A fragrant thicket of mint greets you as you walk into a lush garden filled with raised beds of colorful chard, cornstalks and bursting clumps of lettuces and other herbs and vegetables. Where are you?
The 24th Street School kitchen garden, hidden away in the Adams district near downtown Los Angeles. A haven of growing goodness wedged at the far end of the asphalt schoolyard, this 3/4 acre plot is the prototype for a school garden envisioned by the Garden School Foundation.
Some people may be familiar with this garden because chef Nancy Silverton has long associated herself with the the program, as well as noted landscape designer and artist, Nancy Goslee Powers, who developed the garden plan.
Here, students learn about the benefits of gardening, fresh produce and growing and preparing their own fresh and healthy food...
Julia Cotts, Director, the Garden School Foundation
and the creepy crawling benefits of worms and compost bins.
For the elementary students at the 24th Street School, the garden is also a bit of a sanctuary. They'll choose to sit in the soothing shaded areas with crayons and coloring books for their lunch hour or dance happily together in the greenery at recess.
It is an impressive place and the positive effects are in evidence not just in the bounty of the carefully tended sections --like the Salsa Garden or the orchard fruit trees --but in the smiling faces of the students eagerly asking questions. They're having so much fun, they forget they're learning.
Tonight, Saturday, October 22nd in Santa Monica is a benefit for the program, with cocktails, food and music.
The host of tempting live and silent auction items include private dinners prepared at your home by chefsTravis Lett, from Gjelina in Venice, Corina Weibel chef/owner of Canele restaurant in Atwater and Amelia Saltsman, author of The Santa Monica Farmer's Market Cookbook
5:00 - 8:00pm
Tickets: $40
Sponsor Ticket: $100
The Barn Studio
1660 Stanford Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404 (Map)
Monthly hands-on volunteer opportunities are scheduled all year at the garden itself.
For more information:
http://gardenschoolfoundation.org/home/
