Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County, California
Thanks to funding from the 2016 NACD Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant Initiative, the Resource Conservation District (RCD) of Greater San Diego County in California was able to expand their Tijuana River Valley Community Garden.
Through planning and coordination with San Diego Parks, the community garden expansion included 72 new garden plots, bringing the total to 210 30 x 30 plots, plus seven quarter-acre plots to support urban agriculture on a larger scale.
The project also realized a long-term goal – planting a native hedgerow to create habitat for pollinators. The 165 plants were selected for their suitability in the garden’s microclimate and cascading bloom times to provide a year-round nectar source.
The district secured additional funds to support this project, including a large grant from the County Board of Supervisors for needed infrastructure and a mini-grant from the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts to offer conservation-themed trainings for gardeners.
In addition, the RCD conducted workshops about practices that conserve natural resources and help make the best use of plots and produce. Topics included garden design, irrigation, composting, edible garden weeds, cover cropping and soil building practices.
To learn more about the project, click here.