Herbs, vegetables and succulents may soon be growing in unexpected spots in West Hollywood–specifically, the “parkway” between sidewalks and streets.
The West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously to support “edible parkway gardening,” which means that residents can use the public parkway land in front of their residences to grow food and flora.
John Erickson, deputy to Councilmember Abbe Land, said initiative is about “really bringing the community together.”
“If we can transform it [the parkway] into something beautiful and edible,” Erickson said, the initiative will have “served its purpose in gold.”
The city is launching efforts to educate residents about the fact that they can take part in edible parkway gardening with a tentative Oct. 14 launch event that will showcase a test garden. Details about the launch event are not yet available.
This post has been updated to specify John Erickson’s position as Abble Land’s deputy and to remove an error regarding when the vote took place.
Great Idea, I love the taste of tomatoes with fresh urine on them, cigarette butts, and all the other things we find on our streets. I love people thinking out of the box about green ideas but thinking of edible plants on a public greenery seems to have its problems. GEO (above) I like your thinking better! Now add windows that have built in solar panels to power the buildings electricity and plants on the roof… I’m listening. To the zoning folks: No more development plans without adequate parking built into the design (ie roof or underground) to provide FULLY… Read more »
Hello! I’m Erin and I own Hope Gardens Landscaping and we designed and installed the test garden. We are very appreciative that the residents and their dogs have been extremely respectful of the West Hollywood test garden. For the sake of argument, if a vegetable plant is contaminated with an outside pollutant, like dog pee, the plant will not survive. There’s no way of passing that contaminant along to the consumer as veggies are very tender and quite reactive to their environment. Rats, possums and raccoons are a part of the natural world we live in and they are no… Read more »
let’s face it, the soil is depleted and water is scarce. So why not try Tower Garden Farming. hollywoodtowergarden,com Grow areoponically, vertically, no soil, no bugs, less space, less water, more food in half the time. Available unused rooftops, backyards, enclosed driveways, courtyards…All you need is sun and electrical outlet..and it’s Ready *Set * Grow
We have three towers by our pool and grow a farmers market worth of produce each month. Wake up WeHo..it’s time to Grow UP! Stop paying food industry to poison us
Gives a whole new meaning to, farm to table freshness…… Yuck!
Manny, your answers are in the city document linked above.
Since the city does forbid fences, I would never do this. I don’t think I’d eat my food off public space that is accessible by people’s pets.
Such a bad time to encourage dragging the hose out to the parkway. This is why the city cant even get the watering of our center medians correct ! There is also the liability of line of site for cars pulling in and out of driveways and missing pedestrians on the sidewalks. Hmmm Maybe she lead the design team for the crosswalks ? Last week it was uggs from one now this week its salad at the curb I can only imagine what the others may have to offer…What “pet your puppy day from Prang and adopt a defense attorney… Read more »
Free food! The homeless are on their way to WeHo.
I can’t wait for the Oct 14th showcase test garden!….Rudolf don’t bring your dog.
Another dumb idea brought to you by the geniuses at Weho City Council .
Is it ok for my dog to spray someone’s lettuce?
Really? Sounds delicious! A salad that has been pissed on by every dog in the neighborhood.
hmmm…..I’m not sure about this…..Will these gardens block egress to the passenger seat of a parked car?
Will tomato plants start blocking the sidewalks like hedges do…..or will little fences begin popping up around parkways?
I’m not sayin, I’m just sayin.