Community Garden poised for patronage

From sun-up to sun-down, the 44-year-old OB Community Garden teams with activity. Birds, butterflies, bugs and bees join the gardeners as they till and toil to produce organic fruits and vegetables, flowers and foliage. For added fun, the planters compete year round in growing competitions — tallest sunflower plant, biggest cabbage, widest cauliflower head, earliest ripe tomato ... the list goes on ... and there are potlucks, too!

The almost-an-acre grounds, at 2351 Soto St., just down from Collier Park, meet City of San Diego upkeep and maintenance requirements to qualify each year for a community garden permit. The garden is secured by a fence around the perimeter and a locked gate.

All garden tools are provided by the garden, though some purists prefer their own tools, which they take home after “work.” Friends and neighbors can view the gardens, 9 a.m to noon, first Saturdays.

42 residents (ages 20-something to 89) are members of the the OB Community Garden, which has a board of directors that includes Robert Mitchell (chair), Steven Bladen (vice-chair), Frank DiSimone (treasurer), Ruth Hoffman (secretary) and Phil Cox (membership coordinator). If you’d like to join them and put down some roots, call Phil at (619) 890-4219. Dues are $132 every six months (to cover water bills, insurance).

To learn more, visit obcommunitygarden.com

To view more garden photos, see page 22

I hope you enjoy this second issue of Point Loma-OB Monthly magazine. It is brought to you by The San Diego Union-Tribune Community Press. I welcome your story ideas and comments at (858) 875-5950 or susandemaggio@lajollalight.com

Cheers to a sensational summer in the sun!