First the loss of the South Central Farm in Los Angeles, and now this, the closing of a community vegetable garden. The city of Santa Cruz has decided that the $4,400.00 dollars a year they spend on water for this garden is too expensive. Why is it that counties have endless funds when it comes to incarcerating poor people but can't afford much that's positive for these communities? Also, why not just install rain barrels for irrigation? It's eco-friendly and cheaper in the long run.

Beach Flats garden moved to smaller plots
TOM RAGAN - SENTINEL STAFF WRITER
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Article Launched:03/27/2008 01:31:08 AM PDT

SANTA CRUZ -- After nearly two decades of planting cactus, cauliflower and other edible vegetables on 2 acres in the Beach Flats, gardeners are being asked by the city to stop planting, turn in their gate keys and prepare to move to a quarter-acre garden a half a block away.

They have until Monday.

Although the gardeners say they plan to follow the orders, they're wondering what the rush is -- especially since spring has just arrived and there are no immediate plans by the garden's owners, the Santa Cruz Seaside Co., to use the property on Raymond Street.

The community garden, which is used by about a dozen gardeners, is special to the surrounding Latino community, many of whom work in construction, the fields of the Pajaro Valley or at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk a few blocks away.

The vegetables grown there are a commodity. They're peddled in the streets, shared among neighbors and eaten. The harvest each year is a big event.

"We were hoping for a big harvest, but now it looks like the land is just going to sit here empty," said Spanish-speaking Domingo Mendoza, a 74-year-old Mexican immigrant who's been growing vegetables on the patch of dirt for more than a decade. "And have you seen the new garden? There's just no way we're going to be able to grow the same amount of vegetables over there." Click here for full text: Full Article