Los Angeles looks to create green jobs

Looking to assist in the creation of green jobs, in February Los Angeles awarded certificates to 23 people who completed a green gardening training course. L.A. Board of Public Works Commissioner Paula Daniels, told the L.A. Times the purpose of the program is “to train gardeners in managing and maintaining the designs of the 21st century garden in Southern California, which is a garden that uses drought-tolerant plants and that retains and reuses rainwater”.
The newspaper reported that the six-day, 48-hour training program educates participants in sustainable strategies including the better use of water through drip irrigation, incorporation of smart controllers, application of mulch and planting of drought-tolerant plants. Other topics include soil types, sun patterns, microclimates and how to educate clients about water-saving gardening practices and their money-saving potential. The curriculum was developed by the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed.
The paper said the training program, which began last year, was funded with $250,000 in federal stimulus money awarded through L.A.’s Community Development Department, and conducted in partnership with the immigrant education group Institute of Popular Education of Southern California. Two additional classes are planned with a total number of trained green gardeners expected to be 120.
Serena Lin, staff attorney at Public Counsel and co-creator of the program, told the newspaper that “It’s empowering low-income workers to get better jobs because they’re increasing their skill levels and giving them the toolkit to create an environmentally sustainable Los Angeles.”
The paper said Lin is also helping program graduates to become a sustainable entity themselves. Lin along with UCLA Downtown Labor Center and other partner organizations have helped the gardeners create a limited liability corporation called Native Green. Created in conjunction with the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California, Native Green provides green gardening services to paying customers.