SF Urban Agriculture Resources

Hello Presidio Community Gardeners-

I wanted to pass along more valuable resources available to you. If you can't meet me when we have compost give-aways, here are more opportunities. I'm pretty sure you need to bring a way to transport the material (i.e. buckets, bins). -jean

Hello All-

We’re proud to announce that all three urban agriculture resource centers from the Urban Agriculture Program are up and running starting this month.  Get your gardens winter ready!  We’re providing compost, soil and mulch (plus other amendments and starts on a limited basis as they become available)  to the public  now on a regular basis.

Alemany Farm will be open for material pick up this Saturday, 11/8, and Adam Rogers Park / Girls 2000 Garden will be hosting the first in a series of temporary, popup resource hubs around the Bayview on Saturday, 11/22.

Monthly: Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden, 780 Frederick: November 1, 2014, December 6, 2014, January 24, 2015.  All dates 9am -12pm.

Quarterly: Alemany Farm, 700 Alemany Blvd: November 8, 2014, February 7, 2015. 9am – 12pm.

Mobile: Bayview Garden Resource Hub (pop-up series in partnership with the Girls 2000 of Hunters Point Family, Quesada Gardens Initiative, Recreation and Park Department, Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco Department of the Environment, with support from the San Francisco Foundation and the Convergence Fund).  More details to come and information

November 22, 2014, 10am-2pm, Adam Rogers Park, Ingalls and Oakdale

January 17^th, 2015, 10am-2pm, Quesada Gardens, 3rd Street and Quesada

March 14^th, 2015, 10am-2pm, Southeast Treatment Facility, 1800 Oakdale

You can find all the dates, times and locations here:

http://sfrecpark.org/park-improvements/urban-agriculture-program-citywide/urban-agriculture-resource-centers/

As always, thanks to Recology for the compost and Rec and Park for the soil and mulch.  Please spread the word to your networks, as the success of these centers and their long term viability depends on continued demand.

Hope to see you out there!

Thanks,

Hannah

Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator

San Francisco Recreation & Park Department  | Capital Improvement Division

City & County of San Francisco  | 30 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 575.5604  |  hannah.shulman@sfgov.org

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From SF Urban Ag: free compost, IPM class

The Urban Ag Resource Center opening for October will be this Saturday from 9am to 12pm at the Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden, 780 Frederick St. Come get Recology compost, soil and mulch from the Recreation and Park Department for your fall gardens.  There will also be a class on Integrated Pest Management from 10am to 11am.  

10/4 – Integrated Pest Management for your Garden

Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a process you can use to solve pest problems in your garden while minimizing the impact on people and the environment.  Learn more about how to control weeds, pests, disease and other gardening troubles in a sustainable manner from the head of Recreation and Park Department’s Integrated Pest Management team.

This class will be taught by Kevin M. Woolen, the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Integrated Pest Management Coordinator.  He has been in the IPM business for over 25 years.  Kevin is a Bay Friendly Landscape Designer and avid urban farmer.

You can always get the next dates for the Urban Ag Resource Centers here http://sfrecpark.org/park-improvements/urban-agriculture-program-citywide/urban-agriculture-resource-centers/.

Thanks,

Hannah

Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator

San Francisco Recreation & Park Department  | Capital Improvement Division

City & County of San Francisco  | 30 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 575.5604  |  hannah.shulman@sfgov.org

	Visit us at sfrecpark.org     Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter    Watch us on sfRecParkTV  Sign up for our e-News

What to Plant: October, November, December

If you aren't battling birds or meadow voles, here are some ideas for what to plant in the fall/ winter:

October
Garlic: The 15th is the traditional day to plant garlic. Garlic should be purchased from a disease-free supplier like Territorial Seed Garlic is planted (pointy end up!) and grows over the winter. In early summer it starts turning brown and you have to stop watering so it doesn't mold. Then when the plant is about 50% brown you pull them and let them cure for a bit before cutting off the leaves or braiding them. Garlic is a fun crop and there are many varieties out there.
Artichoke (root-stock): You purchase a smallish root and plant it. Then you have a huge artichoke plant, so think about how much space you want to devote to this vegetable! Make sure it doesn't grow into the pathways- plant them in the center of the boxes.
Carrots (seeds): Always grow carrots from seeds! They do like warm soil, so we are getting to the end of carrot growing season, but give them a try. You need to sow fairly thickly and then thin, thin, thin the plants so you end up with about 2" between each carrot.
Fava beans- for food or as a cover crop
Onion (seeds)
Parsnips (seeds)
Radish (seeds)
Shallots (sets): What is a shallot set? Sets are bundles of small bulbs- you buy them for shallots and onions. Each small bulb should grow into a full sized bulb ready for harvest. I haven't had much success with shallots, but have had some great onion harvests- plant those in January.
Spinach: week 1 & 2
These may be worth trying:
Broccoli (plants): week 1 & 2
Cabbage (plants)
Cauliflower (plants): week 1 & 2
Chard
Leeks
Lettuce
Peas
Potato (tubers)
Spinach: week 3 & 4


