Another beautiful day in Malibu, “A bright spot in the June gloom,” quotes a past Malibu Farmers’ Market ad. And, indeed, Sunday was a bright spot in the “June gloom” that burned away by the afternoon.
Hundreds of people showed up for the third season of the Malibu Farmers’ Market put on by Cornucopia.
Cornucopia is a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 by Malibu resident Debra Bianco. It is responsible for many projects that involve the well-being of children. The projects involve field trips to the Demonstration Garden, located in Malibu on Cavalleri Road, which includes a butterfly garden and a fire resistant garden, among many others where children can learn and appreciate nature and how to restore the Earth. Malibu resident Remy O’Neill, who donated the back of her property for the garden projects, started the Demonstration Garden. Eventually, an amphitheater will be built on the property for the children’s enjoyment.
On Sunday, Bianco, president of Cornucopia, and Melle, secretary and treasurer, received a scroll from the County of Los Angeles. The scroll or plaque was given by Susan Nissman, senior field deputy for county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents the third district.
The scroll from the county completes the circle of plaques that Cornucopia has received from the state of California and the City of Malibu. The money received from the profits of the market goes toward education gardening programs for children. Cornucopia has contracts with all the local elementary schools in Malibu to do gardening projects on the schools’ property or to go on field trips to learn about gardening.
“The Malibu Farmer’s Market is a very special place,” Melle says. “Nothing here is shipped. Everything is from California farmers. It is important for our community to support these farmers. They are a viable entity.”
Bianco said she was “very pleased with the turnout” on Sunday. “We hope to keep growing throughout the year. Eventually we would like to have a year-round Farmers’ Market.”