putting up something so high that it casts shade on nearby plots,

Taylor explained.

Each gardener gets a 15’ x 13’ parcel. The one feature they all

crave is sunlight, Klemm said.

Not enough sun in her own backyard is one of the reasons Cheryl

Duff had her eye on a coveted spots at the community garden. She has

a great backyard, she said, but it’s not conducive to growing

vegetables. So like a gardener nurturing her seeds, she waited

patiently -- for three years -- until she got a space at the Del Mar

garden.

“I was very excited,” Duff said. “We walk over to the swap meet

every weekend for exercise and I would see this and say, ‘I want a

garden.’”

Gardening is in her son’s blood as well.

Richard May, 34, found out he finally scored a plot on the first

day of spring, after waiting a whole year. After he and his

girlfriend spent the last few months diligently digging, they are now

reaping the rewards -- summer squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and beans.

“It’s phenomenal,” May said. “It’s really rewarding. I’ve had

small vegetable gardens, but this is the first time I’ve had a large

vegetable garden.”

DIFFERENT SEEDS

FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

Each gardener designs their plot based on their interests and the

amount of sunlight available.

Klemm is partial to flowers like New Dawn roses -- which start out

as a vibrant pink color and then fade into a softer shade of pink --

and vegetables like lettuce and arugula.

“I try to keep a few flowers for my soul, and the rest are

vegetables for eating,” Klemm said, as she munched on some beans.

Tuesday, Klemm came to the garden for a practical purpose -- to

gather some lettuce for sandwiches a friend was making for a picnic

at a jazz concert later that night.

“[The lettuce] is kind of at its prime right now,” Klemm said.

“It’s good oak leaf lettuce. I [plant] stuff that I can’t find in the

grocery store.”

Duff said the first thing she planted was corn, since that’s what

her grandfather used to grow.

“But it only grew one ear on each stalk,” Duff lamented.

So she diversified. Now her plot contains watermelon, cantaloupe,

pumpkins, carrots and sweet peas. She came Tuesday to remove the

sweet peas because it is the end of their season and to replace them

with green beans.

Once a week her “adopted” granddaughter -- the granddaughter of a

good friend -- comes and helps her tend her garden. She zeroes right

in on the succulent strawberries, Duff said.

“Everything here is ready to be picked,” Duff said. “She eats them

as soon as she can.”

MORE THAN PRACTICAL

While many consider their gardens a place to connect with the

earth and grow what they can eat, some use their plots to teach life

skills.

Goodwill Industries of Orange County maintains three spaces so

their disabled clients can have a hands-on activity and learn where

fruits and vegetables come from.

“It’s an activity and it gets them out of the house and doing

something,” said Kim Tran, a training specialist. “They learn how to

make a plan.”

After planning what they want to grow in their garden, the clients

go shopping at Home Depot, pick out the seeds and help plant them.

Their gardens contain a varied bounty, including red and green

peppers, strawberries and cucumbers.

They come twice a week after working in the Goodwill Store on 19th

Avenue. First, they have a relaxing lunch in a shady area. Then, they

start working.

On Tuesday, Mui Lau watered one of the plots. Smiling and laughing

as she watered, Lui was assisted by Tran, who helped direct her where

to aim the hose.

When the fruits and vegetables they have cultivated have grown,

Lau and the others get to take them home.

HEARTY AND HEALTHY

Many of the gardeners tout the healthful benefits of growing their

own fruits and vegetables.

Duff grows parsley for its beneficial properties.

“It’s a natural diuretic, so it’s good for cleansing,” Duff said.

“I use it everyday. That’s why I grow it in abundance. I try to do

everything as close to herbal as possible.”

And May likes that no pesticides are allowed.

“It’s all organic, so you don’t have to worry about the health

factor,” May said. “You could probably feed a family off the veggies

you get there.”