From Your Community Gardens Program Manager
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Happy New Year, urban gardeners!
We are so grateful and proud of your continued work in your communities in these strange times. Our thoughts return to the beginning of this pandemic and worldwide discussions about what we truly value and prioritize. Back to when we realized our opportunity to build a “new normal” and began talking about how we would work together to shape this new world to reflect our values. In practical terms, much of our daily focus stayed on how we can keep ourselves safe while continuing to enjoy the parts of our lives that make life worth it – time with our friends and families, time engaging in the activities and hobbies that bring us joy, and (for those of you reading this newsletter) time outdoors with plants.
Masks, social distancing, and lots of handwashing will be with us for the foreseeable future. However, SFRPD Community Gardens have restarted workdays and meetings, and are requiring garden members to tend to their plots again. As people return to the garden, you may find that community needs to be rebuilt too. Some garden members may have resigned their plots and new members are just getting started. Long time members may have had to forgo garden visits during the peak of the pandemic and will now be returning. This issue of the ComPost will offer some suggestions for how to rebuild community, rethink conflict, and renew our commitment to creating open and welcoming environments for our fellow gardeners.
We value your experience and expertise in creating harmonious environments where neighbors enjoy all the amazing benefits of community gardening. Would you be willing to share some of the challenges and success stories from your garden? For those of you who are not members of a community garden, please share your experiences with neighbors, landlords, or roommates that share your garden space. With your permission, we will share these in future issues of The ComPost. Write to us at communitygardens@sfgov.org.
As we move into this new year and new normal, remember that the Community Gardens Program Team is proud to be your neighbor and are here to help! We are happy to support strengthening and reactivation of the community ties that you have all worked so hard to build and maintain. Beyond providing workshop and workday support, we can help with your garden member meetings, conflict resolution, and special events. Let us know how what you need!
Here's to staying safe, healthy, and together this year!
Mei Ling Hui,
Community Gardens Program Manager
communitygardens@sfgov.org
(415) 831-6846
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Putting the Community in Gardening
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The Recreation and Park Department recognizes that community building and social cohesion are key to making our gardens thrive. We listened to you and understand the need to turn our focus to what we are all giving to the gardens, instead of what we were all taking from the gardens. We now center our program goals on community development through time spent in the gardens with our friends and neighbors. When we gather garden members around an apple tree to teach pruning, we are helping them meet some of their fellow gardeners, achieve a sense of purpose, and develop a new skill that they can share. The byproduct of the pruning workshop may be increased apple production, but the main objective is creating another opportunity for people to come together and get to know each other. In spaces where we've shifted the focus to creating community, we have seen seen social cohesion improve. We would like to share some tips for bringing more people into the circle.
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Sauerkraut class at Visitacion Valley Community Garden (Pre-pandemic)
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Tip #1 Create regular opportunities for people to come together.
Workdays, classes, buddy systems, and social events that are just plain fun, create avenues for your garden members to get to know each other, accomplish something meaningful, learn something new, and spend time with other people who like to get their hands in the dirt and talk about tomatoes.
Workdays: Communal space management brings creative problem solving opportunities to a group to quickly build community cohesion. Individuals have to decide as a group the priorities for the space, what to plant, when to plant it, who will buy the seeds, who will water, etc. This also provides short term leadership opportunities beyond the steering committee or garden coordinator roles, providing more people with a way to contribute their skills to the community.
Workshops: Learning together helps people connect over shared interests. Find your garden members' superpowers - who builds amazing trellis' for their peas to climb? Who understands how to build great soil? Who makes that amazing zucchini bread that is shared at every potluck? There may be some experts in the garden that would be willing to share their superpowers. The Community Gardens Program Team is also available to do on-site workshops and help create skilled expertise among your garden membership. Let us know what your groups' interests are and we can customize a class for you.
Buddy Systems: Match new members with experienced gardeners who can help them learn the ropes. The learning curve might be steeper than the new gardener realizes. A garden buddy is a great way for beginner and novice gardeners to get started. From learning where to get a water key to when to plant tomatoes, new garden members will have lots of questions and a buddy can be an encouraging resource and connection to the larger garden community.
