“We really see things from the vantage point of building an ecosystem.”
Hope Gardens is a woman-owned business specializing in the installation and maintenance of edible landscapes. The owner, Erin Riley, is a delight, and she has been active in the urban agriculture mission since the 2000’s, when she was inspired to get more involved in her local community by working on President Obama’s campaign. I find it interesting that federal politics can be more abstract, but is effective in activating various kinds of local involvement! We discussed her experience getting sued by a client for lack of a contractor’s license, and the vulnerability that mismatching regulations can cause for start-up or low-volume professionals. Erin reminded me that summer is the agricultural winter in LA, and that winter is actually our spring! For fans of hardy greens and root veggies, we are definitely heading into our best growing season. We also waxed poetic about the joys of composting and the importance of trying and failing as a way to make progress.
You can follow Erin on the gram @yourhopegarden and learn more about her work and services at www.yourhopegarden.com
notes & Mentions
Orcutt Ranch Horticultural Center is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument located in the West Hills/Canoga Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The orchard is open to the public once a year in July for u-pick harvesting. It is also one of the only community gardens managed by the City of Los Angeles.
Agriculture Zones in the Los Angeles Zoning Code are A1 and A2