Charles St Gardens - Sustainable Community Gardens

Elite '08

167

456

Flor D.

San Jose, CA

In honor of Earth Day...I bring you(as listed on their business card):
"Sunnyvale's First Organic Community Garden"

How could i not give this place 5 stars?  

I was fortunate enough to discover this little jewel due to a friend's recent  recommendation on a plant sale.  Hidden behind the Sunnyvale public library, near Olive and Charles Street, this garden boasts:
92 garden beds, with handicapped-accessible beds, beds for seniors, a children's garden--and a food forest, growing food for the less fortunate.  Oh yeah...and on this Saturday, there was a Mojito bar!
No, no...not the kind you think...but you could pick leaves to take home  from a variety of mint plants.

According to the gals at the front, CSG is a group of organic gardeners in Sunnyvale educating and growing vegetables, plants, and fruits.
And by the way...they are looking for volunteers!

As listed on the website, their approach is one of sustainability, and "giving back to the earth as much as it gives to us."  Now that's what  I call a winner.  

Like baking, I have no green thumb.  However, my pal's mom does, and she is always in need of new plants.  We headed to the CSG plant sale with the goal of finding flora love not knowing that we would walk away with more than we bargained for.  It was amazing to see lettuce, tomato, artichokes, and strawberry patches.  I really enjoyed this very neat experience and felt like I was in grade school on a field trip.  I walked away with some education and an overall nice fuzzy warm feeling.  I love finding community projects that embody the current movement of going green.  This organization has 2 current projects:
Charles Street Gardens and Full Circle Farm.  You can find more on their website.

Some tips from the "master gardeners:"
Grow vertically, not horizontally-space is such a hot commodity.
Use Horse poop compost to fuel and enrich soil.
Keep Organic popular and always check where your produce comes from.
If you are hungry...you can even bring your dinner and eat in the garden...they are open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.  For a guided tour, you can stop by on Saturdays from 12-3.

SUPPORT THE LOCAL MOM AND POP SHOPS-IN THIS CASE-THE GROWERS!

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