Fun: For gardens that only need one or two workdays each year to keep common areas in top shape, plan a few social events throughout the year that reflect the garden's character. One community garden hosts an annual pumpkin walk, another celebrates birthdays for members' children. A third grows corn and then hosts a tortilla making party. Ask members to bring copies of their favorite seasonal veggie recipe or have a summertime squash cookoff. Hold a mini county fair where garden members can enter their top produce for small prizes and accolades. If you want to suggest a new activity for your garden, contact your garden leadership team or the Community Gardens Program team to talk through your ideas.
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Tip #2 Make sure people feel their time was useful to the cause.
When people show up to an event, they want to feel like they contributed something and aren't wasting their time. Some gardens are too small to have enough tasks for every member to tackle on one day. Some may have complex tasks that need specific skills and knowledge to complete. Scale your workday wisely and plan enough tasks for every participant. That can include both administrative and gardening tasks. Assign someone to be the greeter and get people to sign in, complete their annual waivers, and pay their dues or check on their required hours of participation. Plan for someone to direct people to the tasks that need doing, hand out the needed tools, and offer gloves and water.
If the tasks require some skill or knowledge, provide opportunities for skill development by ensuring that someone is on hand to teach members what they need to know to be successful. Do not assume that everyone knows how to weed or water. Be prepared to provide clear instruction and expectations and consider teaming experienced gardeners with the novices. If there isn't enough for all the garden members to do, limit signups for the workday and plan for other opportunities for members to gather (See Tip #1).
New garden members can feel part of the larger community faster by joining the leadership teams in smaller roles. Tracking dues or emailing members about upcoming events helps new members get to know everyone while making a positive impact early on.
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Tip #3 Create a "help your neighbor" line.
An unexpected business trip means you can't water your plot in the peak of summer? A recurring back injury means you can't lift the compost out of your car? Set up a system where people can ask for help from their fellow gardeners. A bulletin board inside the toolshed, a shared email list or Google Group can help members communicate their needs and get help.
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Tip #4 Promote cultural competency and celebrate community differences.
Our life experiences help us form our opinions about the way the world should work. And because our experiences differ widely, we don't all think alike. Learn more about cognitive dissonance and effective communication strategies to better understand your garden members when conflict arises. Take a look at this article from Psychology Today that provides 11 tips for talking to someone you disagree with. You can also ask us for help in navigating tricky or challenging social issues. Email us at communitygardens@sfgov.org.
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Tip #5 Smile! (from at least 6 feet away for the time being).
Several scientific studies have noted that when someone smiles at us, the part of our brain that controls feelings of reward is activated. And, of course, this feeling generates other positive sensations, which in turn produce positive effects on our minds and bodies. Surprisingly, this also works when faking a smile or laugh, as the brain can't differentiate between real or fake smiles. With practice, your smile will become genuine, benefitting both you and those who see it. Smiles are also contagious, just like yawns. So smile at your fellow gardeners, smile at your plants, smile at the sunshine - and start an epidemic (the good kind). Happy gardeners are more likely to work towards the well-being of all garden members, fight exclusion and marginalization, create a sense of belonging, and promote trust. And we're sure it makes the vegetables taste better too!
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When language is a barrier to communication, it can be very difficult to build community and create feelings of inclusion. Google Assistant may be an effective tool. Take a look at this article on how to translate conversations in real time.
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E-mail, E-commerce, E-bikes. And now E-nose. Yup - an electronic nose that sniffs out white fly infestations in tomatoes. All you science geeks and tech nerds (like us!) can read about it here: E-Nose
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Garden Spotlight: Minnie and Lovie Ward Community Garden
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The Community Garden at Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center is being rebuilt with an expected completion in the spring of 2022. The new design includes an accessible gathering area with picnic table, toolshed, nearly double the number of garden plots with a few plots reserved for youth programming, a new fruit orchard and herb garden, and a truck gate that will make garden maintaining the garden easier for our community members and volunteers. Special thanks to the Minnie and Lovie Ward Community Recreation Council which was instrumental in obtaining the funding and engaging the community in the design of the garden. Additional thanks to District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí and the Community Challenge Grant Program for providing project funds. We are now accepting waitlist entries for the garden. Our team will also need volunteers to help get the garden ready for its grand re-opening. If you would like to help, email the Community Gardens program.
