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Winter 2024

Upcoming Events

Workshops

January


Grow Your Own Food Workshop: In this in-person workshop, learn to take full advantage of the unique gardening climate in San Francisco, where you can grow your own fruits and vegetables year-round! Join us throughout the seasons for our Grow Your Own Food workshop.

When: Saturday, January 20,10 a.m. to noon

Where: Garden For the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Grow Your Own Food January

Cost: $25-$50


Winter Fruit Tree Pruning: Come to Alemany Farm to learn all about the basics of when, why, and how to winter prune apples and plum trees. This class will focus on the basics of tree biology and care to encourage a healthy and productive fruit tree. You will get hands-on practice with our trees in the field.

When: Saturday, January 27, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Alemany Farm, 700 Alemany Blvd.

Registration: Fruit Tree Pruning

Donation: $30 per person; no one turned away for lack of funds


Build a Fence Using Natural Materials: Join the Rec and Park Community Gardens staff for this hands-on workshop and learn how build a wattle fence using trimmings from the trees in Civic Center Plaza. Heavy rain will cancel.

When: Saturday, January 27, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: White Crane Springs Community Garden, South of 7th Avenue and Lawton Street

Registration: email communitygardens@sfgov.org

Cost: Free



February


Winter Citrus Tree Pruning: Join the Rec and Park Community Gardens staff at Ogden Terrace Community Garden and learn the basics of fruit tree pruning in this hands-on workshop. We'll start by introducing you to tree pruning tools and how to use and care for them, then practice how to make pruning cuts and how to choose what to prune. Rain will cancel this event.

When: Saturday, February 3, 1 to 3 p.m.

Where: Ogden Terrace Community Garden, 700 Ogden Avenue

Registration: email communitygardens@sfgov.org

Cost: Free


Winter Fruit Tree Pruning: Learn how to maximize tree health and fruit production by identifying and properly removing dead, damaged, and dying wood. Our expert instructors will go over general pruning techniques, discuss the differences between summer and winter pruning, and lead a hands-on demonstration so that you can learn which cuts to make in the winter to keep your trees healthy and productive.

Following the workshop, you can put your newfound skills to use! Feel free to bring a lunch and eat with GFE staff and volunteers, and then at 1 pm, join a group of fellow workshop participants and others from the GFE community to prune our orchard trees.

When: Saturday, February 3, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: GFE Fruit Tree Pruning

Cost: $25 - $50


Urban Composting Worshop: Learn how to make your very own compost! The backbone of every healthy garden, compost improves all soil types and can be a difference between success and failure with many plants. In this FREE workshop, we will teach you how to make compost in your backyard and introduce you to our worms that make their own special fertilizer. We will also give you tips on using your city compost bin. Come learn what you can do to improve your garden and prevent organic waste from ending up in the landfill!

When: Saturday, February 3, 10 a.m. to noon (also March 2, April 6, May 4 and June 1

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Composting

Cost: Free (GFE offers this popular workshop to the public for free and appreciates any donation you can make to support our efforts to educate the public about environmentally-conscious gardening and more.)


Growing Orchids - Tips for the San Francisco Climate: Learn about cool, temperate and tropical zone orchids. Which type is good for you? Get to know cool growing orchids for San Francisco. Discover how to successfully re-pot your orchid, water, feed and get them to re-bloom, along with methods for dealing with common pests and diseases.

When: Saturday, February 3, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey Street

OR

When: Saturday, February 10, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: Richmond Library, 351 9th Avenue

Registration: not required. For more info contact mgsmsf@ucanr.edu

Cost: Free


Growing a Garden: Where to Start: Are you really curious about gardening but don't know where to begin? This workshop will teach you the fundamentals so you can get started!

When: Saturday, February 10, 10 a.m. to noon (also March 9, June 8, August 11 and October 12)

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Growing a Garden

Cost: $25 - $50


Soil Health, Composting, and Urban Agriculture Bilingual Workshop: Join Garden for the Environment for the Soil Health, Composting, and Urban Agriculture workshop co-hosted with the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources at UC Davis (lawr.ucdavis.edu). This interactive workshop will be delivered in English and Spanish.

Topics covered will include:

  • How to measure physical, chemical, and biological soil health indicators
  • How to manage contaminants such as heavy metals in urban soils
  • The benefits of compost for soil and tips for composting at home.

When: Saturday, February 17, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: Garden For The Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Soil Health

Cost: $25 - $50


Rainwater Harvesting: Learn how to harvest rainwater our continued drought time! Our expert instructor will teach you how to catch and save this precious resource.

When: Saturday, February 24, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Rainwater Harvesting

Cost: $10


Love Your Legumes: Join Rec and Park Community Gardens Program staff for this short workshop to learn how to build a bamboo trellis to support your beans and peas this spring. This trellis design is easy to construct and take down when your harvest is over. Translation in Cantonese will be provided.

