Oscars and The Real Dirt on an Urban Garden

You gotta see this documentary called The Garden. (And not just because a Life & Times segment Val did is in the doc for a whole 30 seconds.)

Remember a few years ago when there was big fight over a huge community garden south of downtown? It’s where mostly Latino gardeners used to grow everything from cilantro to bananas. You may remember the news stories with Darryl Hannah up a tree. But the full story is fascinating and revealing. And now the doc has been nominated for an Oscar!

The battle starts when the property owner wants his land back. That sets off a multi-year legal fight that uncovers - surprise - some L.A. City Hall shenanigans, Black-Brown tensions, and a behind-the-scenes feud between Mayor Villaraigosa and City Councilwoman Jan Perry. The ending is as dramatic as a Hollywood film. Only this one is real.

I’ll be rooting for it on Sunday. Here’s a clip along with comments from the director, Scott Hamilton Kennedy.

Producers: Christal Smith and Shereen Meraji; Editor: Shereen Meraji