February 28, 2026, LA Green Grounds hosted Introduction to the Anthropology of Food lesson, given by Garden Keeper and Anthropology PhD Candidate Natalie Marshall.

This lesson was an introductory exploration of the social and cultural dynamics of food, covering key concepts and ideas from food anthropology. In the field of anthropology, we understand food to be more than just calories. Food provides physical nourishment, but it also plays a big role in our social and cultural lives.

Concepts covered included commensality (the idea that the act of eating together is socially significant in every human culture), differing cultural tastes and definitions of a “good” meal, food norms and taboos, and even how food becomes intertwined with issues of power and (in)equality.

The session included both lecture and discussion groups.

Here is a link to reference materials provided by Natalie.

Suggested reading:

Shadow LA Green Grounds' Grow Los Angeles Garden Spring 2024 class: Week 1 online. Watch video below to learn about southern California vegetables, plant families, soil management and contaminants, and gardening tools.

This was really delicious!

Here's a quick, tasty bacon-based dish with Asian mustard greens (purple Mizuna) and mustard spinach.

Wash, cut, and brown bacon.

Then toss in the greens and heat.

Dinner in 8-10 minutes! 

Very good combination of veggies - and bacon for added flavor. You could replace that with sesame oil and seeds if you want to go vegetarian.

Thanks for your interest in our fermentation workshop. Please complete this form and we'll let you know when it is scheduled.

Florence's garden produced some monster zucchinis so she stuffed them for our volunteers. 

Using leftover sauce from a baked fish, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, Greek oregano, mushrooms, and olives. She scooped out the seeds and soft pulp, and mixed some cooked rice and some of the sauce together.  She then put the mixture into the zucchini, and poured the rest of the sauce over it.  Added grated cheese. Baked at 350° for about 15 min.

Everyone liked it!  

Grow LA Garden Class from Adam Hersko-RonaTas on Vimeo.

40 minutes

Have questions about your LA vegetable garden?

This delicious dessert was a huge hit at the 8th Teaching Garden Anniversary party!  Marika generously shared her recipe!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. glutenous rice flour (aka sweet rice flour/mochiko)
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cans coconut milk (13.5 fluid oz each)
• 4 oz butter, melted

LA Green Grounds' co-founder Florence Nishida article was published in the September/October 2023 issue of The American Gardener.

In the article, Florence shares who LA Green Grounds' Teaching Garden brings the world together in south Los Angeles and educates through example.

Grow Your Own Food

You may apply to be a LAGG Dig-In garden recipient below if your intended edible garden location is in SOUTH LOS ANGELES and will be visible to the general public.

To date, LAGG has installed over 40 edible gardens.

Please fill out the survey below. A Dig-in coordinator will contact you to discuss your property and application. A site visit will be scheduled for qualifying applicants. We then select from applicants based on need, suitability, likelihood of success, and scheduling availability. You must have a suitable location and commit your time and resources to maintaining the garden. You must also volunteer at the LAGG Teaching Garden and/or another Dig-In to contribute sweat equity and gain knowledge needed to maintain your own garden.

Once selected, an LAGG coordinator will guide you through every step of the planning process of what we call a "Dig-in", or in other words, a garden party. With you, we'll select a Dig-In date. We discuss how LAGG will help you grow vegetables, culinary herbs and native plants in your own front yard. You invite your family, friends and neighbors to help. We bring the tools and additional volunteers and spend approximately 5 hours on the scheduled Dig-In date (typically a Saturday), converting your front lawn into an edible garden.

Our program is a fine example of building intentional communities, reimagining neighborhoods and encouraging sustainable living practices and so much more. Garden recipients participate in LAGG's harvest exchange, sustainable living workshops, and other gardening projects. And, as a recipient of our program, LAGG offers continuing gardening support and education to help you keep your garden thriving season after season.

Keeping it local, healthy and affordable.

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LA Green Grounds would not exist without our many volunteers and donors! In fact, we are 100% volunteer-run.  We send a SHOUT OUT in particular to the following amazing supporters!

Carmel Partners - generous financial support

Elon Schoenholz - filmed and edit the Dig-In in 4 Minutes video

Landlease - generous financial support

Whole Foods SOMA - generous financial support

Sam Bresenden - installation of drip irrigation system

Help LA Green Grounds Celebrate Mother Earth and Her Day - Saturday, April 22, 2023. 

We'll be celebrating in the LA Green Grounds Teaching Garden, located in the Good Earth Community Garden near Carmona Ave. & Boden Street in Los Angeles 90016. 

Let us know what would be the most interest to you and if you're up to help!

PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU BE INTERESTED EACH BELOW BY SELECTING "YES" OR "NO"