Help Harvest Vegetables at Alemany Farms - 24 Volunteers
Details
Let's do some farming to improve food security and reduce crime in an underserved SF neighborhood!
Alemany Farms (http://www.alemanyfarm.org/) is a four acre nonprofit urban garden that's on the outskirts of San Francisco, tucked behind a subsidized housing project. It's a community project built and run by neighborhood volunteers that's both a park and organic fruit and vegetable farm. Open year-round and 24 hours a day, its gates are unlocked for neighbors to grab what they need: an artichoke, a bunch of chard, or whatever else is in season. The farm promotes food security and reduces crime in the community.
We'll participate in a community workday where activities may include weeding or weed cutting, digging or trenching, mulching, composting, plant and seed planting, pruning, terracing, wheelbarrow hauling, laying irrigation and watering, building garden structures, and harvesting.
At the end of the day, we'll receive some free freshly harvested fruits and veggies as thanks.
WHAT TO BRING:
Water bottle, hat, sturdy shoes, jacket with layered clothing underneath, sunscreen, snacks, and a bag (to bring veggies home).
Travel light: the farm is an open public space and there's no secure storage for bags. Leave valuables at home and be mindful of your personal belongings, as you would in any park setting.
SCHEDULE:
Get there by noon so we can all do the scheduled farm tour before getting to work. The work day actually goes to 5 PM but since it's our first time we'll take it easy and finish early at 3 PM.
DIRECTIONS:
If you want to carpool, add your email address to your RSVP and we'll coordinate over a Google Spreadsheet.
For public transit and biking, Glen Park is the closest BART station. It is a 15 minute walk or 5 minute bike along Bosworth under the San Jose St bridge crossing Mission St at the 5th intersection to become Murray. It is 3 more blocks on Murray to the entrance of St Mary’s Rec Center. At the entrance gate take an immediate right and go down the hill past the courts and the dog park to the walk way ramp where you can enter at the edge of the fence at the top of the ramp or at the gate at the bottom or around the highway frontage sidewalk to the main drive-in entrance and walk-in gate.
CURRENT EVENTS:
On September 8th, a new law that gives urban farms a tax break will take effect in San Francisco. Supporters claim that it's smart policy that enhances food security and reduces blight. Critics argue that the law exacerbates the housing crisis by discouraging new development. Take a look and decide for yourself:
Assembly Bill No. 551, Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB551
SFGate: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-property-owners-to-get-tax-break-from-5725876.php
The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/how-urban-farming-is-making-san-franciscos-housing-crisis-worse/379438/
Help Harvest Vegetables at Alemany Farms - 24 Volunteers