Garden for the Environment

Garden Based Learning Videos from Life Lab

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:08:00 +0000

A collection of web-based videos related to garden-based learning, school gardens, and garden-based nutrition.

http://www.lifelabvideos.blogspot.com/

Jacob's Farm wins Pesticide Lawsuit!

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:15:00 +0000

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/29/BAC1138AAH.DTL&type=newsbayarea

For the past two weeks Jacob's Farm, an Organic Farm of Culinary Herbs in the Santa Cruz area, have been in a contentious legal battle with Western Farm Service, a pesticide sales company. The law suit was the result of continued contamination by toxic pesticides on our crops at Wilder Ranch State Park.

The defendant claimed they were innocent because the pesticide industry and California's Department of Pesticide Regulation limit pesticide drift to the movement of pesticides by wind at time of application.

The repeated contamination that began in October 2006 and continued through 2007 was caused by the evaporation (volatization) of organophosphates after application carried by wind and fog. Western Farm Service mounted an aggressive defense that attacked the veracity of our witnesses and claimed we were at fault for starting an organic farm in the middle of a conventional brussel sprout producing area.

The jury found Western Farm Service guilty of Trespass, Negligence and Nuisance. We were awarded compensation for losses and legal fees.

The case is significant because it makes the volatization of pesticides and where they go the responsibility of the applicator. State Agricultural Commissioners will no longer be able to report "NO BLAME" as they did in our case when fields are contaminated or people injured by pesticides that volatize and move with wind or fog.

Pocket Seed Library Project at SOEX

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:35:00 +0000

A fun project at Southern Exposure Gallery (SOEX) called the Pocket Seed Library. "The Pocket Seed Library is an ongoing collection of seed packets and growing instructions designed to encourage people to plant, save and share seeds. Everyone is invited to contribute seeds and neighborhood plant lore to the library."

http://www.pocketseedlibrary.blogspot.com/

A Handy Map of the Bay Area

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:32:00 +0000

Need to remember where the cities of the SF Bay Area are? Check out this Handy Map! (thanks Archie)

Growing Greener School Grounds Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:11:00 +0000

The San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance will host the third Growing Greener School Grounds Conference, a workshop-style event that will bring together over 300 teachers and community members from all over the San Francisco Bay Area to learn more about creating, using, and sustaining ecological schoolyards. The October 2008 conference will give participants the opportunity to learn ecology-related curricula, construction, and gardening techniques while simultaneously improving the grounds of the schools hosting the workshops. The conference will take place Friday, October 10th, 2008 (evening) and Saturday, October 11th (all day).

More info on their website:
http://sfgreenschools.org/conference_08.html

GFE's Suzi quoted in the SF Bay Guardian!

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:20:00 +0000

"The Buzz on Urban Bees!" in Sept. 10, 2008 SF Bay Guardian.
"But it's not just the medicinal that lures folks into apiculture. Suzi Palladino, youth program and compost education manager at the Garden for the Environment, cites her interest in urban sustainability and self-sufficiency as key to her forays into apiculture."

3rd Annual Farm Art Show at Free Wheelin' Farm!

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:16:00 +0000

Local art, organic beer, wood fired pizza, and an art show to benefit Free Wheelin' farm!
http://freewheelinfarm.org/
Sat, Sept. 27th 2008, 5221 Coast Rd.
12pm-Sunset, $5-10 donation

Food to Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:32:00 +0000

A fun video from SF's Department of the Environment on their Food to Flowers program!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mFOJaRPhGE

"Inner City Farms", Time Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:59:00 +0000

"Inner City Farms." July 24, Time Magazine.
"Farm aid, the annual concert dedicated to raising funds for the American family farmer, has been held in such agricultural strongholds as Manor, Texas, and Ames, Iowa. But the most recent venue, the distinctly nonrural borough of Manhattan, is not as incongruous as it seems. With its estimated 600 small-scale farms (which are often large-scale vegetable gardens), New York City is part of an urban agricultural boom in the U.S., where rising food and fuel prices are making city farming seem less and less outlandish. In July volunteers began transforming the front lawns of San Francisco's city hall into the first edible offerings on that site since 1943, when civilians across the country were encouraged to aid the war effort by growing victory gardens."

