By JoAnn Saccato
PART II ? David Goolsbee, a director on the board of the LCCC and community garden project coordinator for the co-op, designed a concept vision of the garden that includes a water feature, benches and an ADA compliant raised bed design intended to help aid an easier process in gardening for the senior and disabled populations in Clearlake.
The committee that moves the project forward includes Clearlake City Council member, Curt Giambruno, who has worked diligently in procuring the information needed to install the irrigation system and Clearlake City Council Member Judy Thein, who was instrumental in obtaining the well agreement from the adjoining property owner. Many other members of the community are already involved, including Thomas Vallot, Russell Kramer, Rainbow Agriculture, and Ed Stromeyer, who have all worked with the city on the infrastructure plans Already, this is a community-wide effort.
Long-term hopes for the project are to include a solar-run operation that will also generate power for the community center building itself, which will further assist the city and the senior center in lessening their footprint as well as their ongoing operational costs.
The dead and dying walnut trees that once marked the property on Bowers Avenue in Clearlake have been cleared by the City of Clearlake Public Works crew and volunteer Thomas Vallot. Doug Herren, public works supervisor for the city, facilitated their removal and also assisted in procuring and cutting the smaller limbs for donation to needy seniors in the community. A few loads are available and low-income seniors interested can contact Linda Burton at 707-994-3051 through July 15 for an application. There is a need for a volunteer with a truck who would be willing to load and deliver the wood to those seniors who are unable to pick up the wood themselves.
Next on the project list is clearing the roots and tilling the soil, which will open the way to fencing the property. The co-op is committed to coordinating the community and the donations as much as possible for the project. They now host a community garden page with a comprehensive wish list on their Wiki-site by following the links from www.lakeco-op.org. With items needed that range from three-quarter-inch PVC pipe, to 6-foot fencing, to seeds and pruning tools, to a co-op committee coordinator, there is ample opportunity for the community to co-create the project from start to finish. And for those who want to contribute, but don”t have any of the items on the wish list, individuals and organizations are welcome to cosponsor different projects on the site, such as benches, arbors, picnic tables, fruit trees, the greenhouse, etc. The co-op also plans to hold a design contest for the entrance gate that will utilize recycled material. For more information and to donate directly for these projects, contact David Goolsbee at communitygarden@lakeco-op.org or Linda Burton at 707-994-3051.
The community garden in Clearlake is one of many efforts in the larger community to reconnect Americans to their food sources. With the average meal traveling 1,200 miles from grower to plate, the local food movement has gained popularity in response to rising oil prices, peak oil and global warming issues. “A deeper commitment to sourcing food locally contributes to the sustainability of our food production system,” added Co-op Director, David Goolsbee, “and a commitment to organic production, even more so.”
JoAnn Saccato is Chair of the Lake County Community Co-op and Masters student in SSU”s Hutchins School Action for a Viable Future program. Contact: shylila@cluemail.com
