While the days warm and the sunflowers bloom, the San Carlos Community Garden (SCCG) has a variety of community events and activities planned for the summer months.

Playtime in the Garden is a free event designed to spark one’s child’s creativity, engage their senses and stimulate their interest in the natural world around them. Every Thursday until Aug. 17 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., children (eight and younger) explore the garden while learning about a “plant of the week” then partake in a fun arts and crafts activity.

The activity is run by SCCG volunteers and early-childhood education college students, Calley Stein, Holly Walsingham and Kaylie Walsingham, all who grew up in the community and volunteered in the garden as children themselves with their families during SCCG’s groundbreaking years.

“SCCG is an all-volunteer run non-profit organization and every program we host is run by volunteers. “After being in this community for more than ten years, we are now starting to see a new generation of volunteers who want to be involved,” said Kelly Wood, SCCG Vice-Chair.

“I think it’s really cool to see how much the garden has evolved since I first volunteered here as a young child,” Walsingham said. “It’s come together really well and now the garden offers so many different events for the community. It’s cool to still be a part of it and help it grow even more.”

Joanna Foley, a local of the San Carlos community, and her daughter Stella Foley participated in the first Playtime in the Garden event.

“I’m always looking for free and fun activities for my young kids. I think getting out in nature is so great for kids’ development,” Joanna said.

For music lovers, the SCCG’s Friday night Stuff the Pantry Concert Series will be held on Friday evenings, July 28 and Aug. 25 from 5 – 7 p.m. This event brings San Diego musicians together to perform while raising awareness and support for our food insecure communities. July’s singer-songwriter line-up will include Donn Bree, Cathryn Beeks and Eric Neilson.

Entry to the concert is granted by bringing a non-perishable food item, which will be donated to the Good Shepherd Food Pantry in El Cajon.

On the fourth Saturday of the month, from 9:30 – 11 a.m., indie folk band Enter the Blue Sky will perform during the SCCG’s Produce Swap and Music Share. The band is composed of award-winning vocalist and songwriter Sandé Lollis, viola player Karen Childress-Evans and backing vocalist Tina Dee.

Lollis, who also organizes the musical talent for the Stuff the Pantry concert, explained her reasoning for wanting to share her music, as well as the talent of others, in the garden while supporting a charitable cause.

“These concerts offer people enjoyment, but it also gives them the opportunity to share for themselves,” Lollis said. “It offers them a chance to be a part of a bigger program, to be part of a solution.”

“Our first Stuff the Pantry summer concert produced more than 75 pounds of food for Good Shepherd Food Pantry. We hope the community will come out to enjoy our summer concerts and bring more food donations to help us make a difference for those in need.”

Additional information about the SCCG summer programs can be found at: sancarloscommunitygarden.com/.