Save Our Water Garden Day at Akoma Unity Center

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—(June 27, 2022) – Akoma Unity Center in partnership with California’s Save Our Water (SOW) program recently hosted a day of gardening and fun at Anne Sherrills Community Garden. Families harvested produce and increased their water conservation knowledge with free resources and giveaways.

The SOW program aims to remind Californians that now is the time to make active changes to save water, starting in our yards and gardens. Current severe drought conditions have called for an increase in water conservation efforts inside and outside of homes. This partnership was designed to share the most effective ways to reduce water use and encourage everyone to help save California’s water.

Community organizations such as People’s Collective for Environmental Justice, City of San Bernardino Water Department, California Alliance for Community Composting, and California Department of Water Resources came out to teach families how to conserve water in their households, care for their plants, and provided resources to help households navigate water conservation.

The Anne Shirrells Community Garden has become a unique space in which elders, youth, and young adults find common ground in caring and growing for nutritious vegetables, fruits, and herbs to feed families while inspiring a passion for sustainability and teaching the vital importance of taking care of mother earth and ultimately community.

“The community garden has been a source of intergenerational healing and knowledge sharing. We are extremely thankful for the youth, master gardeners and composters, and neighbors that have committed the time and effort to help grow and sustain the garden,” said Kimberly Calvin, executive director of Akoma Unity Center. “Over 55 families came out to help harvest, takehome fresh produce including zucchinis, carrots, strawberries, collard greens, squash, jalapenos, eggplants. In addition to receiving household water conservation items to help us all work towards sustainably saving water!”

Akoma Unity Center hosts garden work days every Saturday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Families interested in volunteering can visit www.Akomaunitycenter.org or follow their Instagram, @Akomaunitycenter.

For more water conservation resources and tips, visit saveourwater.com and follow @Saveourwater on Instagram and Facebook.