Reconnecting Communities: Highways to Boulevards
The Reconnecting Southeastern San Diego (SESD) and National City Project is dedicated to fostering community cohesion and enhancing connectivity through comprehensive transportation improvements. Since the construction of the Interstate 805 Corridor in 1967, SESD and National City have grappled with the legacy of redlining and infrastructure divisions.
Partnering with SANDAG, the City of San Diego, National City, Caltrans, and community-based organizations such as Urban Collaborative Project, Groundworks San Diego-Chollas Creek, and Mundo Gardens, this project aims to honor the visions and aspirations of the local residents. Rooted in the Promise Zone Initiative, our goal is to empower SESD and National City residents and prioritize projects that reflect their needs and desires. These projects may include fostering bicycle and pedestrian pathways, enhancing light rail systems, establishing inviting bus shelters, creating vibrant parks, and nurturing green communal spaces.
Joe's Pocket Farm
Founded on January 1, 2010, though its history goes back many years and began with a man named Jose Nuñez. Joe, as we called him, farmed a vacant plot of land neighboring his home for many years. It was a jungle of banana trees, tomatoes, mint, and citrus. He gardened daily and shared the fruits of his work with neighbors and the community. After Joe moved away with his family in 2008 the garden was uncared for and became overgrown with weeds and used as a dumping ground, until the youngest of the Luna Reynoso Family, Michael and Michelle, approached National City Council about the Idea of a community garden. In 2010 we re-ignited the spirit & broke ground at Joe's Pocket Farm. Janice, the oldest sister of the Luna Reynoso family, along with family, friends, San Diego Victory Gardens, YALLA, and the support of National City, began the work to transform the garden back its purpose. Mundo Gardens includes Joe's Pocket Farm, which is a community garden in National City, and Mamma's Gold'n'Heal Garden, which is a private garden in Golden Hill open to the community for special events and classes.
San Diego singer/song writer and artist Pablo Aztlan heads the work at Mamma's Gold'n'Heal Garden and teaches art at both locations.
Classes or events at both Mundo Gardens include but are not limited to, gardening, art, nutrition, cooking, music, and yoga. Mundo Gardens Joe's Pocket Farm has been host to the Rancho Roots Fest and a Peace and Dignity 2012 Ceremony Fundraiser. Call to schedule a tour or any classes for your small group. The space is also available to the community for outdoor events.
We bring art, music, and culture to the garden.
Mundo Gardens educates the community on how to cultivate a healthy creative life. Artists and role models are very special to our programs
as they bring a treasure of talents and music to share with the youth in an organic atmosphere.
Encouraging families to learn more about growing healthy foods, connecting to nature, and cultural roots is what we teach and celebrate at Mundo Gardens.
THE GARDEN is TEMPORARILY CLOSED |
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Joe's Pocket Farm Project...
210 North "Q" Avenue
National City, CA 91950
Paradise Creek Family Garden
Welcome to Paradise Creek Family Garden, a haven of health and justice in the heart of National City, located on Kumeeyay Land, the ancestral territory of our community. After more than 10 years of community-driven efforts, this 4-acre garden is finally coming to life with the help of Mundo Gardens and Olivewood Gardens, two non-profit organizations committed to improving access to nutritious food, promoting healthy lifestyles, and educating residents about nutrition and environmental topics.
In a neighborhood where there is limited access to fresh produce, this garden is a beacon of light for those who struggle with high diabetes and obesity rates. It will serve as a space for residents to plant fruits, vegetables, and herbs, while promoting social gathering, music, arts, and culture. The park will also include bike and pedestrian pathways, picnic and playground areas, and infrastructure improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Mundo Gardens founder and Operations Director, Janice Luna Reynoso, played a vital role in collecting community input and spearheading this initiative. Her organization will be in charge of the day-to-day management of the park, while Olivewood Gardens will provide fiscal sponsorship. Olivewood Gardens, with its gardening and cooking classes on a 6-acre property, is the perfect partner for this venture, sharing the same mission to improve access to nutritious food.
The Paradise Creek Community Garden is not only a source of healthy food and education, but it also represents the power of community-led efforts to bring about positive change. We celebrate the hard work and dedication of Janice Reynoso, Mundo Gardens, and all the community leaders who made this project a reality. We acknowledge the Kumeeyay people, who are the traditional caretakers of this land, and express our commitment to honoring their history, culture, and sovereignty.
Check out our events page and follow our Facebook for upcoming events at the garden! There is always something to do for all the family!
People's Produce Farmer's Market
(Partnership)
The People's Produce Mobile Farmers Market is finally on the road, bringing nutritious and locally-sourced food to underserved communities in San Diego's Good Food District. Project New Village, the organization behind the initiative, purchased a refrigerated truck with grant funding from the CA Department of Food and Agriculture and private donations. The goal is to make access to fresh produce as easy and convenient as possible by serving local transit locations and community gathering places, such as trolley lines and the YMCA.
One of the keys to the program's success is creating community enthusiasm for healthy food, according to Project New Village's Managing Director, N. Diane Moss. The organization is planning a series of educational events and social media campaigns to help connect community members to the farmers whose produce will be available. They have also teamed up with local farms, such as Stehly Farms, Sage Mountain, San Gabriel Ranch, and FoodShed, to provide produce as well as other farm products such as eggs and honey. The truck will accept WIC, EBT, and SNAP to help subsidize the cost of healthy food.
This initiative is also part of a broader social justice effort, as it aims to support local farmers and promote equitable food systems. It is important to note that this is taking place on Kumeeyay Land, the indigenous tribe of the area. This effort was inspired by Janice Reynoso and Mundo Gardens, who have been advocating for food justice and community health for years. By bringing fresh and healthy produce to underserved communities and supporting local farmers, the People's Produce Mobile Farmers Market is promoting a more just and sustainable food system.
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