The property owner, Dan Long, had removed the turf grass as part of his list of responsibilities. However, we spent an hour digging and hand-removing new grass sprouts. Doing so, along with trenching near hard surfaces, helps reduce the chances that grass will be a menace when the garden starts to grow in. Plus, we helped to un-compact the soil, helping it to breathe and absorb oxygen. Note: Dan had called Dig-Alert a week before, a free service that marks out all the utilities (they serve Southern California).
Two young, upbeat employees from a local irrigation supply store named Aqua Flo helped lead the charge on using the bunyip and on retrofitting the rain gutter downspouts into the swales.
While that was going on, we sheet mulched the yard: a lasagna-like soil enliving process. Here are the steps: apply a thin layer of compost or compost tea; water the area; lay down paper, and water; spread on a thick layer of mulch such as fresh tree trimmings - including the leaves because organic materials is essential. The City's Water Conservation Coordinator, Jill Sarick-Santos, made special arrangemens for a load of mulch from the City. Jill also worked with the City's Parks Manager to provide us with a bunch of shovels and metal rakes! (Jill has posted OFG-related info on the City's website,too.)
Beneficial fungus called mycorrhizae was applied to the root ball prior to planting. Fungi play a key role in plant health, acting like a sub-terranean internet to transport water and nutrients. Soil in a typical landscape is devoid of oxygen and water, necessary elements for aerobic (oxygen-loving) life. The OFG soil-prep regimes helps to awaken the lower rungs of the soil web - bacteria - which then are munched on by protozoa, nematoed and - your guessed it - fungi.
Dan was awarded an OFG yard sign by the City (they have purchased 100 to give out for free to those that meet the sign criteria). We were visited by local State Assemblyman Das Williams, as well as a local City Councilman Carl Morehouse. At the end of the day, with plants in the ground and everything cleaned up, we were welcomed by the sun. Dan, a member of the executive committee of the Midtown Ventura Community Council, shared some next steps:
Taken together, these are parts of a vision that Ventura OFG Sub-Com't Chair, Cynthia Hartley, and Ventura Surfrider Staff, Paul Jenkin, have developed plans for and have become a model for the larger Surfrider network (see a recent blog post about it). We will retur
The Series has been funded by a grant from the California Coastal Commission's Whale Tail License Plate Program.