Seeding for Resilience

Green space, park access, and trees

Central LA East LA South LA San Gabriel Valley San Fernando Valley West LA

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

Due to historic redlining and environmental racism, Los Angeles suffers from severe shade inequity and inconsistent access to green space, with lower-income communities and people of color having significantly less access to both shade and green space. Los Angeles has the least amount of accessible park space among major US metropolitan areas, with the worst access in communities of color. 41 of Los Angeles's 262 neighborhoods have less than 1 acre of park space per 1,000 people. A 2024 study found that 25% of households in Los Angeles County experienced food insecurity, and 41% of low-income households did. Fresh produce is often unattainable for low-income markets, leading to health concerns for these community members.

Along with the human implications that come with lack of shade and green space (Asthma, cardiovascular disease, heat-related illness), there are myriad ecological consequences—habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity loss are occurring at alarming rates.

Seed libraries offer a ray of hope—they can help connect people to their places, support local wildlife and pollinators through the distribution of native plants, and equip communities with the tools they need to cool their microclimates, increase access to green spaces, combat shade inequity, improve air quality, and replenish aquifers. They act as community hubs, allowing neighbors to connect to one another, and when used at urban farms or community gardens, seed libraries help to solve food insecurity issues across LA. And because they are free resources, there are no financial or bureaucratic barriers to access.

Altadena Seed Library pairs seed distribution with education via instructional videos, zines and pamphlets, workshops, and other programming. Our hope is not just to grow capacity for tending to seedlings and plants, but also to reconnect humans with their natural counterparts and help them understand our interconnected role in the ecosystem.

If this program is successful, Los Angeles will be overflowing with native plants, pocket parks, and urban gardens. Human and nonhuman neighbors will be familiar and supportive of one another, habitats for pollinators and birds will be regenerated. The air will be cooler and cleaner from the transpiration of native plants, leading to healthier air quality and lower risks of athsma, cardiovascular disease, and heat-related illness. Angelenos will see the beauty and reciprocal benefits of our native ecosystems.