Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

From left: Siblings German Ramirez, Yoselin Ramirez, Romero Ramirez and Emmanuel Ramirez pick tomatoes at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

Yoselin Ramirez looks over freshly picked tomatoes at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

Mike Eaton, co-founder of the Neighbors Community Garden, gives a tour of the west Galt garden. Eaton won the 2012 Regional Environmental Stewardship award from Valley Vision, an organization that yearly recognizes regional leaders in the areas of economic development, environmental stewardship and social equity. With a $3,000 grant, Eaton is establishing a fresh food access fund to support the development of community gardens and other projects that increase local access to fresh food, especially for low-income populations. Eaton hopes to spur the development of similar efforts in other local communities.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

A minuscule dragonfly devours an aphid at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

German Ramirez, right. points out a ripe tomato to his sister, Yoselin Ramirez, at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

Golden orange tomatoes grow at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

Stalks of corn grown amongst tomatoes, peppers, squash and other plants at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

A small tomato gradually changes from green to orange at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

A brilliantly colored pepper grows at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

A pepper dries and cracks in the sun at the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

The Neighbor’s Community Garden on Sixth Street in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Dan Evans/News-Sentinel

Growing community one tomato, zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin, strawberry at a time

Freshly picked tomatoes are dropped in a bucket t the Neighbor’s Community Garden in Galt on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.