Community service is a dominant theme in the Obama administration, and the organic garden on the White House lawn points up one form such service can take.  In Oxnard an enthusiastic group of experienced gardeners, peace activists, political progressives, church members, permaculture proponents, City Corps teens, and assorted others have coalesced into diggers and planters, weeders and waterers, who are converting an acre of open field adjoining the North Oxnard Unified Methodist Church on Gonzales into a community garden.  Unlike projects in which garden plots are parceled out to individuals, this garden has been designed according the precepts of permaculture, a gardening plan in which space is shared by different varieties of fruits and vegetables for more efficient land use, and in which the gardeners work together, taking up whatever tasks need doing.

Produce from the garden project will provide the Ventura County Food Bank and the local Mixteca community with organic fruits and vegetables.  Mixtecas will also have garden space to grow the medicinal herbs favored in their culture.  Work in the garden takes place any time people show up, but is particularly scheduled on Tuesday afternoons from 4:00 to sundown and Saturdays from 9:00 to 3:00.  Anyone who wishes to participate is urged to join in.

Funding for the garden is through donations.  A Progressive Film Series to benefit the garden project is being sponsored by Progressive Democrats of the Central Coast and by Ironweed Films.  The first film, The Corporation, was shown on Friday, May 8th at the church. A raffle for 12 documentary DVD’s donated by Ironweed Films was won by Vern Norvstrup who donated them to the church library.  Proceeds from the film showing and raffle were donated to the garden project.  The next film, Microcosmos, a visually stunning exploration of nature at its smallest, will be presented on Friday, June 5th.  The film series is an opportunity for community members to enjoy great documentary films and pay the water bill for the garden at the same time.