One Earth Community Garden

01/2024

Logo created to represent the collaboration between Grow Monrovia & the Maryknoll Sisters.

“Every living being, seen and unseen, is a sacred participant in re-creating our world.”

-Sr. Arlene Trant

The One Earth Community Garden (now called Earth Commons Community Garden) is the result of a collaboration between the Maryknoll Sisters and Grow Monrovia, built on a shared belief: that every living being, seen and unseen, is a sacred participant in re-creating our world. This garden is more than a place to grow food. It is a sanctuary for wildlife, a hub for neighbors, and a living expression of spiritual and ecological stewardship. Located on a once-unused patch of land on the Maryknoll property, this garden has been transformed into a vibrant, regenerative ecosystem that invites both humans and wildlife to return, connect, and thrive.

The Process: Healing the Land, Layer by Layer

Creating the One Earth Community Garden was a hands-on effort rooted in ecological restoration and community care. The site was initially covered in weeds, compacted soil, and an unexpected amount of buried plastic and concrete debris. We began by clearing the land.

To rebuild the soil, we used lasagna mulching, layering cardboard, compost, and mulch to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and activate microbial life. This approach allowed the soil to heal underground ecosystems.

With the ground revitalized, we shaped the layout of the garden. Paths, beds, and special garden zones were formed using natural materials like logs, rocks, and recycled wood. Areas like the Miyawaki food forest and eco garden beds were placed to make the most of sun, water, and biodiversity. Every part of the process was done with intention, building a garden that would support people and wildlife for years to come.

Design & Function: Built for Life, Not Landfill

Every feature of the garden was designed with sustainability and interdependence in mind. The eco garden beds are constructed using cardboard, mulch, compost, cut logs, and rocks as natural borders. These beds not only grow food and habitat but model an earth-friendly, closed-loop system.

The garden includes its own on-site composting infrastructure, with both traditional and worm (vermiculture) compost bins, ensuring that organic waste is transformed into life-giving soil.

A Miyawaki-style food forest was also planted, creating a densely layered grove of edible and native plants that mimics natural forest growth. This method fosters faster biodiversity and root development, helping restore soil and microclimate conditions.

In a water-scarce region like Southern California, conserving every drop is crucial. Each bed is equipped with at least two ollas, an ancient irrigation tool made of unglazed clay pots buried in the soil. These ollas are filled with water, which slowly seeps into the surrounding earth, providing deep hydration directly to plant roots. Combined with mulch, this approach drastically reduces evaporation and runoff while helping the soil retain moisture longer.

Ecological Impact: Habitat in Action

Since its planting, the garden has restored balance to the land, inviting back a diverse community of creatures. Birds, bees, foxes, skunks, and squirrels now call the space home, forming a self-sustaining web of life that naturally keeps pests in check. With healthy predators and pollinators returning, the property no longer relies on rat poisons or chemical sprays to protect its trees or crops.

Through native planting and intentional habitat design, the garden now supports complex ecological relationships; ones that work with nature rather than against it. Each being, from the visible to the microscopic, plays a role in maintaining this balance. Every bird, butterfly, fungus, and fox is recognized as a vital co-worker in the ongoing regeneration of the land.

Community Involvement: Rooted in Relationship

The garden was brought to life through the hands and hearts of the Grow Monrovia team, and a dedicated group of local volunteers. It continues to serve the surrounding community through workshops, meditation, special events, community meals, food harvesting, and educational programs. Whether it’s a child learning how compost works, or a neighbor gathering greens for dinner, the space cultivates connection on every level: ecological, spiritual, and human.

A Vision Made Visible

The One Earth Community Garden stands as a testament to the Maryknoll Sisters’ spiritual vision. A place where Divine Love flows freely and nurtures wholeness in all beings. It shows what’s possible when a patch of forgotten land becomes a sanctuary, a classroom, a gathering space, and a sacred commons.