Cooperative Extension will launch its third round of the "Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative" gardening workshops this spring.

The initiative helps new gardeners start their own gardens quickly and easily in a container, in the backyard or at a community garden, bringing together local families and neighborhoods to share their experiences, skills and produce.  Participants will be able to turn their new interest into successful, productive gardens that will generate positive changes in their homes by helping to lower grocery bills and enhance opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods.

Master Gardener volunteers will organize and lead low-cost gardening circles and teach the basics of gardening.  Eighteen gardening circles are scheduled to throughout LA County.  Each circle will meet about four times, mainly on weekends, to receive instructions and engage in hands-on activities.  Participants will become UC-certified Victory Gardeners upon completing the series.

"Last year's initiative was a wonderful success with more than 700 participants," said Yvonne Savio, Common Ground Garden program manager.  "Graduates of the series continue to meet informally in neighborhood gardening circles where they share what they've learned, their harvests and new seedlings," she added.

For more information on the "Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative," please contact Yvonne Savio at (323) 260-3407, ydsavio@ucdavis.edu.  The schedule of classes can be found by clicking here.