Garden End Review: A Year of Do-Gooding

By Adriana Wednesday January 6, 2010

Happy New Year! A lot happened in twelve months but 2009 didn’t entirely suck. Sure I’ve been unemployed for nearly eight months; since April 14, 2009 to be exact. Shrugs shoulders. I’m healthy, have a roof over my head, two gardens to tend, and a husband and dog to keep me warm.

In May I hightailed out of Blogger and into my own domain name. In the process redesigned and renamed the blog from Victory Home and Garden to a better suited name, Anarchy in the Garden; Punk rock and a pitchfork!

(Photo by Jeffrey Gould)

Fruition of a year and a half long project, Wrigley Village Community Garden, was finally realized. There were some downs, friendships lost, but now a garden grows and it’s making a positive impact in the community.

I met a lot of fun and inspiring people, forged new friendships and visited many gardens and green spaces.

With Fern of Life on the Balcony and Master Gardener Milli of Modern Sustainability

With Ali Bhai of Garden School Foundation at 24th St Elementary

With plant powerhouse Shirley “Eden Maker” Bovshow of Garden World Report

At Farmlab

At 24th St. Elementary

At Crenshaw High School

I am proud of my personal and educational accomplishments. Uhem, first semester horticulture 3.5 GPA and three time scholarship recipient. Big ups to Tamara Komuniecki, former editor-in-chief of Long Beach Magazine, for giving me the opportunity to be able to call myself a writer. She discovered me and actually published a couple of my articles including one on my awesome friend and raw food maven Judita.

The bestest thing about 2009 wasn’t being named “Bloggers We Can’t Live Without” by Sunset Magazine. Nor was it the TV appearance on E Entertainment’s! That Morning Show or the multiple local zine features.

The bestest thing about 2009 was finding Rocky. Hector and I found him running wildly at Wrigley Village Marketplace in Long Beach. It was raining and he ran towards Hector on command. We’ve been in love with him ever since.

I look forward to more gardening, blogging, writing, and especially volunteering. I can’t imagine a life without philanthropy. I don’t make the big bucks anymore but I can make the time to do some good.

January 2^ndwasn’t only ladybro Angela’s birthday. With the help of several people and bands we turned her birthday party into a canned food drive for the Long Beach Rescue Mission. Hundreds of canned food items were collected. Punk against hunger!

Incidentally, I’m on a mission to help the littlest creatures; dogs and cats. I’m brainstorming ways to raise money and/or food items for the overextended but greatly appreciated SPCALA. Melisser, The Urban Housewife, is so cool she helped raise $4,200.00 in one bake sale! Wha? If you’ve got a harebrain idea that’ll pull off a similar feat lets talk.

The dow is not what it used to be. I’m going to keep sowing hundreds of seeds, sharing the bounty with friends, neighbors and strangers and donate my time to worthy causes. Here’s to 2010!