ReGrowLA: Los Angeles Revegetation Project

Green space, park access, and trees

Central LA South LA Long Beach

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

In Los Angeles, a lack of green spaces and limited access to free or affordable organic produce has created a crisis of food injustice that disproportionately affects low-income, Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities. These neighborhoods are often categorized as food deserts, meaning there are few to no fresh affordable food options nearby. Fast food processed products dominate our cityscape are on almost every corner in certain zip codes. As a result, residents face higher rates of diet-related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, poor mental health and obesity. Healthy food becomes a privilege, not a human right, deepening cycles of poverty, poor health, and disconnection from nature. The absence of green spaces compounds this issue. Parks, gardens, and safe outdoor environments are not equitably distributed across Los Angeles. In South Central, public green spaces are scarce or poorly maintained, no true relationships nor understanding of plants/ vegetation exists.

The ReGROWLA project addresses financial insecurity and the lack of green spaces in urban Los Angeles through community-based agriculture and education that is low to no cost. We will directly respond by transforming underused land into regenerative gardens that produce free organic food and serve as community growing spaces. These gardens reduce grocery costs while also providing hands-on training in agriculture, soil care, composting, financial literacy and native planting. The project prioritizes youth and families, equipping them with skills that can lead to side income or long-term careers in green industries, entrepreneurship, and small business development. ReGROWLA partners with schools, churches, and community centers to bring gardens and educational workshops directly into the heart of impacted neighborhoods.
Beyond food production, ReGROWLA provides a vital emotional and cultural benefit by reclaiming land for healing, learning, and connection. Many of the neighborhoods served by the program lack access to clean, safe green spaces and are still recovering from the trauma of wildfires or environmental neglect. The gardens become spaces of reflection, joy, and cultural exchange where families grow, cook, and learn together. These spaces also improve mental health, reduce community stress, and help address isolation and disconnection.

The ReGROWLA work will be successful; we will see a major shift in how families grow and access food at home. In neighborhoods with limited green space. Residents will learn to grow fresh, organic produce in their own yards, balconies, or windowsills. This will reduce food costs, improve diets, and give families more control over what they eat. Residents will receive training in composting, soil care, and native planting, helping them build small gardens with long-term impact. As more people grow food at home, neighborhoods will become greener, healthier, and more self-reliant.
This success could also influence local policy, encouraging more support for home gardening, land access, more local involvement in city politics/ city planning and urban agriculture. In the long term, Los Angeles County will benefit from healthier people, greener neighborhoods, and a stronger local food system led by the people who live there.