November
Artichoke (rootstock)
Fava Beans
Garlic 
Peas (snap, sugar): This is it for fall pea planting! Protect the new plants from birds and snails- use a small plastic bottle or even a milk carton once the seed sprouts. You can start the seeds indoors 3 weeks before planting outside. Don't forget a nice sturdy trellis so your peas are happy and productive!! They need a trellis. 
Strawberry (plants): This is the best time of year to plant strawberries! The winter cold improves their ability to produce fruit. If you buy plants in containers, it's easy to plant them at the same depth as they were in the pot. If you buy bare-root plants it's important not to bury the crown (where the top meets the roots). Space 10" apart, keeping soil level around them, 6" from edge of garden box. Cut off any runners that grow to encourage the mother plant to develop and make more fruit.
Radishes
Shallots (sets)
These may be worth trying:
Cabbage (plants)
Chard
Leeks
LettuceMustard greens
Onion (seeds)
Potato (tubers)
Spinach

December
Radish (seeds)
Rhubarb (bare root)
These may be worth trying:
Artichoke (rootstock)
Chard
Fava Beans
Garlic
Leeks
LettuceShallots (sets)

Don't forget to visit your garden over the winter- the weeds will be growing even when you aren't there!

Great Horned Owls in the Dawn Redwood, Ft. Scott Garden

We've seen 2 owls in the tree a few times in the past weeks- a male and female seem to be pair bonding and getting ready for the upcoming nesting season. Keep you eyes and ears open next time you are in the garden at Ft. Scott!

(photo credits: Peter Ehrlich or Kim?)

Plant Sale this weekend in Novato

3-Day Fall Plant Sale Starts this Weekend! Sept. 6, 7 and 13 at the Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden Find certified organic vegetable starts, annual and perennial pollinator-friendly flowers, culinary and tea herbs, berries, fruit trees and native plants. The Plant Sale and organic gardening workshops take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 6 and 7, as well as Saturday, Sept. 13. All sale days are open 10am–3pm. Come enjoy free workshops and family-friendly activities, seasonal produce, cut flowers, and fragrant and herbal crafts for sale. All proceeds go towards supporting CCNB Farm programs. Our expert staff will be on hand to answer your gardening questions. The Farm can be found at the Indian Valley Campus, College of Marin, 1800 Ignacio Boulevard in Novato (map).

Buy Organic Produce Every Weds. and Sat. Visit the Farm Stand at the Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden Missed the chance to purchase a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) weekly produce box this year? No problem! Find an abundance of certified organic fruits and vegetables at the semi-weekly Farm Stand. Open to the public every Wednesday and Saturday from 10am–3pm. The Farm Stand is located at the Indian Valley Campus, College of Marin, 1800 Ignacio Boulevard in Novato (map).

Ft. Scott Garden pics

A few improvements around the garden this month:

Kasey and Eliza with the first of our new green debris bins- reusing pallets.

The guys from Wells Fargo IT department widening the rainwater culvert. Other folks from the group also shoveled out the silt and reset the rocks. We're ready for the rain!

Cherry's dahlias in full bloom in the old fountain. Thanks for the lovely addition!

JCC offering Fall adult urban gardening classes

The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco's  Fall session of adult urban gardening classes are currently open for enrollment.  Check out some of the new workshops for the upcoming session focusing on mushroom cultivation and plant propagation.  Daytime garden classes are held in our rooftop garden space unless otherwise noted.  For more information and to enroll please visit:  https://www.jccsf.org/all-ages/urban-gardening

For additional questions about JCCSF Rooftop Garden classes and events, contact David Gardella:  dgardella@jccsf.org

thanks,
David

Photos from Ft. Scott Community Garden

they can't all be dahlias!