When: Saturday, Febrary 24, noon to 1 p.m.

Where: Brooks Park Community Garden, 373 Ramsell Street

Registration: email communitygardens@sfgov.org

Cost: Free


愛你的豆類:與 Rec and Park 社區花園計劃工作人員一起參加這個簡短的研討會,學習如何建造竹格架來支撐今年春天的豆類和豌豆。 這種格子設計很容易建造,收穫結束後也可以輕鬆拆除。 我們將提供粵語翻譯。

時間:2 月 24 日星期六中午 1 點至下午 1 點

地點:Brooks 公園社區菜園,373 Ramsell Street

註冊:電子郵件communitygardens@sfgov.org

費用:免費


Fruit Tree Pruning: Learn the basics of fruit tree pruning in this hands-on workshop. We'll start by introducing you to tree pruning tools and how to use and care for them, then practice how to make pruning cuts and how to choose what to prune. In this workshop, our hands-on work will be pruning citrus trees. 

When: Sunday, February 25, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Alemany Farm, 700 Alemany Blvd.

Registration: Alemany Workshops

Donation: $30 per person; no one turned away for lack of funds



March


Sustainable Gardening Series: The Introduction to Sustainable Gardening Series is a three-part workshop series designed to help you transform your yard into a thriving, sustainable garden. This course will teach you everything you need to know to nurture perennial gardens that conserve water, provide beauty, and attract pollinators and beneficial insects.


San Francisco is a beautiful and unique city, with year-round mild temperatures and dry, foggy summers. Learn what plants are adapted to our coastal climate and grow without the need for toxic pesticides or large amounts of water. This course will focus on native and drought-tolerant ornamental gardens but will cover broad topics that can also apply to vegetable gardening.

When: March 2, 9, and 16, 10 a.m. - noon

Where: Garden For The Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Sustainable Gardening

Cost: $30 total for all three dates (The full series is $30, but you will get a $10 gift card to the Urban Farmer Store at each workshop).


Plant Propagation with Pam Peirce: Learn about the magic of growing plants in many ways -- seeds, cuttings, and divisions -- from one of SF's best-known gardeners, Pam Peirce!

When: Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Plant Propagation

Cost: $25 - $50


Dig In! 2024: Six Part Edible Gardening Series: Learn the fundamentals of successfully growing food in your backyard in this engaging series taught by local gardening experts!

When: Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Dig In!

Cost: $170 - $300


Winter Citrus Tree Pruning: Join the Rec and Park Community Gardens staff at Page Street Community Garden and learn the basics of fruit tree pruning in this hands-on workshop. We'll start by introducing you to tree pruning tools and how to use and care for them, then practice how to make pruning cuts and how to choose what to prune. Rain will cancel this event.

When: Saturday, March 30, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Page Street Community Garden, 438 Page Street

Registration: email communitygardens@sfgov.org

Cost: Free


Eco-Friendly Garden Pest Management: Learn how to control pests in your garden in environmentally sensitive ways that keep nature in balance!

When: Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m to noo

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Pest Management

Cost: $25 - $50

Time to say Goodbye to Andrea

Our Community Gardens rely heavily on the contributions of dedicated volunteers to build community, mentor new gardeners, and manage the occasional broken faucet or fallen tree. Dedicated doesn't seem to adequately describe Andrea Combet, the volunteer garden coordinator at In Chan Kaajal Community Garden. She has created a welcoming and inclusive environment as well as a beautiful and prolific garden that has something to offer everyone who visits. We have often featured this garden in this newsletter for the creative ways they engage the community - from tortilla making kits, assembled with corn grown from seeds saved from the previous year's harvest, and annual pumpkin carving for kids, to recipe challenges and seasonal celebrations. Andrea will be moving on at the end of January, and while we wish her well, her absence from In Chan Kaajal Community Garden will be felt for some time. To share the impact she has had on so many people, we invited the Rec and Park People in the Park authors to share a little of her history with our park friends. Thank you, Andrea. We wish you well in your next endeavor and hope you will return to visit soon!

Andrea has been a crucial part of the community garden at In Chan Kaajal Park in the Mission District since the park first opened in 2017. For the past six years, she’s volunteered most Saturdays helping oversee the shared community garden, which is filled with a variety of plants, including garlic, rosemary, and dahlias, just to name a few. From organizing garden workdays and potluck parties, to helping figure out which plants the community wants, she’s been involved every step of the way.


Unfortunately, Andrea is moving soon and will be deeply missed by everyone.

“It’s been absolutely amazing to see all different kinds of people, all ages, working together in the garden,” she said. “It’s really been my privilege to be here.”



