Planting Earth Activation (PEA) is a movement that began in Sebastopol several years ago with the goal of creating sustainable cultural renewal by giving gardens, most of which are funded by grants, to the community. Gardens are created as places for us to grow our food, but also as places for people to come together, to develop relationships with each other, their food, and the earth. On November 12 of last year, the first PEA garden was planted here in Mendocino County. On a beautiful sunny afternoon a group of people from the Sonoma County PEA chapter joined with folks from Willits and Ukiah to plant a garden at the Willits Charter School. We received tremendous support from the community, and were able to put up a fence to enclose the mandala-shaped garden. The planting began in the center with a hawthorne tree, which is known for its healing properties for the heart. This center space also contains two crescent moon-shaped beds planted with medicinal plants, with room for people to gather. We then planted a fruit tree in each of the four directions. The garden received a donation of organic compost, which enabled us to build beds rich in vitality and nutrients. We planted rows of winter greens, garlic, strawberries, and perennial medicinals such as sage, rosemary, and thyme, and decorated the garden with many varieties of beautiful flowers; they will add color and beauty when spring comes. We closed the day with a circle to bless the work that had been done, and to make plans for future planting days. PEA volunteers have returned to the garden to continue the work. Two volunteers visited one day to help the students finish planting several garden beds. The garden project will continue to grow, and the school plans to use the garden for educational purposes as well as to provide food for student lunches.
The Willits garden was a catalyst for action toward the garden vision. PEA has joined forces with a subcommittee of the Mendocino County Hunger Task Force. The goal is to continue to create gardens countywide, and we are currently looking for community garden sites in Ukiah. These first gardens will be models for future gardens at schools, senior centers, homes, and businesses.
Ukiah Unified School District received a grant from the Garden Enhanced Nutrition Education to establish organic gardens at ten Ukiah-based schools, including Ukiah High School, Oak Manor and Pomolita. This winter we will gather seeds, prepare soil, start seedlings, and solidify our organization. Once the spring comes we will start planting gardens, beginning with the schools covered in the grant. The energy and enthusiasm is high among our volunteers. There are many paths from which we can choose to bring about positive social change in our communities. Every individual has strengths to bring to to the movement in a way that is empowering to him or herself as well as to the whole. We invite anyone interested in the creation of community gardens to find a way to take part in the planting of these seeds.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2001
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