SF Urban Agriculture Resource Center & other resources

The Urban Agriculture Resource Center at Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden (780 Frederick) will be open this Saturday, July 19th, from 9am to 12pm.  Come get free mulch, compost, and soil for your summer planting!  We’re open for regular access monthly.

BYO container to put materials in; drive up access will be available as well (limited amounts available per person).

Thanks to Recology for the compost and Rec and Park for the mulch and soil.

Free plant starts available until they run out.
These materials are available to any gardener in the city of San Francisco to help green and beautify the city.
Future dates: Saturday, August 16^th and Saturday, September 13, all 9am to 12pm.  

Any questions please contact the Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator, hannah.shulman@sfgov.org, or 415 575 5604

http://sfrecpark.org/

http://sfrecpark.org/park-improvements/urban-agriculture-program-citywide/

The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR)'s Urban Agriculture Team has developed a great new website--a one-stop-shop for urban farming in California.  Check it out! http://ucanr.edu/sites/UrbanAg/

What to Plant in August & September

Some suggestions for planting in the coming months!

Fava Beans- here is some info about using favas to add nutrients to your soil

http://ucanr.edu/sites/MarinMG/?story=695

http://www.territorialseed.com/product/Small_Fava_Cover_Crop_Seed/legume_cover_crop

August
Arugula
Bok Choy

Fava Beans
Beets (seeds)
Broccoli- week 1 & 2
Cabbage (seedlings)
Carrots (seeds)
Cauliflower- long season varieties (seedlings)
Napa Cabbage
Collards
Lettuce
Kale
Mustard Greens
Parsnips (always seeds)- week 1 & 2
Peas
Potatoes
Radish
Rutabaga
Spinach- week 3 & 4
Swiss Chard
Turnips (seeds)

September
Artichoke (rootstock)
Arugula
Broccoli (seedlings)
Cabbage (seedlings)
Carrots (seeds)
Cabbage (seedlings)
Cauliflower (seedlings) week 1 & 2
Chard
Fava beans
Kale
Lettuce
Mustard greens: week 1 & 2
Parsnips (seeds)
Radishes (seeds)
Spinach
Turnip (seeds): week 1 & 2

Fun garden photos- Summer 2014

What a beautiful cauliflower! Was this yours?

Some serious rutabaga action

a very thorough watering assistant

Summer Compost Give-Away: Baker Beach Gardens 7/12/14 2-4pm

Photos, with thanks to Stan from garden #3

big dump truck of compost!

pausing on the walk to the garden
courtesy of Stan

overview of garden #3
courtesy of Stan

New pest- look for them on your Brassicas (broccoli relatives)

Please keep an eye out for this pest and report any sightings, with photos, to the Bay Area IPM Advisor. They are a lot smaller than this photo might suggest- take a look at the website for reference. Thanks!


http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=12609

"Dear Bay Area invasive species stakeholders,

A UC IPM colleague just (belatedly) informed me of a sighting in January of the invasive bagrada bug in San Francisco:
http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=12609

Prior to this confirmed (photo positively identified) sighting, the bugs had not been seen north of the Monterey area. This insect may represent a serious new pest for San Mateo County's Brussels sprouts and cole crops growers (preferred hosts are in Brassicaceae), a nuisance pest for urban gardeners (often found associated with sweet alyssum), and a new nuisance pest for structural pest control operators (aggregates and seeks shelter in structures in late autumn). I will try to contact the resident who took these photos so that San Francisco's Agriculture Department can investigate further if desired.

Happy Friday to all,

Andrew

Andrew M. Sutherland, Ph.D, BCE
Bay Area IPM Advisor
UCCE Alameda County
(510) 777-2481 office
(510) 499-2930 cell
amsutherland@ucanr.edu

visit my urban IPM web site here
visit the UC IPM web site www.ipm.ucanr.edu"

What to plant in June and July

June
Beans (these can be difficult to grow in our climate)
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots (always seeds)
Cauliflower (long season)
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Parsnips (seeds only)
Pea
Radishes (seeds only)
Zucchini
Pumpkins - thru June 15 (these take up a LOT of space)
Tomatoes (suggest only trying cherry tomatoes for any chance of ripening)

July in the garden is time to think about planting your fall crops!

