EHP's Pi Garden Gets a Make Over

When EHP relocated to their current East Palo Alto site in 2003, a portion of the property was reserved for a community garden. EHP envisioned low-income neighbors using our plot to grow their own organic vegetables. Garden boxes were built on one side and the circular Pi Garden soon followed. Shaped like a pie with 8 planter boxes resembling slices, people could grow different crops in each slice of the pie. It was a unique look, but wasted space that could be used to grow more food.
In 2019, volunteer May Chevallier took on EHP's organic garden boxes and in no time, our little garden was growing fresh produce all year long. But there wasn't enough time or volunteers to utilize the Pi Garden efficiently.
Last year, EHP established a partnership with the Housing Industry Foundation. Best known for their Homeless Prevention Programs and Emergency Housing grants, HIF also offers renovation grants to nonprofits. HIF awarded EHP a grant to renovate the Pi Garden and brought in their longtime supporter, BellaVista Landscaping Services, who donated their time and materials. With additional donations from Lyngso Garden Materials and Pine Cone Lumber, the garden expansion project got the green light. During a whirlwind 3-day event in November, the BellaVista team, Scott Clawson, and HIF volunteers built and installed new planter boxes and a drip irrigation system. EHP expects the newly renovated section will easily double our production of fresh vegetables going forward. We would like to thank Housing Industry Foundation, Executive Director, Steve Sullivan, and their Corporate Champion volunteers, BellaVista Landscaping Services, Scott Clawson, Pine Cone Lumber, and Lyngso Garden Materials for giving new life to our Organic Garden.