Our Story
For 35 years, Garden for the Environment (GFE) has served as San Francisco’s only public teaching and education garden and is a dynamic third space for all residents.
Located on a half-acre of land owned by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), GFE is open to the public every day of the year and hosts programming on-site four days a week.
As a longtime, place-based organization, GFE is deeply rooted within San Francisco. We are proud to be located on public land and maintain an open space for people to learn, practice, and find quiet respite.
GFE was founded in 1990 by a group of community gardeners from the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (now defunct), who wanted to teach residents of the Bay Area to be more climate resilient by replacing lawns and water-intensive gardens with native and drought-tolerant plants, without sacrificing beauty.
Today, GFE receives funding from the SFPUC, among other donors, to promote organic gardening, water conservation, and pollution prevention. All tours, field trips, and workshops at GFE support the SFPUC’s mission to bridge the agency’s work with environmental and community interests.
Last year, we partnered with more than 40 local organizations, from museums and libraries, universities and colleges, to local community gardens and farms.
Our students take what they’ve learned in our programs and share their knowledge and passion with others who will do the same. It is a regenerative process that reflects the regenerative gardening practices we follow..
“The community surrounding GFE is unique and amazing. People come and go, and everyone leaves a little something of themselves, whether it's a tree pruned or a patch weeded.”
— Paul, GFE Volunteer
Garden for the Environment’s story belongs to the countless volunteers, Get Up! graduates and instructors, workshop attendees, community partners, neighbors, and generous donors who fund our work to cultivate community and grow gardeners.
There are so many ways to get involved at Garden for the Environment.
We’d love for you to be part of Our story.
