Tag Archives: vegetables

Alemany Farm

Alemany Farm is San San Francisco’s largest urban farm. Tucked into the hills to the west of Interstate 280 on Alemany Boulevard, you might drive by it every day and never know that it’s there. 3.5 acres, all organic and run almost completely by volunteers, it’s organized  by a collective of about 9 core members whose mission is to teach city folks about growing food sustainably without pesticides. Last year they grew over 25,000 pounds of food and they gave it all away for free. Most of it goes to low income neighbors  at the Free Farm Stand at 23rd and Treat in the Mission every Sunday from 12-3pm, the rest goes to volunteers and neighbors.

Alemany Farm relies on  volunteers to keep the farm going. You don’t have to sign up, just show up on any of their weekly workdays. It’s a great place to come learn; you get to work with the nicest people who send you home with a bag of delicious, organic vegetables. Check out the video I made and then go get your hands dirty!

Learn more here: AlemanyFarm.org

Spiral Gardens Nursery in Berkeley

Daniel Miller, executive director of Spiral Gardens in Berkeley.

Spiral Gardens is a non-profit nursery, produce stand, and community farm located at 2850 Sacramento near Ashby Street in Berkeley. It’s been around since 1993 but it was new to me when I happened to drive by it back in April. A community treasure, it’s easily the best Bay Area nursery I’ve visited.

What makes the nursery so good is that every herb and vegetable is grown on site for our climate. The Bay Area’s unusual cool summer weather requires special varieties that big box nurseries don’t offer. The prices are affordable and the selection is huge. What other nursery has 19 varieties of tomatoes grown especially for our climate? Lettuces, beans, squash, corn, peppers, greens, carrots herbs and hard-to-find perennial vegetables that last multiple seasons such as tree collards, burdock, and cape gooseberries are offered. A plant geek’s heaven, everything is well labeled and often comes with a free history lesson. Berries and fruit trees are also sold (though not grown on site due to lengthy growing times) as well as non-edibles including natives, bee friendly and drought tolerant plants.

The experienced staff grows the plants and knows the plants. They are there to answer questions and offer advice. Volunteers are welcome to drop in anytime they are open. Monthly free workshops are listed on Facebook. Spiral Gardens also sells starts at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers Market. Excess produce grown on site is also given away to the local community seniors.

Spiral Gardens Community Food Security Project 510. 843.1307 Summer Hours: 11am to 6pm  Tues-Friday11am to 5pm Sat and Sunday

Kanchan Hunter of Spiral Gardens shows a neighbor how to transplant.

A sample of edible starts at Spiral Gardens. (clockwise from top left) corn, tree collards, tomatoes, burdock, five star lettuce mix, apples, mint and speckled lettuce

A neighbor harvests tree collards growing at the nursery.