History of the Project

The Growing Gardeners Program was adapted from the Grow L.A. Victory Garden Initiative, a program of the UC Master Gardener Program of Los Angeles County, which was started in 2010 to support beginning gardeners. The initial project in L.A. was named after the World War II-era Victory Garden movement, which rallied the country around home food production to enhance national security. Food matters just as much, if not more, today.  

Research shows that eating more vegetables improves health, reduces obesity, and cuts down on the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer.  Having a garden helps save on grocery bills when economic times are tough. A vegetable garden can be planted in a backyard, in pots on a balcony, or in a community garden.  Gardening is easy once you get the hang of it, but beginning gardeners may need some extra attention and support the first time out. 

This handbook is a companion piece for classes being conducted by the UC Master Gardener volunteers in communities around Contra Costa County. We are indebted to Rachel Surls, Ph.D., and the UC Master Gardener Program of Los Angeles County for allowing us to adopt and adapt this handbook for use in Contra Costa County.

Program Coordinator: Darlene DeRose,
UC Master Gardener, Contra Costa County

Adapted from the original UCCE-Los Angeles County version 
by Yvonne Savio and Valerie Borel
Rachel Surls, Ph.D., editor
October 2018

Back to the Table of Contents of this handbook.