As the summer kicks off, the San Carlos Community Garden continues their focus for growing community with a new musical focus.
The month of May marks the start of a music and purpose-filled time for the San Carlos Community Garden (SCCG). Award-winning and local indie band and trio, “Enter the Blue Sky,” will perform the fourth Saturday of every month from 10 – 11 a.m. at the SCCG during its monthly Produce Swap event from May – September.
With a blend of instrumentals, three-part harmonies and original melodies, Enter the Blue Sky has a unique and poetic story-telling style. Their album “Wanderlust” was nominated for “Best Americana Album of the Year” at the 2021 San Diego Music Awards. The trio also won the 2020 “Best New Country Band of the Year” with the West Coast Country Music Association.
Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Sandé Lollis writes all the band’s songs and performs as their lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Lollis was also nominated for the San Diego Music Award’s “Best Country or Americana Artist.” Karen Childress-Evans plays the viola for the group and adds to the group’s unique Americana sound. Backing vocalist Tina Dee equally creates a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere of sound. Their talent and experience is showcased both collectively and with dynamic solos as the group plays at both local and abroad events.
“The Produce Swap is a great place to swap fruits and vegetables, herbs and flowers and a great place to meet people from the community,” according to SCCG Board Member Leslie Nelson (pictured above with Bree Gonzalez and Stella Unchurtu).
Stella Unchurtu, another one of SCCG’s volunteers, greets all and makes everyone feel welcome. Bree Gonzales, a nutritionist and recipe writer for several publications, also voluntarily helps manage the Produce Swap. “Bree usually shares her wonderful homemade sourdough bread with a seasonal spread which attendees of all ages enjoy,” Nelson said. “The homemade bread comprises just a sample of Bree’s hospitality. She’ll also share nutritious tips and recipes if you ask.”
“The Produce Swap event starts at 9:30. We recommend arriving early if you want to contribute. And, bring the kids! We always have a planned arts and crafts activity to entertain the children.” Nelson said.
In addition to the music from Enter the Blue Sky, the Brew Coffee Spot will be providing free hot coffee during this event, May-September. “All are welcome to come out and experience our Produce Swap…even if the only thing you have to share is a smile.” Additionally, on June 23, July 28 and Aug. 25 from 5 – 7 p.m., the SCCG will host a summer concert series, “Stuff the Pantry,” with the purpose of bringing the community together to enjoy the garden, talents of local musicians, and collect food donations for the Good Shepherd Food Pantry to aid food insecure families in our community. Various local artists and bands will be performing. Entry to the event is permitted with a donation of a non-perishable item; a financial donation for the garden is also welcomed.
For Lollis, this partnership and concert series’ goal will have large and necessary impacts on the community.
“[The SCCG’s] focus is on “stuff the pantry,” that’s a really cool purpose,” Lollis said. “People that come out are supporting a great cause. I’m a hippie at heart and I like sharing and the idea of sharing. Sharing fruits and vegetables, sharing time, it’s all of that. Having people come together that wouldn’t normally be together, it broadens and enriches everyone. When people ask me about my music, sharing is at the top of it. The more connections we can make, the more understanding and tolerant and accepting we’ll be of each other, the more comfortable and honest discourse can take place.”
Director of Good Shepherd Ministry Center Susan Naslund further explained the importance of this partnership with SCCG, which began in Dec. 2022.
“The Bethlehem Food Pantry [BFP] is the flagship ministry of the Good Shepherd Ministry Center (sister campus of Foothills United Methodist Church in La Mesa) […] the vision of the BFP is to provide a dignified source of nourishment to our neighbors in the City of El Cajon,” Naslund said. “Recently, the BFP began a wonderful partnership with San Carlos Community Garden to fulfill that vision. The SCCG has generously dedicated a section of their garden for growing produce and donating that to the BFP to be passed along to our neighbors.”
Rising food shortage records among San Diego communities have led both the SCCG and the Good Shepherd Ministry Center to take action. NBC San Diego reported that as of “June 2022, nearly one in four San Diego Country residents were nutrition insecure.” Additionally, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) emergency allotments, a federal program that allows monthly food funds to more than 41 million people, also stopped after Feb. 2023, according to Feeding America.
“Ninety-five percent of our guests are sheltered and have access to kitchens,” Naslund explained. “Access to free food makes room in budgets for insurance, gasoline and medical expenses, allowing our guests to remain housed. Nutritious food such as produce from the SCCG is especially important to promote health and wellness.”
Check out sancarloscommunitygarden.com for more on their monthly line-up of monthly events including Alphabet Soup, garden workshops and more.
