One block east of Figueroa , an empty lot belonging to the city of Los Angeles has been transformed into a vegetable garden and community space. the project, a long-held dream by many, has been made a reality with the efforts of community members spearheaded by Nicole Gatto.

The garden has been broken up into plots which are available to members of the community by application. A circle has also been created in the center of the space, where gardening workshops and other activities will be held.

The Opening Ceremony was attended by community members and others, including supporters of the South Central Farm which was bulldozed in 2006. Also present were Los Angeles City Council member Ed Reyes and California Assemblymember Kevin DeLeon, who were instrumental in cutting through the red tape to bring the garden to fruition.

Mr. DeLeon expressed the hope that hundreds of similar spaces will spring up all over the poorer neighborhoods of Los Angeles, making fresh and healthy food accessible to everyone.

Indigenous Tongvan drummers sing in a blessing for the new garden. Blessings are brought in from all four directions and from the earth and sky.

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The Circle where gardening workshops will be held, is being created with indigenous Arroyo Seco stones.

Councilman Ed Reyes and Assemblymenber Kevin DeLeon with community member Nicole Gatto

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thanks anna!

I think it's wonderful that this has happened--but I'm also concerned that it's on property of the city, a city owned and run by developers. Hopefully this garden will be considered less of a threat to capitalism than the South Central Farm, due to its smaller size.

I hope see this garden sometime, but it's just as well that I missed this opening event. I think Ed Reyes exemplifies organized crime as much as any other L.A. City Council member. The last time I was in the same room with him I felt like I was going to vomit on the City Hall floor (which would have been a waste of my vomit).

Reyes is allowing a major rezoning to proceed in my neighborhood (on a wildlife corridor) over the objections of the community.

When I spoke about this at City Hall, Reyes cut me off long before I'd reached my time limit. Everyone else got their full time, and I wasn't being as blunt as I am here.

Don't want to get into the middle of any political infighting...whenever a community garden opens, it's a great moment for the entire community. There's plenty of organic gardening information available to make the garden sparkle with So Cal veggies and flowers. Good blooms to all.

Cleary, A isn't infighting - Reyes is enviro on this garden, but not about development.

He's "for the poor" unless you happen to live in city-owned low income housing that he wants to see turned into condos. He's all for gentrification.

Yet... gentrification around Westlake failed. That was a Reyes goal. They did manage to make things nicer for residents, but why is it that the drug dealers are back? They operate their illegal business around block from the police station in the park. What's up with that?

If his big development plans fail, are gangs invited back into the neighborhood?