Almost four full rows of supporters were on hand for the decision. The supporters were all part of the Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening group—whose member list has swelled to more than 100 people in the past few months. This group has been lobbying the city for a sustainable garden over the last year. Because it was approved as part of the evening's consent calendar, there was no discussion on the item.

Authorization was key to the gardeners' plans to return a little garden space to an area once dominated by orchards and agriculture. Sustainable Gardening's leader Josh Salans said he had already sent the application for grant money to the Satterberg Foundation—a philanthropic organization dedicated to promoting education—a week earlier, but told the foundation the application was not complete until the council authorized it. Immediately following the Sept. 14 meeting, Salans rushed home to email the foundation that authorization was complete.

Satterberg board member Dave Lazarus, a 36-year Sunnyvale resident, was also at the council meeting. He said he was surprised at how quickly the whole process went. Satterberg could have a check made out to Sunnyvale by November, which would go with the $10,000 it has already given for a 15-plot senior garden. Salans said the Sustainable Gardening group is hoping to combine the senior garden with the community garden to make one large plot of land, with places for seniors and gardening demonstrations.