Support Student Native Garden @ Amara Kitchen (and Beyond)

My name is Ainsley Drake, I'm a 10th grade horticulture student at Eagle Rock High School. I am very passionate about the environment and have been waiting a long time to carry out this project and it's finally happening.

This year, I'm raising funds to plant native and drought-resistant plants in parkways around Highland Park businesses. I'm very pleased to have the cooperation of Amara Kitchen to plant new natives in their storefront parkway that extends down Ave. 64.

We will be adding 7 new species of native shrubs and herbs to support our L.A. Ecosystem. This project will help invite our neighborhood pollinators while supporting local business. It is proven that attractive landscaping helps increase foot traffic - especially to restaurants.

Amara Kitchen unfortunately lost their secondary location to the recent Eaton fire, so I am very happy to be able to give them this service as a token of my neighborhood's appreciation of their business.

Amara Kitchen has graciously agreed to supply water to the garden for the first year to allow the natives to take root - after which they are fully self-sufficient. In addition, I will be conducting monthly trimming and maintenance (as I live a block away from the site).

These funds will be used exclusively to buy soil and plants; all of which will be sourced from local vendors (Theodore Payne Foundation).

ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS BEYOND THE ORIGINAL $300 GOAL WILL BE PUT TOWARDS OTHER PARKWAY PROJECTS IN HIGHLAND PARK.