Youths Lay Groundwork for Garden Near Club

A dozen youngsters gave up part of their weekend to rake, shovel and sweat over what will be one of Orange County’s few community gardens and the first at the local Boys and Girls Club.

Director Ruben Alvarez said he had the idea last year to turn the small, vacant square of earth next to the club parking lot into a community garden but had lacked the volunteers and expertise to make it happen.

With help from a local landscaping company, however, the project is now underway.

Claudia Boden, administrative assistant for Irvine-based Marina Landscape, said an employee suggested donating labor and supplies to the club, which gladly accepted the offer.

Marina employees cleared the plot last month and installed 18 raised planting beds. On Saturday, Boys and Girls Club members turned the soil in the beds in preparation for planting, raked walkways and helped to lay down crushed granite.

Alvarez said that planting should begin in about three weeks.

Of the 18 plots, 12 will be available free to community residents chosen by lottery to grow flowers or vegetables for one season. Three plots will be reserved for students at nearby Pio Pico Elementary School, and the Boys and Girls Club will tend the three remaining plots.

Alvarez said the plots have a special significance for families in the area, which is largely Latino. “There’s no space at home, and many come from agrarian backgrounds,” he said.

The youth club plans to grow watermelons and cucumbers, possibly for sale to raise money for group activities.

As he loosened dirt under a hot sun Saturday, 10-year-old Richard Vargas summed up the sentiments of the youngsters: “It’s cool because you get dirty, and you can plant stuff.”