At the OASIS Senior Center on Margaret Avenue in Corona del Mar, the summer produce is hard to resist, taking up more than 5,000 square feet of outdoor space.
“We've got nine spaces here where we grow peppers, tomatoes, celery, romaine lettuce, red potatoes and zucchini,” says Scott Paulsen, president of the Friends of Oasis Garden Club, who shares his produce with city employees and Oasis members. “I eat produce every day, and still grow enough to donate.”
Paulsen, who lives in Newport Beach, is especially proud of her plump, red tomatoes.
“I've harvested about 20 so far. I eat them every night and they're so fresh and tasty,” he said. “They grow so big you never know; one day they're eight inches long and the next they're over a foot long. I usually use two large zucchinis to make a delicious zucchini pineapple bread, which makes about 12 loaves.”
Paulsen brings homemade bread to OASIS and gives it away for free.
The garden club, which started 14 years ago, currently has 57 plots, most of which are 11 feet by 11 feet, with about half of those plots reserved for beginning gardeners. There is a waiting list of 50 people and a $5 fee to maintain an interest in a garden. There is a $30 fee and a $40 deposit to have a garden. The club meets monthly except in the summer and holds gardening lectures that are free and open to the public.
Newport Beach resident Linda Simos said she has been bidding for OASIS Gardens for five years, the same length of time she was on the waiting list.
“I live in an apartment and don't have a garden at home,” explains Simos, who grows kale, tomatoes, herbs and roses, “and it's allowed me to meet a whole new set of people I would never have met without it.” [existence of the] garden.”
This garden at the OASIS Senior Center features a variety of produce and flowers, including marigolds, which repel insects.
(Susan Hoffman)
There are some common sense rules that govern organic spaces.
“Don't pick from other people's gardens, and don't plant things that block sunlight or interfere with other gardens, like nasturtiums,” Paulsen says. “Gardeners should: [their gardens] “Level it, get rid of the weeds, make it look nice and make good use of a large part of the land. We don't want the land to go to waste; so many people want it.”
He said the garden club board plans to tell members who aren't properly maintaining their plots to fix them or have their plots taken away. “We'll give 30 days' notice,” he said. “It's not strict, but we have standards.”
According to OASIS Director Melissa Gleason, animal control was called after a yard owner found the 4-foot-long rattlesnake on the morning of June 26.
“Everybody was very calm, especially the animal control officers. [to the rattler]”'Hey buddy, you're amazing.' We've had snakes in our yard periodically, but this is the first time we've had a rattlesnake,” Gleason said. “We can't keep everything out of reach. We're close to Back Gully, so we're doing the best we can.”
Gleason said the snake was turned over to the Newport Beach Animal Shelter.
Paulsen has also battled wildlife that visits his land, but he made no mention of reptiles.
“We get vermin coming up from the hillsides, and rabbits love my beans,” he says.
“Gardening is a great hobby. It's one more place to be active and most people stay and don't want to give it up,” he added. “It's a great place and we love it.”