Remembering the Victory Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:54:00 +0000

GFE's Blair Randall is interviewed in the SF Chronicle in "Remembering the Victory Garden".

"San Francisco is experiencing a victory garden revival this year. An organization called Victory Gardens 2008+, founded by artist Amy Franceschini, has just planted a Civic Center Victory Garden. Described as "an ornamental edible garden" that reflects the city's cultural and culinary diversity, the project is sponsored by Slow Food Nation, which will have its own event here at the end of August. Heritage organic vegetables from the Civic Center garden will be donated to local food banks and meals programs." (Photo SFPL)

SF Victory Gardens in the news

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:46:00 +0000

GFE's Hilary Gordon writes about Victory Gardens in the Noe Valley Voice.

"The San Francisco Victory Garden Project 2008+ has received 250 applications for 15 slots. Not too shabby, but as more San Franciscans hear about the project, the number is bound to grow. Those whose applications are selected will have a home vegetable garden started for them by experienced gardeners, with the materials paid for by the city. Sound too good to be true? It wouldn't be the first time the city of San Francisco got ahead of the curve."

Slow Food Nation in the NY Times

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Read about the Slow Food Nation event in the NY Times, "Slow Food USA Preps for Its Big Moment". (Photo of Victory Gardener Brooke Budner by NY Times). "At the end of the summer, the gastronomic organization called Slow Food USA will host a little party for more than 50,000 people in San Francisco..."

Raj Patel interview on SFN website.

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:06:00 +0000

Raj Patel is the author of the book, Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System. He will be speaking on August 29th at Slow Food Nation’s Food for Thought. You can read his interview on the Slow Food Nation website.

Hoes Down Harvest Festival, Oct 4-5

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:39:00 +0000

The 21st annual Hoes Down, Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm, October 4 - 5, 2008.

This all-day celebration of the harvest season offers unique opportunities to enjoy rural life on an organic family farm with educational tours, workshops, hayrides, food and music. Kids have their own area with arts and crafts, nature walks, storytelling, games, and petting zoo. Other activities include hands-on workshops, craft booths, farmers' market, farm tours, contra dancing, and much more.

More information is available at www.hoesdown.org

An Unnatural History of Golden Gate Park / Audio Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:08:00 +0000

An Unnatural History of Golden Gate Park is an audio tour that explores the natural and unnatural history of Golden Gate Park.The nature of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is deceptive. The land that it occupies today was originally thought to be an undesirable drift of sand dunes on the outskirts of the city known as the “outside lands.” Today the picturesque scenery of Golden Gate Park presents a convincing English style landscape and the park, a treasured recreational ground for the citizenry of San Francisco. An Unnatural History of Golden Gate Park strolls through Golden Gate Park exploring the role that this evolving landscape plays in the social and eoclogical life of San Francisco.

An Unnatural History of Golden Gate Park has been created by the Studio for Urban Projects.

Download the audio tour and maps for the walks at http://www.anunnaturalhistory.net/

Sunday Streets SF

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:55:00 +0000

Sunday Streets is pilot program that will bring physical activity space to San
Francisco neighborhoods on Sunday mornings this summer and fall. Modeled on a 25-year old program in Bogota, Columbia, Sunday morning street activities have proven to be wildly popular on three continents in cities ranging from Tokyo to Kiev. American cities like Chicago, Portland, and New York are planning to hold similar events. By starting its own Sunday Streets program,
San Francisco will join a global movement to create healthier cities. Sunday Streets is an innovative way to connect local residents to San Francisco's neighborhoods, and support local businesses in the process. http://www.sundaystreetssf.com/

Green Roof Professional Course

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:29:00 +0000

Green Roof Waterproofing and Drainage 301
Thursday July 17, 2008
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

This is GRHC’s third course in the Green Roof Accreditation Program. This course will provide participants with an overview of waterproofing and drainage construction and maintenance for green roof assemblies. To register, please visit www.greenroofs.org.

