WORK PROGRAM FOR 2008

Sustainable Pacific Grove is currently focusing on three major areas.   The first of these is to create a sustainable water supply.   The second is to maintain and expand the Green Spot demonstration site.   The third is an initiative aimed at increasing locally produced food.  

Water  

SPG's water initiative is described in detail in the Water Position Paper. (Link)To begin this effort the following activities are now being undertaken:

• Learning about and mapping the watershed in Pacific Grove, identify creeks and streams, and meet with watershed experts to learn how urban watersheds can be reclaimed.

• Contacting potential partners to learn of their interest in working with us.

• Pursuing potential hosting of a watershed display, including cisterns and small space garden demonstration, at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.

• Presenting to Council and seeking City support for reclaiming our local watershed

• Preparing detailed work program steps, timeframes, and milestones.

• Seeking out experts with knowledge about cisterns, holding tanks, grey water systems, €œmultiple touch €� water planning.

• Preparing watershed plan for Pacific Grove, including potential areas for tanks and storage, ponds, creeks.   Identifying areas appropriate for planting trees adjacent to wet areas; areas where water can be captured from curbs, swales, creeks; water saving devices, grey water systems.

• Meeting with public health and regulating bodies and seek regulatory changes where needed. (Grey water systems)

• Obtaining funding

• Making assignments and start installations and demonstrations.  

If you would like to join with us on the SPG water initiative, please contact: Annette by email at   -

Green Spot

• Get message board and white board, write out water schedule, notes to each other and information for how the public can get involved.
• Develop self-explanatory signage so public can learn without us having to be there.  (e.g. solar systems, composting, cisterns, fog catchers, plants that grow well in PG)
• Develop self led walking tours of the site.
• Cut cover crop and compost on swale then plant out the first swale with blue berries and other bush fruit.
• Plant additional insectiaries in Butterfly Garden.
• Find and install additional water catchment systems throughout property.
• Plant additional lettuce garden in center section.
• Dig and plant second swale above first swale.
• Secure additional soil and or organic fertilizer for our gardens.
• Obtain composter from MRWMD and collect compost locally to enrich g-spot soil.
• Plant companion plants around fruit trees (carrots, onions, peas, beans, etc)
• Build cob bench and oven to show how to cook outside.
• Build herb spiral to showcase growing in a small area.
• Figure out how we can water plants more easily.
• Any other ideas about painting or enhancing the property in a sustainable / artistic way are welcome.
• Have more parties, invite others to come together to share fun times.

If you would like to join in and help at the Green Spot, please contact: Gil by email at   -

Food

For the past year SPG has been pursuing ideas that would help to increase our local food supply.   In 2007 we asked the City of Pacific Grove to pursue the creation of a weekly farmers market. This market is now in the final planning stages and is to open in June of 2008.   In addition, we have incorporated demonstration gardens into the Green Spot.   We have showcased the types of trees and plants that can be grown in Pacific Grove and have also installed compost and cistern systems that can support the garden.  

In 2009, SPG hopes to find more people who can work with us on our food initiative.   The following is a listing of some of the activities we can pursue.  

• Identify the microclimates within Pacific Grove and determine where crops and trees of different varieties can best be grown.

• Encourage home gardens and composting until we have community systems in place for community gardens.

• Learn about and collect heritage seeds, propagate seeds in our own gardens until we have a community garden and greenhouse.  

• Hold a seed and cutting exchange. Invite seed and garden experts who know about Pacific Grove to come to meetings.

• Hold a canning workshop, invite experts in storage to meeting.  

• Contact nurseries and find bulk buying opportunities and see if residents would want to come to a bulk buying event.

• Once water system in place, plant fruit trees throughout town in parks, edge areas, etc.

• Begin work on community composting program, including collecting restaurant waste.

• Explore ways the schools can get more involved in water collection and food growing.

• Support efforts in Salinas and Carmel Valley to grow a diversity of food for local markets, making contact with local growers  

Currently, we are looking for an individual who would like to champion this effort.   If you are interested, please contact us at:  

In the future we also dream about combining efforts with other sustainable groups to:

• Bring the train back to the Monterey Area.

• Creating a sail network, talk with Monterey to begin a sail and ship transport system such as being explored in Washington.

• Creating trading systems to exchange food and products with sustainability partners