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Garden Spotlight: Miller Memorial Community Garden
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The Miller Memorial Community Garden rebuild is almost complete. The retaining walls and central garden stairway were replaced for improved safety and usability. The new garden layout has twice as many plots and space for a new community orchard. Join the waitlist for this or any of our other gardens here.
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Upcoming Events: January - March
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January
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Saturday, January 20, 4 - 5: 30 p.m., via Zoom. Citrus Tree Care. UC Master Gardener Series. Register here. (Free)
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Saturday, January 22, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., via Zoom. School Garden Leaders Workshop. UC Master Gardener Series. Register here. (Free) Limited to 25 participants.
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Saturday, January 29, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., in person. Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop. Garden For the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. ($25 - $50/person)
February
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Saturday, February 5, 10 a.m., in person. Urban Composting Workshop. Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. (Free)
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Saturday, February12, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., in person. Urban Composting Workshop. Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. (Free)
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Saturday, February12, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., in person. Grow Your Own Food. Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. ($25 - $50/person)
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Saturday, February 19, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., in person. Rainwater Harvesting. Garden For the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. ($25 - $50/person)
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Saturday, February 26, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., in person. Beekeeping 101 - Essential Equipment. SF Beekeepers Association, St John Armenian Church, 275 Olympia Way, San Francisco. Register here. ($25 - $50/person) **
March
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Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m., in person. Introduction to Sustainable Gardening Series: Spring. Garden For the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. ($30 for the full three-part series - March 5, 12, and 19, and receive a $10 gift card at each workshop. Sponsored by the SF Public Utilities Commission)
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Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., in person. Grow Your Own Food. Garden For the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. ($25 - $50/person)
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Saturday, March 19, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., in person. Beginning Beekeeping: The Basics and Starting a Hive. Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. ($25 - $50/person)
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Saturday, March 26, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in person. SFRPD Garden Resource Day. Alemany Farm, 700 Alemany Blvd, San Francisco. No registration required. Bring your own buckets for compost or mulch. We will also have seeds, plant starts and will offer tool care demonstrations. Bring your garden clippers and learn how to clean, sharpen and oil them to improve their function and extend their life.
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Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., in person. Dig In! 2022: Six-Part Edible Gardening Series. Garden For the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue, San Francisco. Register here. March 26th, April 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th. One registration enrolls you in all six sessions! ($170 - $270/person)
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Saturday, March 26, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., in person. Beekeeping 102 - Basic Beekeeping. SF Beekeepers Association, St John Armenian Church, 275 Olympia Way, San Francisco. Register here. ($25 - $50/person) **
**SFBA recommends both classes (Beekeeping 101 and 102) for beginning beekeepers. Sign up for each class individually.
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What to Do in Your Garden Now
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January
February
- Plant potatoes, garlic, and onions.
- Prune lavender now to promote better flower production this summer.
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Plant bare root fruit trees now - bare root fruit tress are less expensive than potted fruit trees and nurseries offer more bare root varieties to choose from. UC ANR has a helpful guide for planting and caring for young trees.
- If you plan on using tomato seeds (instead of buying tomato plant starts) sow them indoors now.
March
- Prepare beds for spring - turn soil and add at least 4 inches of compost. Compost will be available at our Garden Resource Day on March 26, 2022 at Alemany Farm, 9 a.m. to noon. (700 Alemany Blvd. Bring your own buckets!)
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If you planted fava beans as a cover crop, cut the plants down at the soil line when half the blooms have opened - cover crops are removed before fruits, in this case the fava beans, are produced. This will give you the greatest return of nitrogen to your soil.
- If you have not been fertilizing throughout the growing season, fertilize your citrus trees this month. Fertilizers and soil amendments that meet organic production standards improve soil microbiology and overall soil health which, in turn, helps our plants be healthier and more resilient. Choose any organically labeled citrus fertilizer and apply at the label rate. Fertilizer should be top dressed (sprinkled) directly on the soil at the tree's drip line (edge of the canopy). After applying, water in and cover the soil with mulch again. Citrus tree leaves should be dark green. If your citrus trees have any yellow in their leaves, you are not fertilizing enough. (Note: This is for citrus trees planted in the ground. If your citrus trees are in pots, you will need to fertilize much more frequently.)
- Plant your vegetable starts, gladiolas, and dahlias (San Francisco's city flower!) outdoors.
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