LTC 223-2007 Joseph J. Vallari Victory Garden present Rainwater Harvesting Cisternm MIAMIBEACH
~~~~~~~o
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER ~~,~~~~
NO. LTC # 223-2007 ~~~~~T~ ~,VM~~SS~ON
CI i Y C~t'~~'S OFF -CE
TO: Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
FROM: City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez ~~ ~ Ill ~~~/ L ,
DATE: October 9, 2007
SUBJECT: Miami Beach Parks & Recreation and the Joseph J. Vallari Victory Garden
proudly present the new Rainwater Harvesting Cistern
The Parks and Recreation Department is proud to announce that AVEENO° and Organic
Gardening Magazine have recently installed a new rainwater-harvesting cistern at the
Joseph J. Vallari Victory Garden. The new rainwater collection system will allow Victory
Gardeners to water their vegetables and flowers without tapping into South Florida's limited
freshwater drinking supply.
Like much of the rest of the country, South Florida has recently experienced severe drought
conditions. The watering of home lawns and gardens results in a huge demand on our
limited, potable water supply. In order to conserve this most valuable resource; the Miami
Beach Victory Gardeners have partnered with AVEENO® and Organic Gardening Magazine
to install the rain barrel as a means to water their garden plots and set an important example
for other home gardeners.
"An inch and a half of rain on a thousand square foot roof gives you 500 gallons of water.
Knowing that it rains an average of 53 inches a year in Miami, we shouldn't be using
municipal water to water our gardens," says Renee Savary Co-Chair-Person of the Victory
Garden's Citizen Steering Committee. Thanks to Mr. John Aushra, President of the Co-op in
the building next door to the Victory Garden for allowing use of the roof space to provide the
gardeners with all of the water they will need for this growing season and all of the seasons
to come!
On Saturday, October 13th at 11:OOam, the City of Miami Beach will hold a short
ceremony and reception to officially celebrate the community garden, at 226 Collins
Avenue. Members of the community will be in attendance at the unveiling, enjoying the
celebration and dedication of the new rainwater collection cistern.
The Victory Garden is a City of Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department community
gardening program that allows Miami Beach residents to cultivate a plot of land for growing
vegetables, flowers and herbs. The Victory Garden Steering Committee oversees the
operation of the garden and the City provides support. There are about thirty two Miami
Beach residents on the waiting list. Anew Community Garden is currently under
construction in North Beach. Please call Rhonda Gracie at (305) 673-7730 for more
information.
JMG/RCM/KS/JO/bc
Attachment
~ ~~ ,
L a.J ~ ~ M fq 'C) ~ ~ ',
~ ~ 't~j V L' o ~o ¢ ® r0
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-J
c~ a ~ ~ *~ ~ j ~ ¢ ~
~ ~ ~ L ev a
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 7 ~ u
i~
~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~
~~
~~ ~ ~