Long Beach Sustainability

Edible Garden Project   

Join us for free gardening workshops!

Garden Classes

In person garden workshops are on hold until further notice to prevent any potential spread of COVID-19. Join us for our virtual workshops instead: 

Get Notified of Upcoming Workshops 

Email us at sustainability@longbeach.gov to sign up for email notifications of upcoming workshops. Please specificy if you would like to be notified of Edible Garden Workshops, Native Plant Workshops, or both. 

Check out our virtual workshop playlist on Facebook to view all virtual Edible Garden and Native Plant workshop videos. 

Previous Workshops

Fall Planting Basics 

Edible Garden: Garden Wreath-Making

Learn basic tips to help you transition to a fall garden! Whether you are growing in containers or raised beds, or just beginning your gardening journey, this workshop will give you some great tips on what to plant and how to make your crops successful for harvest. Watch the workshop on Facebook and Instagram TV.

DIY Worm Compost Bin 
Learn about one of nature's decomposition processes and make friends with...worms! This vermicomposting workshop will teach you how to make your own worm composting bin and how to use it to reduce waste and create nutrients for your garden from your food scraps. Watch the workshop on Facebook and Instagram TV.

Upcycled Potato Planter Box
Learn how we built a vertical potato planter box from reclaimed materials and discover how to build your own on. Watch the video on Facebook and Instagram TV.

Regrowing and Planting Potatoes
View the workshop on regrowing and planting potatoes on Facebook and Instagram TV to learn how to regrow your own potatoes in a space-saving potato planter box. 

Summer Planting Basics
View the Summer Planting Basics workshop on Facebook and Instagram TV to learn about the basic steps to starting a summer garden, from selecting and planting  heat-loving plants, to harvesting. 

ReGROWceries
View the ReGROWceries workshop on Facebook and Instagram TV to learn how to use seeds and roots like potatoes, ginger, and carrots to regrow your groceries. 

Upcycled Planters
View the Upcycled Planters workshop on Facebook and Instagram TV to learn how to make planters out of recycled materials. In this online garden class we focus on aluminum cans and plastic bottles. If you will be following along you will need plastic bottle or aluminum can, knife, hammer and nail, potting soil, and seeds or plant (optional).

Edible Garden

The Edible Garden recycles kitchen scraps to make compost and harvests seeds to recycle for future crop plantings to grow local and organic produce.  When ready to harvest, the produce is collected and given to Food Finders, a nonprofit organization that distributes food to food pantries and shelters that serve our community. http://www.foodfinders.org/

What is Urban Gardening?

Urban gardening involves the idea that citizens can grow food no matter where they live, whether it's a high rise apartment, a tiny condo, or a house with no backyard. Some examples of urban gardening are:

• Community gardens (check out our map for locations all across the city)
• Container gardening (such as this garden)
• Rooftop gardens (speak to your landlord)
• Garden sharing (renting out space from a neighbor who has a yard) 

What are we growing?

Here is a more detailed list

Creating An Urban Garden using Containers   

Earthbox Containers

Earthbox containers are ideal for small spaces and are durable containers that may last up to 15 years. The containers have a unique watering system that prevents plants from being over watered. Mulch covers complete the system by conserving water and preventing weed growth.

Vertical Planters

Through a microgrant from EcoMedia, a new vertical garden component has recently been added which showcases florafelts, woolly pockets, and grow towers. The newly introduced vertical garden system is sponsored by Waste Management. Planting vertically uses up less surface area while producing comparable yields as a larger plot. We choose to grow organic in order to reduce our environmental impact.

                        Woolly Pocket                                                    Florafelt and Woolly Pocket along Fence

                               Grow Tower                                                                         Florafelt  

When growing on non-permeable surfaces such as we are, an enclosed raised bed like this Deep Meadow is a great choice.

This Long Beach Sustainability initiative is made possible through a joint partnership with the Office of Sustainability and the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network.

The vegetable harvest, seedling giveaways, and seed packet giveaways are made possible by generous seed
donations from the following companies:

• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
• High Mowing Organic Seeds
• Tomato Fest
•  Peaceful Valley

If you would like more information on the Edible Garden Project, are interested in participating in future gardening workshops, or want to organize a workshop for your group/class, please contact us at sustainability@longbeach.gov