Community Urban Gardens

Benefits of the Event: 

Rosemead High School (RHS): The RHS community is under census tract 6037432202. According to Cal Enviroscreen 4.0, this census tract has a pollution burden percentile of 98. Areas with higher pollution burden scores tend to have higher pollution levels in comparison to areas with lower pollution burden scores. Pollution Burdens are measured by looking at different indicators such as pollution burdens and population statistics. The city of Rosemead has higher diesel particulate matter scores than the surrounding cities. Therefore creating, promoting, and maintaining green spaces in this community is vital to improving air quality and reducing the urban heat island effect.  

Bioswale: The location of the bioswale was formerly a native butterfly garden that died during the pandemic due to lack of maintenance. The goal is to revitalize the space by completing  a 60x30 feet bioswale.

Bioswales are rain gardens used to collect rainwater. When it rains, the water moves to the depressions made into the ground to create the bioswale and then the water percolates into our groundwater system. Without bioswales, and natural water collection systems, the water will hit the asphalt, flow to our storm drains and then flow to the ocean. When water collects on asphalt, it also collects pollutants left behind from cars, pesticides, cigarette butts, etc and goes straight to the ocean. Bioswales are great ways to irrigate drought tolerant plants, recharge deep groundwater for tree health and provide habitat for essential pollinators and beneficial insects. 

Green spaces such as bioswales are known to improve air quality by replacing water-hungry grasses that require frequent lawn mowing. According to a Swedish study, one hour of lawn mowing is equivalent to the pollution emitted from a 100 mile car ride. Therefore, replacement of lawn to a regenerative alternative such as a bioswale will improve air quality. 

Greenhouse: There are several benefits of using greenhouses to garden. Some include: the opportunity to continue to grow food across seasons, pest prevention, weather protection. Using green houses as another way of growing food allows for more food abundance that is provided to the community.    

5 Coast Live Oak Giveaway: Along with supporting local green spaces created at Rosemead High School, Blue Sky LA will be giving away 5 -5gallon coast live oak trees to 5 volunteers who are capable of planting and maintaining these trees. Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) were chosen for this giveaway because they are California native trees tolerant to drought. Studies have shown that these trees greatly reduce particulate matter from the air in comparison to other trees. They are evergreen, which means their leaves are making oxygen year round. They can grow up to 25 meters, live up to 250 years and provide substantial amounts of shade.