Her destination is the city’s community garden, sandwiched between a few houses so discreetly that one might assume it is deliberately hidden within the neighborhood. Across the street, the chatter and playfulness of children during recess at Alvarado Elementary School serve as background noise.
The Signal Hill Community Garden, located by Spud Field at 2175 Cherry Ave., is the city’s public spot for growing and cultivating produce recreationally. The garden is almost 3 years old now— created by the City in November 2013 after a house burned down at that same location, according to Hutchison.
On-site, vegetables and fruits, such as cabbage, peas, watermelon, jicama, kale and cauliflower, are all a result of Signal Hill volunteers dedicating their own personal time to gardening.
“And that’s half the fun— just doing the work,” Hutchison said. “It’s really a great way to get to know people who have a common interest.”
Volunteers, such as Hutchison, who was a master gardener in Oregon before moving to Signal Hill, tend the garden by raking up or washing down the area. Sometimes, they come together to help out other plots that have been neglected due to others’ lack of interest or unavailability to attend, because “it’s just nice of us to do that… their weeds are going to become our weeds,” Hutchison said.
All members are independent gardeners who serve as volunteers. Members have to be Signal Hill residents who contacted the City in order to rent a plot in the garden for their personal use.
“We’re all independent, but we’re all working together,” she said. “Like, ‘Hey, you need anything? I have an extra cabbage plant. I have some seeds. What seeds do you have?’ We’re always exchanging information and tips and things that work for us… we’re always sharing things.”
Signal Hill Mayor Lori Woods is also a member of the garden. Hutchison called her a “great gardener” who often grows cantaloupe and okra and who has experimented with other techniques, such as hay-bale gardening, in the past.
One hay stack was visible at Woods’s plot this past Tuesday.
Another volunteer, Teri Wohlgemuth, is a master gardener who often hosts workshops to provide tips and techniques on gardening.
Other volunteers include Connie Malaambo and John Webster.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Screen-Shot-2016-10-27-at-5.34.29-PM.png” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Community garden volunteers, such as Signal Hill resident Lyn Hutchison, frequently visit the City’s public garden to tend to their own plots and cultivate and grow produce, such as cantaloupe, jicama and cabbage. ” captionposition=”right” revealfx=”off”] Those at the garden are not supposed to sell their produce for profit, and they are not allowed to hire workers to garden for them. Other rules include no alcohol and no pets.
Hutchison explained that some of the volunteers are “apartment dwellers” who don’t have access to small yards, so they often come to the community garden and rent a plot.
“It’s a great feeling to say, ‘Look what I grew!'” Hutchison said.
The garden is home to more than just fruits and vegetables, however. Monarch butterflies and birds, such as hooded orioles and mockingbirds, often come and make the garden a settlement of sorts. The butterflies especially love feeding on milkweeds, Hutchison said.
Unfortunately for the gardeners, the spot is also a welcome site for critters such as skunks, raccoons and opossums who often dig into the soil and pick out grubworms. The result is a lot of holes and ditches in areas that were meant for plants.
“You’ll get everything planted, and you come back the next day and it’s all dug up,” Hutchison said. “You work so hard and all of a sudden all your stuff is torn up… I mean, live and let live, but we cuss them out every once and a while.”
Members use deterrents to prevent the animals from interfering with the garden work, but no pesticides or poisons are used. The garden is completely organic, Hutchison said.
She remarked that the recent rain and the transition between seasons has the garden looking a little “bare.” Weather plays a big factor in the gardening, Hutchison said.
She explained that, for instance, this was a bad year to grow tomatoes due to the fickle weather that switched from overcast and cold to hot and dry frequently. This weather combination leads to tomato wilt, when plants begin to crumple up and die.
Regardless, Hutchison enjoys spending her days at the community garden with her fellow “plant people,” especially because they are so hard to come by, she said.
She simply just loves gardening, she added.
“It unifies the community,” Hutchison said. “I’ve met some really wonderful people.”
For more information, visit cityofsignalhill.org/index.aspx?NID=412. Call (562) 989-7330 to reserve a plot at the garden. Hutchison said all plots are currently full, but they often become available throughout the year. Those interested will be put on a wait list until further notice. Rental for a space is $95 per year, and, according to the City’s website, can be paid in four quarterly installments of $23.75, as well. Each plot is measured at 10′ x 12′.
