Central Coast News & Reviews

Group's garden will showcase conservation in Pacific Grove
By ANDRE BRISCOE
Herald Staff Writer

Gardening may soon be on the rise in Pacific Grove, if a new environmental
group has its way.

On Wednesday, the City Council agreed to support a feasibility study, to be
conducted by the group Sustainable Pacific Grove, to look at alternative energy
sources, water conservation techniques and waste reduction in Pacific Grove.
The organization wants to form a sustainability demonstration center in the
city.

Mayor Dan Cort, who was part of a steering committee that led to the creation
of Sustainable Pacific Grove, called the study an introduction of sustainable
principles to Pacific Grove.

"It's my dream that people will be using less power and making better use of
(available) water," he said.

A portion of the center will be used to plant a "demonstration garden" to
showcase vegetable-growing techniques. It is hoped that the garden will give
residents ideas on how to grow similar gardens in their backyards using
environmentally conscious methods.

"The idea behind the site is to provide examples (and) to show residents that it
is possible to transfer these ideas, and others, to their homes and other local
sites within the community," said Gil Falcone, a member of Sustainable Pacific
Grove. "It's not a huge-scale production garden but just demonstrations of ideas
that are possible."

The garden would be supervised by residents and coordinated by members of
Sustainable Pacific Grove with guidance and approval of city officials,
including the public works department, parks department, museum and library
staff.

The group is looking for a location for the garden. While the council unanimously
agreed that the study was a good idea, they rejected the group's first proposed
site at the Little House at Jewell Park.

The spot was suggested because of its central location and proximity to
downtown. But the council, anticipating that some in the community would
object to having the park "compromised," asked the group to come back with
alternative locations.

The plan also would aim to educate residents on the importance of collecting
rainwater, the use of composting bins and teaching food dehydration and storage
methods.

"This isn't just a good idea, it would be a fun idea," said David
Dilworth, executive director of Helping Our Peninsula's Environment
and a council candidate.

The group will return to the council sometime next month with alternative
sites.

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Andre Briscoe can be reached at 646-4436 or abriscoe@montereyherald.com.

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"In the end, we will conserve only what we love;
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and we will understand only what we are taught."
- Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist

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