2021
PROJECTS
Explore Ecology's “Grab and Grow Kits” which channel food grown in the school gardens to the schools and to families. This program was started during COVID using food normally used in the school cafeterias to provide healthy organic food to the community. They are increasing production in the school gardens and our funding will outfit an additional 13 schools with materials to start the program. Materials include, garden carts, pruners, collapsible tables, knives, produce bags, crates colanders, etc.
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Lotusland's continued remediation of armillaria in the cycad garden. The garden has already lost nine of these rare plants to the fungus. The remediation includes the removal of 20 plants, digging out all problem areas, fixing the drainage problem and replanting all displaced plants with a new custom soil mix. |
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Casa del Herrero's renewal of the roses in the cuting garden adjacent to the vegetable garden. This garden is used for cut flowers in the main house. Presently it is filled with aging, disease-susceptible varieties. Replacement will include better spacing, soil refurbishment, and replacement with hardy, disease-tolerant varieties. This project also includes the removal of a dead blue cedar near the formal rose garden and replacement with another. The tree poses a hazard for the garden and visitors. 
Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden’s installation of a “Balance” path in the Children’s area, improvements to the worm box, (another child favorite) and materials to supply the Family “Distance Gardening” project.
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Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration is supporting the establishment of three federally endangered plant species through funding of student research as well as propagation and planting. The species are Ventura marsh milk-vetch, marsh sandwort, and salt marsh bird’s beak. All will be planted in the center’s open space. GCSB funds pay a stipend for student study and research, student wages for physical work, supplies including pots, soil monitoring and soil analysis. 
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