Aside from the comradery and connection with her neighbors, another thing she’ll miss is her special garden tea, which is mixture of dried herbs from the garden such as lavender, chamomile, and calendula, among others.

“I call it my special I.C.K. (In Chan Kaajal) blend,” she laughed.

 

People of the Parks is a series of short stories based on conversations with people we meet in San Francisco parks.


Fertilizing Your Garden - #5 in our Top 5 Questions Series

Question #5: Should I add fertilizers to my garden? What kind should I use? When do I fertilize? How much do I use? Can I use the same fertilizer for all my plants and through all stages of growth? Do I need to fertilize at all? What makes a fertilizer organic?  


A: Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus? Oh my!

Plants need nutrients to thrive, and in doing so, they deplete the nutrients in the soil in which they are grown. Fertilizing replaces the depleted nutrients for the next season of plants in your garden. The big three nutrients that all plants need are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Other minerals, including sulfur, magnesium and calcium, are important, but all plants will suffer if they lack nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium. Grasses, vegetables and flowers will need varying ratios of these nutrients. There are two types of fertilizers that contain these key nutrients: inorganic and organic. 

 

The terms inorganic, chemical, or conventional refer to fertilizers which are synthetically produced. These fertilizers are typically fast-acting, contain nutrients in a form plants can absorb immediately and the amount of each nutrient is tightly controlled allowing the gardener to target specific soil deficiencies. By law, the guaranteed content of the fertilizer, expressed as a percentage of each plant nutrient supplied, must be stated on the bag or container. Under this labeling method, the first number shown is the percentage of nitrogen (N); the second is the percentage of phosphorus (P), expressed as P2O5 (phosphoric acid); and the third is the percentage of potassium (K), expressed as K2O (potash). A 100-pound (45.4-kg) bag of a 12-12-12 grade fertilizer contains 12 pounds (5.45 kg) each of N (nitrogen), P2O5 (phosphorous), and K2O (potassium). The other 64 pounds in the bag is filler, which facilitates even spreading of fertilizer. If any other plant nutrients have been added to the fertilizer, then they must be listed below the N-P-K content with their guaranteed percentage. (UC ANR)

Several serious problems are caused by the use of inorganic fertilizers:

1. Inorganic nitrogen based fertilizers contribute directly to global warming. 

  •  In inorganic fertilizers, nitrogen is synthesized from fossil fuels, which are used both as a raw material and for the significant amount of energy needed to drive the chemical reaction. The production and distribution of chemical fertilizers and pesticides account for 40 percent of all US agricultural energy use. 
  • Only about half of applied inorganic nitrogen fertilizer is used by the intended plants. Some of the other 50 percent is released into the atmosphere after microorganisms in the soil convert it to nitrous oxide, a gas that contributes to global warming.   
  • Much of the applied fertilizer leaches away from rainfall and irrigation. When it leaches into waterways, organisms that thrive on nitrogen and other nutrients in fertilizers grow quickly. As a result, invasive plants and microorganisms use up the available oxygen in the water, killing off native species of plants and animals that rely on that oxygen.


2. Inorganic fertilizers do not stay available in the soil for long and without frequent testing, it can be difficult to judge necessary application levels. As a result, these products are often overapplied, which can potentially leach and burn your plants as well as harm the larger environment. 


3. Inorganic fertilizers reduce soil water-holding capacity and increase the possibility of high salinity.

  • Inorganic fertilizers damage soil structure and cause soil loss by decreasing water-stable aggregates, the particles that stick together and help the soil hold onto water. 
  • These fertilizers are forms of salts and can also cause a crust on top of the soil that impacts water absorption. 
  • Both of these issues increase the amount of water needed for irrigation. 


4. Inorganic fertilizers disrupt soil microorganisms and pH, which negatively impacts plant health and can lead to increased incidents of pests and fungus, and increased use of pesticides. 

To protect the environment and provide the healthiest spaces for growing food, all community gardens that are managed by the Recreation and Park Department are required to use organic methods of fertilizing and soil conditioning. (view Rec and Park Community Garden Policies here)


Fertilizers that meet organic production standards align with natural processes and are also “organic” in terms of coming from plant or animal sources – things that were alive. This would include compost, bone meal, alfalfa meal, fish emulsion, and manures (chicken and horse are most common). Plants can only absorb nutrients in certain forms and organic fertilizers must be broken down by soil microbes first, a process called mineralization, which converts nutrients into forms plants can use. The mineralization process takes time and relies on environmental conditions such as temperature (warmer than 55 degrees) and moisture level to move it along. Organic fertilizers contain the same nutrients as inorganic fertilizers but support the environment and provide several additional benefits:


1. Organic fertilizers can improve the structure of soil over time by increasing aeration and water-holding capacity of the soil.

