Ron Finley, self-proclaimed “gangster gardener,” helps a young girl plant a sunflower seedling.
Just months ago, the lightly browned yard behind the oldest operating library in LA sat unused, save for the handful of individuals who relaxed in it.
Ron Finley’s latest South LA garden grows renewed community interest in fresh foods
July 20, 2015 By 1 Comment
A garden sprouts at South LA Library
April 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Lush greenery shades the street on Ron Finley’s parkway in South LA. | Marisa Zocco
From a tiny seed, a mighty garden may grow. This is precisely what Ron Finley is aiming for as he kicks off the development of his Vermont Square Library garden project in South Los Angeles.
Finley, a South L.A. native, plans to turn the library’s yard into an open-air library beginning May 28, complete with string lights and swings hanging from the trees. The transformation will coincide with L.A. Design Festival, running through June 14. During the time, tutorials will provide instruction on how to make Adirondack chairs out of palettes, graffiti artists will paint murals on giant panels, and movies may be shown al fresco. [Read more…]
Vermont Square Library celebrates 100 years
November 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Located in a residential area on 48th St between Vermont and Normandie, the Vermont Square Public Library has served South L.A. for 100 years. Through the century, the building has watched the neighborhood change both physically — from dirt to paved roads — and demographically as new residents moved into the community.
