Gardening in South Central LA

At the end of 2024, Los Angeles looked different. Now, climate uncertainty is an undercurrent in every conversation.

Through all this, RootDown LA is staying the course and building on an extraordinary year of progress.

The 2024 Impact Report highlights abundance and community. A 3,255 pound harvest proves that urban gardens can nourish people and strengthen community. Numbers are only part of the report. Quotes from the community hint that the real impact lives in the soil and in the hearts of those who grow together.

The USGBC-CA Environmental Justice Committee introduced me to the KitchenPOD project. George Washington Carver Middle School is home to RootDown LA’s KitchenPOD concept.  When I visited the community kitchen, I saw green building features and joy.  Students lead workshops. Neighbors share harvests. Music and laughter are the soundtrack.

This 10-page report is a reminder of a bright spot in LA. RootDown LA continues to grow food and future leaders in 2025.