Spotted SF / Hayes Valley / Hayes Valley Farm
I love that more and more of these are popping up around SF. Growing up here, I recall this part of the city once being an abandoned lot—perhaps part of the old highway overpass. Today it is now a nutrient-rich, community-run urban farm for growing food and trees. Volunteers are welcome to lend a hand in the upkeep of the garden on Wednesdays and Sundays from 12:00 – 5:00.
Hayes Valley Farm
450 Laguna Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
tel: 415 763 7645
www.hayesvalleyfarm.com
* All images by me, Leslie.
Thanks for the insight Debbie! Such a fantastic community based effort. A perfect way to, as you say, combine community spirit – mind, body, spirit + plants. Everyone wins.
I am relatively new to San Francisco and even newer to HVF. But, HVF has changed my life. I came here for my 1st class on permaculture with Jay Rosenberg in July 2012. While attending the Into to Permaculture class with Jay, I learned about the Urban Permaculture Institute where I got my Urban Permaculture Certificate from two more amazing teachers – David Cody & Kevin Bayuk. If not for Jay Rosenberg, David Cody & Kevin Bayuk (who are 3 of the 4 people who started HVF), I would not be so involved with urban permaculture nor would I have met so many great people who teach me more every day. People like Brett Stephens & all the dedicated people at Alemany Farm & the Bee Farm where I met Karen Peteros who is my beekeeping mentor. It’s all about Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share – all of the people I have met come from different walks of life but have come together to do important work in the name of permaculture. HVF is truly amazing & will be missed by a countless of people including me.
How wonderful. Is this a communal garden? 🙂
It is! Quite a number of them popping up around the city. I’m a big fan of urban gardening.
Oh how wonderful. I am too. I definitely understand the need living in an apartment! Great post x
Hayes Valley Farm is not a traditional community garden where you rent a plot. It is an urban farm run by volunteers. Anyone is welcome to participate. Unfortunately, HVF is going away at the end of the month. Fortunately, HVF has taught us that we can take fallow land that isn’t being used and turn it into an amazing urban farm where we grow food for ourselves and the community while teaching children of all ages about growing food, composting, vermiculture, community, sustainability, etc, Thanks to HVF for helping to create other urban farms all around SF so while the location is going away, the community, the plants, the ideas, the education, etc are being spread around the city and will continue in the hearts, minds, bodies, and labors of anyone who wants and can lend a hand to continue the work at these new and expanding number urban farms and hopefully the backyards of people in the city and around the country.