Greywater!

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:51:00 +0000

Greywater, in Oakland, in the news! "Blue Skies for ahead for Grey Water Systems".

MyFarm SF

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 22:05:00 +0000

A new SF for-profit company, MyFarm, will install and maintain a backyard garden for you! See the SF Chronicle article, "S.F. Firm harvests potential of unused land".

Making People Friendly Streets in SF

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Famed pedestrian-centered, Copenhagen based Urban Planner Jan Gehl was recently hired by the city of San Francisco to "to look at four San Francisco spots - Jefferson Street at Fisherman's Wharf, Castro Street, Mission Street, and the Ninth and Irving area in the Sunset District - in hopes of making them more pedestrian friendly." Amazing! The city would be wise to listen his every word! "Making S.F. into a people-oriented City"

SF Gardening Op-Ed by Raj Patel

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:46:00 +0000

Local author Raj Patel (author of Stuffed and Starved), wrote an op-ed for the SF Chronicle which appeared today, about the Victory Garden program which GFE is running. "The Food Crisis is Over (if you want it)" by Raj Patel

Greywater and Composting Toilet Class

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:01:00 +0000

Grewater and Composting Toilet Class.

Wednesdays From June 18th until July 16th from 6:30 to 7:45 pm. (There
will be one field trip and one double class during these dates).

Location: West Berkeley, California. 90 Bolivar Drive at Aquatic Park, a
couple of blocks south of University Ave.

Cost: Registration through the Greywater Guerrillas (not taken for units):
$175. If you want to take this course for 3 units (6 AIA/CES/HSW units)
through SFIA (www.sfia.net) cost is $350.

This course will cover three strategies for water reduction: rainwater,
greywater, and composting toilets. We will cover a variety of residential
greywater system options, and visit a site with several different
greywater systems. We will investigate natural ways to clean water with
wetland plants, and learn how to incorporate them into on-site waste water
treatment systems. We'll also look at composting toilets as a solution to
energy and water intensive municipal sewers. Participants will gain
knowledge about the benefits and limitations of greywater reuse, practice
in how to choose an appropriate system for a specific site, and design a
system for their own living space to present to the group. Contact: laura@greywaterguerrillas.com

More Vegetables than Ever before

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:28:00 +0000

The NY Times reports more people are growing vegetables than ever before. A resurgence in vegetables gardening not seen since the 70's. "Banking on Gardening" in the NY Times.

Guerrilla Gardening in the NY Times Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:37:00 +0000

The June 8, 2008 issue of the NY Times magazine ran an excellent article, called "Guerrilla Gardening" on the eccentric and amazing British Guerrilla Gardener, and author, Richard Reynolds. His new book, chronicling Guerrilla Gardening movements past and present, "On Guerrilla Gardening."

Bicycle Powered Compost Mixer

noreply@blogger.com (Blair) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:03:00 +0000

Mix, a potluck gathering and bicycle-powered compost mixer

Saturday, June 14, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
SOEX, 417 14th Street, SF

Join Wowhaus and Southern Exposure for a community compost mixer. Bring a dish featuring local and seasonal produce, and something that generates some vegetable scraps to contribute to the mixer and pick up tips for making your own compost mixer and compost.

Continuing on after the event, gallery visitors are encouraged to bring in vegetable scraps and power the spinner by riding the compost mix bicycle. A clear door on the compost bin aids in viewing the decomposition process which, when complete, will be used to enrich the soil of Southern Exposure's and community members' gardens. The Wowhaus mixer helps overcome many obstacles to urban composting offering a compact, efficient and fun means of reducing waste and enriching garden soil.