Welcome to The Village Gardeners official website!

The Village Gardeners of The Los Angeles River is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the beautification of the Los Angeles River between Coldwater Canyon Avenue and Moorpark Street. We partner with other groups to promote environmental, art, and educational projects which foster a communal commitment to the rebirth of the river while respecting the river’s role as a vital element in regional flood control management. Join us in making a difference! Become a part of the exciting momentum that is building to bring about the rebirth of the Los Angeles River. Up till now, "the wash" has been considered a detriment to the community. Together we can transform it into an asset of our community. Let's work together to bring about the beautification of the Los Angeles River!

The mission of The Village Gardeners is continually evolving. We are currently placing more emphasis on helping raise public awareness concerning respect for the environment, conservation of natural resources and the importance of recycling.

As part of our mission, we hope to raise public awareness to the negative impact that littering, dumping and graffiti have on our community by starting our efforts at the grade school level. The Village Gardeners seeks to provide educational and community service opportunities for students and community members to learn more about our environment and how we can work together to make our community better, step by step.

The Village Gardeners is in the planning stage of a planting project to help restore the natural habitat of our area utilizing California native varieties of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers.

HISTORY

The Village Gardeners started as one person’s response to the devastation of the Northridge Earthquake of 1994. The neighborhoods of Studio City and Sherman Oaks were among the hardest hit areas. It was in this area along Valleyheart Drive South, near Longridge Avenue, that the first Village Gardener started sowing the seeds of new life.

After seeing results of the independent planting, others in the neighborhood started pitching in with donations of plants, time and money. The Village Gardeners eventually became registered with the State of California as an unincorporated nonprofit Association with a 501 (c)(3) status and in addition, is a participant in the Adopt-A-River Program of the Los Angeles County, Department of Public Works.

Despite the concrete channel, this was an enjoyable green and flowering stretch. The Village Gardeners, an all volunteer neighboring group, led the grassroots efforts to reclaim this stretch of the river, picking up trash, nailing back fences, painting and planting “whatever would grow,” according to cofounder Annette Fuller. The site had a great feel; it felt like someone cared about this area. Unfortunately, a combination of unfortunate factors led to the inactivity of the Village Gardeners for a period of time.

Deteriorating plant life, excessive erosion, and lack of maintenance have caused a renewed community interest in restoring and enhancing the Los Angeles River banks in our community. In the summer of 2007, The Village Gardeners once again became active, taking a fresh new approach to creating a park-like area for the Studio City and Sherman Oaks communities.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

The Village Gardeners is once again participating in the restoration, beautification and maintenance of the Los Angeles Riverwalk in our area. The Village Gardeners is committed to maintaining the high standards that the community has long enjoyed. Enhancing the Los Angeles River area will result in a beautiful park space for all of the community's benefit.

The Village Gardeners is dedicated to making our projects ones that bring the community together. Rest assured, the Riverwalk will once again become an important part of the community, instilling pride in a beautiful, clean area where residents can enjoy walking, running, jogging or walking their dogs.

The Village Gardeners is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. In partnering with the City of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles and other governmental and non-governmental entities, The Village Gardeners is working to implement the following list of improvements to the Los Angeles River greenway in our area:

· Increase the presence of trash receptacles and pick-up service.
· Install Irrigation.
· Improved pedestrian access-ways.
· Erosion mitigation.
· Improved signage.
· Fully degradable dog waste bags and dispensers.
· Restoration of California native plant life.
· Fencing upgrades.
· Improve the "River Walk" surface for safe walking, jogging and biking.