Thanks to the Green Program that Solano College is offering for free, I had the privilege to meet Vilma Aquino who works for CAP Solano: CAP Solano builds capacity for nonprofit, faith-based and governmental organizations moving people out of poverty and/or homelessness. During our classes together she had mentioned that they were planning on designing a community garden and needed someone to draft out the plans that she had in mind. So I was really excited and offered my services to her for free.I don't live that far from Mare Island and got to see the beautiful little island that's still being cleaned up till now, and there is a great community growing in there. Mare Island Naval Shipyard used to be a military base and has been used for 143 years of building, repairing, and overhauling ships and submarines. The shipyard closed in 1996 and thousands of local residents now live in Mare Island. It is now transitioning to public and private use and as environmental cleanup work gets finished and property gets transferred they hope it will attract more businesses and people to come into the island.
Also it'll be a great way for Vallejo to stop dwelling on the negative things about the city and really work hard to bringing the community together. When this Community Garden is finished, it will hold classes to teach people in the community how to grow their own fresh produce and plants, and promote environmental awareness.
The location of the garden is behind a church that Global Center for Success is a part of. Global Center for Success has a great program too. They work with the Christian Help Center shelter and has helped mainstream homeless and under served people back into society.I truly love the people at Global Center for Success. Sister Elvie calls me a "gift from God", because I've answered their prayers, since they really needed a drafter to draft out the plans. Honestly I just love to help people out, even at work. I love what I do and as long as my client, boss, co-workers are happy, I'm happy.
We are currently trying to get the Nature’s Path $50,000 Gardens For Good Grant Contest. So far we're first place, but they pick 2 out of the top 5 top votes. So good luck to us!! Please vote if you haven't done so yet at: http://www.justmeans.com/contestidea?ideaid=NDUz
So now I've made it in the Vallejo Community Issues Examiner thanks to Vilma who insisted I be in the article too; and Patricia Kutza who wrote the article. Now that I've been involved in one Community garden project, others have approached me to other ventures in designing other community gardens in other cities they want to start too.
Being green one garden at a time!!
