Gardening in South Los Angeles

A good journey to being a good neighbor (and provider)

In 1988, Beverly Lofton made the move to the Hyde Park neighborhood in South Los Angeles. Like many South Los Angeles neighborhoods at that time, it was a mix of working and middle-class families but suffered from higher crime rates than other parts of the city.

Relocating there was a good move. Within one year, she would be married, and since then, she has grown what can only be called (figuratively and metaphorically) good, deep roots.

Skipping forward to 2020, in the midst of the COVID pandemic, Beverly first connected with Crop Swap LA, an organization dedicated to transforming underutilized spaces into sustainable microfarms. Their collective goal? Job creation, water conservation, and food security could be realized.

Starting towards this goal in 2021, reimagining her once-thirsty lawn into one with raised beds and a drip irrigation system that runs on recycled water. Subsequent addition include a solar power infrastructure and robust composting system. By 2022, it was a flourishing beacon of production, accomplishment, and hope for the neighborhood and community.

Beverly in her garden. Photo courtesy of Gabriella Angotti-Jones/The Guardian

Carrots, beets, radishes, potatoes, bok chop, collard and string beans… The list of what is grown and harvested is vast and mazing. Equally amazing is the personal journey Beverly has travelled, her husband (do we need to add he was a cook and foodie?) passed in 1996, and her garden bears his name.

A portrait (of the late husband) in the garden. Photo courtesy of Gabriella Angotti-Jones/The Guardian

The garden is not only a source of pride for the community but a hub, with neighbors frequently pausing to check in on the progress, share tips and occasionally work with the Crop Swap LA team members who maintain the garden.

South Los Angeles is enjoying a bit of recent renaissance, but this is an accomplishment worth celebrating in and of itself. A journey of perseverance, community, agency and connection to the land. The fact that the produce now grown in an urban front yard can nourish neighbors and commemorate her husband rightly fills Beverly with joy and purpose.

That’s a good thing.