Organics
opt for fresh food, farming
By Tina Page
On-line Forty-Niner
Every
bite of produce that is bought from a grocery
store has changed hands six times since
its original grower.
In the United States, 80 percent of the
groundwater has been polluted by pesticides
and chemical fertilizer, according to Amy
Lerner, executive director of Long Beach
Organics.
Lerner hammered out these statistics in
order to demonstrate the need for an increase
in personal organic farming and food consumption.
Charlie Moore founded Long Beach Organics
in 1994. The organization’s first endeavor
was to turn privately owned vacant lots
into organic gardens.
Since that time LBO has grown to include
three community gardens and a nursery. The
organization is also currently working with
teachers from various schools around Long
Beach to implement more school gardens,
according to the organization’s Web site.
“It is important for children to be aware
of the living world around them,” Lerner
said. “We have separated ourselves from
the process of taking care of our own bodies.
With the school gardens, kids get to actually
take part in growing their own food and
learning about the living world around them.”
The New City School on Pine Avenue garden
boasts a 2,500 square foot lot where children
learn gardening once a week.
Constellation Community Middle School, located
on First Street and Elm Avenue, offers a
garden elective to its students thanks to
LBO’s efforts.
Those efforts are not only confined to schools.
Three community gardens have been planted
since the organization’s founding.
“Our Signal Hill garden used to be just
16 empty lots,” Lerner said. “It has been
transformed into an organic garden where
mostly Southeast Asian immigrant families
have a place to be somewhat self-sustainable.”
Self-sustainability and a connection to
the land is part of what LBO teaches.
The Web site stresses the importance of
a connection to the food, water, air and
natural environment that people are exposed
to.
Some of the ecological benefits of creating
gardens throughout Long Beach include flood
control and water conservation, bioremediation
of polluted lands, and reduction of solid
waste to landfills.
LBO could not have been successful in reducing
some of the pollution in Long Beach or in
educating people about the benefits of chemical-free
produce without the help of its member volunteers.
Mara Gendel, a recent graduate of Humboldt
State and a native of Long Beach volunteers,
at the downtown nursery once a week.
“I volunteer because I like getting my hands
dirty,” Gendel said. “I learn a lot about
myself and I learn even more about the Earth.”
Karen Thompson, another volunteer and Long
Beach resident, said she feels strongly
about LBO’s mission.
“The connection that one gets with their
earth is vital,” Thompson said. “Growing
your own food and actually witnessing the
life cycle is very satisfying. This organization
is vitally important for people in the community
to be in control of their lives and their
health.”
Lerner said she is willing to do workshops
for interested schools, organizations and
people on demand.
She asks for a small donation in exchange
for providing information on organic gardening
methods and implementation of these methods,
as LBO is funded through donations.
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