ESCONDIDO, Calif. – Volunteers swarmed the Aster Gardens Transitional Housing complex in Escondido, California on November 21-22 in order to assist in creating a beautiful space for those that were formerly homeless and/or in great need.
Landscaping expert and TV host Ahmed Hassan joined ‘Sustainable Heroes’ co-founder Duane Draughon, owner and Outdoor Living Designer at VizX Design Studio.
This particular project, a multi-dimensional outdoor space including landscape, foodscape, outdoor living and play area, was for the residents living at Aster Street Gardens. The land that was transformed is part of Interfaith Community Services’ Housing Program, which provides housing support for over 400 individuals each year, including homeless parents and children, as well as seniors, adults with disabilities and veterans. The space was a blank slate of grass, a few shrubs and some old raised beds that hadn’t been adequately tended to in years.
The co-founders led their volunteer group of professionals known as Sustainable Heroes through the rigors of this quick-turnaround charitable project, as well as supervising generous and hardworking local volunteers. The Sustainable Heroes team includes contractors, carpenters, landscapers, project managers, designers and more which flew in from around the country to assist. One of the team members was Horticulturalist Tylee Sewell, who was featured on the cover of Lawn & Landscape's June issue. The team remained focused on the importance of providing tenants with a safe outdoor haven that would assist them with rebuilding their lives.
The generosity and dedication from a wealth of sponsors, volunteers and residents coming together are what saw this project through from dream state to reality. The completed Aster Gardens outdoor living space provides some of Escondido’s most vulnerable community members a beautiful place to gather, play, eat, harvest vegetables and just be.
Learn more about upcoming charitable projects on their new website: http://SustainableHeroes.org
