Evie and Ethan Allen cut salvaged wood to build a pergola between the front yard landscaping and the garden boxes. 

Sporting their 5-a-Day T-shirts, children participate in a game of vegetable bingo and enjoy some melon at the Children's Learning Gardens. Many thanks to Leticia Salazar Allen of the San Bernardino County Public Health Nutrition Depts' Latino 5-a-Day Program for the t-shirts.) A "printable" 4x6 version of this picture is available--just email me: graybill@ healthycities.com (For more info on the Children's Learning Gardens, see http://www.healthycities.com/nn_gardens.htm. For more information and links on the 5-a-Day Power Play program, see http://www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/eatwell/content/PowerPlay.htm Many thanks to Leticia Salazar Allen of the Latino 5-a-Day program in San Bernardino County for the t-shirts!)

Julia Magana, a bi-lingual medical student from Loma Linda University, leads children in a game of "vegetable bingo" at the Children's Learning Gardens. A "printable" 4x6 version of this picture is available--just email me: graybill@ healthycities.com (For more info on the Children's Learning Gardens, see http://www.healthycities.com/nn_gardens.htm)

[Photo] Sam unloads some broken concrete to use for a walkway through the front lawn from the gate to the front porch. He's finishing up the pressure control features of the irrigation system too. 

[Photo] A concrete "couch" in front of Alfred Lopez's home office on Cooley Street. 

[Photo] Peggi Hazlett, assistant to Mayor Valles, presents local resident Alfred Lopez with a 2004 Beautiful Home Award. Mr Lopez, a concrete contractor, has made his yard on Cooley Ave and showcase of creative and beautiful concrete work. 

[Photo] Peggi Hazlett, assistant to San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles, answers questions from residents during last night's meeting of the Riverview Neighborhood Association at Victoria Elementary School. 

[Photo] Julia and Jamie (upper left) two 2nd year medical students at LLU, help the kids celebrate today's tomato harvest. All 30 children were able to take home three or four large tomatoes. The black shirts? They're from the Latino 5-a-Day program in San Bernardino County. Many thanks to Leticia Salazar Allen, the director of that program encouraging the eating of 5 fruits and vegetables a day! 

[Photo] Today's tomato harvest yeilded a smiley face character! 

[Photo] Out early this morning with JJ and Sam passing out 350 flyers in the Riverview neighborhood to advertise the neighborhood meeting this coming Thursday night. For an aerial map of Riverview, go to: http://www.healthycities.com/riverview_aerial.jpg 

Hot, hot days!

Oh, unbelievable heat today. Must have been close to 105 degrees in San Bernardino. Garden holding up fairly well. Ethan and Evie were over yesterday to plant some ground cover in front of the house. JJ and Sam worked on custom boxes for the donated items we'll have the kids selling on eBay. But by 7 pm tonight one can go to eBay and see the 15 Little League World Series pins I'm selling personally which will benefit the kids' programs at the Children's Learning Gardens. Search for Item number: 5115075322!

[Photo] Teens in the Eco-Elite program also use the "Baby Think it Over" infant simulators to learn how difficult and challenging it really is to take care of a baby.  

[Photo] Gus and Sam work on the housing around the pressure-booster pump we bought from American Tank Company. Now we can plant our lawn in the front yard and have enough water pressure to keep it green!. (see http://www.pressurebooster.com/) Many thanks to Gus Giordanengo and the other fine folk at their Northern California headquarters for donated the pressure guage and other installation fixtures that go with the pump, and many thanks to the San Manual Band of Mission Indians for donating the funds to purchase the pump itself.

[Photo] Sam and Gus admire the custom-made box JJ has fashioned to send Dr. Ron's harmonica to the highest bidder who wins the eBay auction (see Item #3740404120, auction ends Aug 10). Proceeds go to benefit the Children's Learning Gardens!

Ethan Allen, a geology graduate student at Loma Linda University, works with wife Evie to complete the installation of the African Lilies in front of the house. The Children's Learning Gardens gets the use of the 1 acre property in return for making landscaping improvements. 

[Photo] Evie Allen (center), a dental school employee and resident of the nearby Riverview neighborhood, works with Eco-Elite youth VO, RL and SL, planting African Lilies around the house where the Children's Learning Gardens are located. 

[Photo] Paola, Emilie and Julie among the 14 garden boxes in the Children's Learning Garden. (Shana's on the grant-writing team too, but couldn't make it this morning.)
 

[Photo] Global Health students from Loma Linda University's School of Public Health are working on a grant proposal for the garden program. Visiting the site early this morning were (left to right) Paola, Emilie, and Julie. 

Grant Writers visit

Served breakfast at "The Gardens" to three Public Health student who need to write a grant proposal for one of their classes. They're going to write it to raise money for our Children's Learning Gardens! Unfortunately, I had a physical exam slated for 8 am, so had to be fasting myself.

[Photo] Gus, a Medical Student from Loma Linda University, installs 1/4" drip system line using our homemade clips to hold them in place!

Got the pressure booster pump half installed (See http://www.pressurebooster.com/ These folks donated the fixtures to install the pump!). Had to build a little "dog house" to protect the pump from the elements, so we'll finish that and the rest of the installation tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Gus (for Gustav, a medical student at Loma Linda University School of Medicine who is volunteering), also laid down drip system lines for the flower beds in front of the house. Mrs. Lewis, who owns the house and property, let's us use the 1 acre lot in return for our making improvements to the property. Hence our efforts to install front yard landscaping. However, this part of San Bernardino has such low water pressure that our sprinklers won't keep a lawn watered without additional pressure--hence the pump!

Also took EZ-up sun cover, table, and chairs over to the Orange Show Swap Meet so the Child Life Dept. from LLUCH (Loma Linda University Children's Hospital), could have a booth there for the morning.

Norton Neighborhoods Intro

We've been at it nearly 3 years now, so a blog is long overdue! Check out what we do at: http://www.healthycities.com/nn_gardens.htm

Today, Jason and Gus are installing a pressure booster pump so we can complete the front yard landscaping.

Some of the kids may come to do some painting and to start posting donated stuff on eBay!