2. Organic fertilizers feed the beneficial microorganisms that live in the soil and break down nutrients for plants. This results in a slower and more consistent release of nutrients that are available to your crops, which improves consistent uptake of nutrients and less salt injury to plants.

3. Organic fertilizers provide some additional micronutrients that plants need such as magnesium and boron. 

4. Fertilizing with composted manure, an organic option, helps to keep soil pH in a range that is healthy for plants.

5. Composted manure increases carbon levels in the soil more than inorganic fertilizers. Carbon contributes to good soil structure and improves soil water-holding capacity.

6. Compost can improve the drainage in heavy clay soils, improving the airflow, which promotes healthy roots. Compost can also enhance water retention in sandy soils and make the soil easier to cultivate and till. 



To support organic gardening methods in the city, the Urban Ag/Community Gardens Program offers free compost every 6 weeks during the non-rainy months. Gardeners can collect up to five 5-gallon buckets per household at each event. (Garden Resource Days) If you’re not sure if a fertilizer product is safer to use, look for those that have been approved for organic production standards, as identified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), an independent non-profit organization which reviews products, to see if they comply with organic farming standards. These products will be labeled with the OMRI seal. (omri.org)

Organic Gardening Tips



1. Use compost to help with nutrient availability and improve soil structure in both clay and sandy soils. 


2.Add compost to your soil at the beginning of each planting season and to perennial plants and fruit trees as they come out of dormancy. Spread at least two inches over your soil and then mix into the top six to eight inches of soil.  


3. If soil temperatures are consistently below 55 degrees for several weeks, you can give your seedlings a boost with an organic supplement. Consider first the time of year and your crop, to determine if you want to encourage leafy growth or the production of flowers and fruit. Nitrogen will promote foliar growth so a fertilizer with a higher proportion of nitrogen will be better for lettuces, chard, and other leafy greens. Early use of nitrogen in tomatoes and potatoes will help plant growth, but switch to a lower nitrogen/higher phosphorus fertilizer when it’s time to focus on flower and fruit production. Note that native soils in San Francisco can be high in phosphorus already.


4. Compost can meet most or all of the nutrient needs for many gardens, but in highly productive spaces, supplemental fertilizers such as feather or bone meal may be helpful. 


5. If your plants have yellow leaves or low fruit/flower production, or seem susceptible to disease, check with the UCCE San Francisco Master Gardeners for more advice (Master Gardener Help Desk).



What to Do in Your Garden Now

January

  • Pull weeds brought on by recent rains now before they go to seed.
  • Top dress tender plants with mulch.
  • Keep plants covered and well-watered to avoid frost damage. Well hydrated plants will stand up to the cold much better.
  • Start planning your summer garden; make a crop and planting plan for your annuals. (view Pam Peirce's planting calendars for Hot, Sunny and Foggy areas here)
  • Prune citrus trees (once the crop has finished), overgrown perennials, roses and shrubs. To learn more about pruning techniques, attend one of our workshops listed above or email us to set up a workshop in your community garden (communitygardens@sfgov.org).
  • January is a great time for a snail and slug hunt. Reducing the population now will reduce the egg laying and hatching when the weather warms up. Collect and dispose of them now to protect your plants later.
  • Stop the weeds! Weeds that begin with winter rains go to seed in March and April. Pull weeds now before they go to seed.



February

  • Plant potatoes, garlic, onions, rhubarb, and asparagus.
  • Prune lavender now to promote better flower production this summer.
  • Prune and cut back perennials and ornamental grasses.
  • Plant bare root fruit trees now - bare root fruit trees are less expensive than potted fruit trees and nurseries offer more bare root varieties to choolse from. UC ANR has a helpful guide for palnting and caring for young trees.
  • If you plan on starting your tomatoes with seeds, sow them indoors now.
  • Divide perennials such as daylily and yarrow. Plant them in bare spots around your garden.
  • Begin planting summer bulbs and early blooming plants like dahlias this month. If you would like to add lavendar, rosemary and ceanothus are great pollinator plants to get in the ground this time of year too.
  • It’s time to think about sowing seeds indoors for transplanting later. If you haven't planned your spring garden, now is the time. Check germination times so your plants will be ready for transplanting at the appropriate time. Lettuces can be ready for transpant in a few weeks; tomatoes take a bit longer.


March

  • Prepare beds for spring - turn soil and add at least 4 inches of compost, gently mixing it into the soil. Compost will be available at our first 2024 Garden Resource Day on March 2 at the Gleneagle Golf Course overflow parking lot (2100 Sunnydale Avenue) between 10 a.m and 1 p.m. Bring your own buckets!
  • 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. 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. Poppies, our favorite generalist pollinator plant, can also be planted now.
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