The community garden in La Mirada started at a location, over 20 years ago behind Fire Station 49 on La Mirada Boulevard., Berklite told us. It consisted of about 25 plots and was originally a program that was run by Los Angeles County.

When the city decided to build the activity center about 12 years ago, he went on say, the garden had to go.

After scouting the city for months for a new spot, with no luck, they ultimately discovered the then-called Mt. Olive Lutheran Church on Biola Avenue. The church not only owned its 43,000 square foot property, it also had a very large grass field on the back of its lot-undisturbed for decades.

"My kids would come over to this field when they were youngsters, and play," said Berklite.

The church and city came to an agreement in which the church would receive $12,000 annually from the city in exchange for the use of the property. Also at that time, the city also paid $45,000 to convert the field; they installed a water system, built the garden plots, and paved the church parking lot.

Berklite said, "The city really did a nice job of putting it together."

However, two years ago, with the "recession" in full swing, the city told the gardeners they were considering to no longer subsidize the garden, potentially leaving the gardeners "high and dry."

Then, after seven months of negotiations with the church and city, the church thankfully eventually agreed to a price of only $5,000 yearly. However, the club would have to pay the fee themselves, so the price had to be raised to the current $120 per year, per garden plot.  If everyone makes their payments, it barely covers the $5,000 cost.

The city still pays for the water and other utilities and they also handle the payment processing and other administration responsibilities.

As I walked around the garden, there was an abundance of garden smells, sounds and wildlife including lizards, butterflies and birds and all kinds of beneficial insects.

There was also solitude.

I noticed each space was a reflection of its owner's personality. Some grew all one vegetable crop, some just flowers, some had raised beds, and most had a variety of produce; and each space was its own creation.

Composting seems to be a popular trend among the gardeners as well.

Berklite told us that some of the gardeners grow your basic crops and some are growing specialty, exotic, or favorite plants from their homelands. And, he says there is the occasional problem, "I came by the other morning and a possum was eating my strawberries. I trap them and release them at Creek Park. I caught nine last year."

He told us he would like to see the garden expand, "After we fill the last two spots we would like to establish a waiting list."

If you would like to chat with Bob, you can catch him at the garden every morning, but he won't be pushing papers, just dirt.

On my way out, he gave me a couple of "Hawaiian Gold" tomato plants to grow at home.

To get your own plot, or for more information about the La Mirada Community Garden call (562) 943-7277.