July
Beets
Bok Choy
Broccoli (seedlings)
Brussels sprouts (seedlings)
Cabbage (seedlings)
Carrots (always seeds)- 1st 2 weeks of July
Cauliflower- long season varieties (seedlings)
Collards
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mustard greens
Parsnips (always seeds)
Peas
Potato tubers (order disease free ones on-line)- 1st 2 weeks
Radish
Rutabega (seeds)
Swiss Chard
Turnips (seeds)
Zucchini- 1st two weeks of July

Free Compost from SF Urban Agriculture Program

Hi Urban Ag friends-

I’m excited to announce the new Urban Agriculture Resource Center at Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden (780 Frederick) will be open for material pickup this Saturday, May 3^rd, from 9am to 12pm.  Come get free mulch, compost, and soil for your spring planting! 

Thanks to SF Recreation and Park Department for the mulch and soil, and Recology for the compost.

We’ll be open for regular access now once a month. BYO container to put materials in; drive up access will be available as well (limited amounts available per person). 

These materials are available to any gardener in the city of San Francisco to help green and beautify the city.

Future dates: Saturday, June 14^th and Saturday, July 19^th, both 9am to 12pm.

Any questions, please contact Hannah, SF RPD Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator, hannah.shulman@sfgov.org, or 415 575 5604.

Please share with your networks.

Thanks very much!

Hannah

  

Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator

San Francisco Recreation & Park Department  | Capital Improvement Division

City & County of San Francisco  | 30 Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 575.5604  |  hannah.shulman@sfgov.org

	Visit us at sfrecpark.org     Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter    Watch us on sfRecParkTV  Sign up for our e-News

Community Gardening Classes at Ft. Scott Garden

Join Presidio Community Garden Intern Kasey Wooten as she goes through how to best use your community garden bed.  Learn what plants grow best here, how to manage pests and pathogens with organic methods, and how to maximize your growing space throughout the year.  Be prepared for the weather and participating in hands-on lessons. Come with questions and curiosities!  Each class will have a bit of time at the end for mentorship connections if you are interested in working with other gardeners.  Please feel free to sign up for just one class or come to all five!

All classes will be held at the Fort Scott Community Garden.  Please park at Wool Court next to the tennis courts. There will be no class parking at the garden. 

Parking - Google Map to Wool Court

Google Map to Ft. Scott Community Gardens

You can contact Kasey at kwooten@presidiotrust.gov with questions or to sign up!  Please sign up at least one week in advance

Classes:

1: Gardening in the Presidio 101: The Basics

Not sure what grows best here or how to even get started with your garden?  We’ll discuss what plants are best suited to the Presidio’s unique foggy climate, what plants can thrive in the shade, and how to get your seeds started.  You will also leave better equipped to care for your garden’s water and nutrition needs.  

Saturday, May 31, 10am-12pm

or Thursday, June 5, 6-8pm

2: Planning and Implementation: Calendars, Charts, & Other Resources

Want to have a cohesive and streamlined plan for your garden?  Make the most of your time and space by planning when to order seeds, buy transplants, start transplants, and plant in your garden.  Use your garden all year long by planning ahead to overwinter certain crops.  

Wednesday, June 11, 6-8pm

or Saturday, June 14, 10am-12pm

3: Organic Solutions: Managing Pests and Pathogens

Finding curious holes in your lettuce or watching as entire beds of seedlings disappear overnight?  Learn to identify and manage the pests and pathogens that get to your garden bounty before you do.  We will use creative, affordable, organic and tested methods to rid your garden of unwanted attention.  

Thursday, July 10, 6-8pm

Saturday, July 12, 10am-12pm

4: Increasing Productivity: Growing as Much as Possible in 32 Square Feet

Ready to bump your garden to the next level?  Use techniques common in urban farming in order to maximize your space and supplement your food as much as possible.  We will discuss biointensive and square foot gardening methods, companion planting, and succession planting.

Saturday, August 9, 10am-12pm

or Wednesday, August 13, 6-8pm

5: Harvesting your Bounty, Winter Gardening, and Cover Cropping

The winter garden is a true gem that is too often overlooked due to rain and decreasing temperatures.  However, if planned right, a winter garden can extend the growing season to the full year.  Learn about low-intensive methods of winter gardening, like cover cropping, and how to prepare your bed for the upcoming seasons.  This class will also include a fun cooking demo using garden goods and a celebration for completion of the Presidio community garden lessons, so please feel free to bring a dish to share at the end of the class!

Saturday, September 13, 10am-12pm

or Thursday, September 18^th, 6-8pm