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Fall 2023

What I Did On My Summer Vacation - A Photo Essay by the Community Gardens Program

This summer the Urban Ag/Community Gardens team reimagined how we provide our summer youth program with outdoor learning opportunities at Alemany Farm. Children attending summer camp sessions at Excelsior, Eureka Valley, Youngblood/Coleman, Joe Lee, Potrero, St Mary’s and the Mission Arts Camp visited the farm for 3 days of hands-on learning and fun, exploring not only how food is grown but also the many different ecological systems necessary to do so. 



Over 180 campers, along with their youth and adult chaperones, met working goats, made butter and ground wheat into bread flour, explored composting worms, printed with flowers, planted seeds to grow herbs at home, observed live bees and tasted honey, and used herbs to make tea as a refreshing alternative to sugary drinks. The campers even did a bit of restoration work (pulling weeds) so the goats could have a snack! Funny how an adorable animal can motivate us to do our chores!


All photos courtesy of Children and Nature (Thank you, Maria!)

Making tea bags with mint, echinacea, mullein, chamomile and hibiscus flowers.

Getting to know City Grazing's working goats. The goats negotiated some farm snacks into their employment contract.

Farm chores: trimming the olive tree suckers.

Tataki zome, a Japanese technique of hammering plants to create printed patterns on fabric or paper.

Exploring red wigglers, our favorite composting worms.

Planting herb seeds to grow at home.

Watering Your Garden - #4 in our Top 5 Questions Series

Question #4 How much and how often should I water my garden?  


This is a complicated one! The short answer is, “It depends.” The best answer is that good watering is based on a good understanding of your soil and climate conditions, weather, watering needs of your crops, and watering needs at each stage of your plants’ growth.  


You’ll need to water less in cold and rainy weather and water more in hot and windy weather. Seeds need to be consistently damp; letting them dry out for more than a few hours can result in low or no germination. Newly transplanted seedlings and starts will have shallow and damaged roots and will need more available water in the top of the soil, where things are more likely to dry out. These plants will need more frequent irrigation as their roots develop. Fully grown plants with established roots benefit from less frequent but deeper watering.  


Also note that soils used in raised planters, pots, or other containers, are typically higher draining than field soils. This means you will need to water a raised planter more frequently than in-ground plantings.  


In Golden Gate Gardening*, Pam Pierce describes how to irrigate established plants. “Water until the soil is holding all the moisture it can to a depth of a little more than 2 feet, and then don’t water again until the top 1 to 2 inches of soil have dried out. Two inches of water applied to the surface (picture a 2-inch layer of water on the soil) will soak 2 feet deep in sandy soil; it takes 4 inches of water to penetrate to the same depth in clay loam soil. Water again when the top 1 inch of sandy soil and the top 2 inches of clay soil are dry.” A water meter (if you are a fan of garden gadgets) or your index finger poking in the soil can help you determine this.  

*Golden Gate Gardening: Year-Round Food Gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area and Coastal California – 30th anniversary edition now available (Sasquatch Books, August 15, 2023 

How to water 

Seeds and seedlings will benefit from gentle overhead sprinkling with brief breaks to allow the water to soak in well without washing the seeds or seedlings away. (Protect seeds and seedings from predators - see the The ComPost Summer 2023 for more information.) Once plants are well established, water deeply at the ground level and avoid getting water on the leaves – wet leaves can make your plants more susceptible to fungus, disease and garden pests.  

 

How do I know I’ve watered enough? 

Both over and under-watered plants will let you know they aren’t happy. Overwatering can starve roots of oxygen and leave the plant susceptible to disease. Yellow leaves and wilt can be indications of root rot. Underwatering can result in undersized fruit, dull leaves and little resistance to pests like mites. Inconsistent watering can cause carrots to split and tomatoes to develop blossom end rot. If your plants look stressed or diseased, take good pictures and reach out to your UCCE Master Gardener Help Desk.  

  

Help your garden hold on to water 

Mulch and compost are your garden’s best friends. You can think of mulch as clothes for the soil, helping protect the soil and retain moisture. We like rice straw for veggie beds as it doesn’t mix into the soil as readily, which means less nitrogen robbing as the mulch breaks down, and because rice straw is less likely to sprout weeds around here than other straw mulches. Bark and wood chip mulches are great for in-ground planters and around trees, though leave a little space at the base of the tree as packed on mulch can cause rot in the root crown. Compost improves the soil structure, resulting in better water absorption and retention, as well as providing nutrients that help with healthier plant growth.  

Compost and mulch are always available at our Garden Resource Days. The last one for this calendar year will be Saturday, October 28 at the overflow parking lot for Gleneagles Golf Course. It will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your own buckets!! 

If you need straw in your community garden plot, let your garden coordinator know now. We typically order a few extra bales this time of year.  

Photo from Alabama Cooperative Extension System (aces.edu)

1. Use mulch! Mulch significantly reduces water lost through evaporation and a bonus – it helps prevent water-stealing-weeds from growing. 

2. Water early in the morning whenever you can, but don’t skip watering if you can only make it later in the day.  

3. Water seeds, young plants, and transplants more frequently. Newly sown seeds may need watering up to 3 times/day, weather depending.  

4. Direct sunlight, heat, and wind can all dry out soil quickly. Keep a closer eye on things when the weather is very sunny, hot, or windy.   

5. If it has rained 1/4” or more in the past 24-hours, your garden may have enough water - check before irrigating. Also note that heavy fog drip and light rain may not make it into your soil if you have dense foliage.  

 

For more comprehensive information about watering, please see Golden Gate Gardening by Pam PeirceYour local library may have a copy to check out.  

Got fruit trees? Learn how to water them here: UC ANR IPM  

Upcoming Events 

Garden Resource Days

 Our last Garden Resource Day for 2023 is coming up soon on October 28th. Stop by for compost, mulch, seeds and plant starts. Please remember to bring your own buckets!


10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Saturday, October 28


The event begins at 10 a.m. and will end promptly at 1:00 p.m. Please plan your arrival for allow sufficient time to collect your materials prior to 1 p.m. (Our staff and volunteers have other events to attend and must leave promptly).

      

Where: Parking Lot outside Gleneagles Golf Course entrance, adjacent to the McLaren Bike Park. View at this link: Map. If there is high demand, there may be a vehicle waiting line to enter the parking lot. Follow the instructions of traffic control staff and observe all traffic laws.  

Alemany Farm Harvest Festival

Join the Friends of Alemany Farm for live music, crafts and workshops, food and fun! 

Workshops

Urban Composting 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. In October, you'll learn about caring for your emerging winter garden and how to properly harvest greens and lettuce. You'll also gain knowledge that will help you care for your garden throughout the year. If you have questions, your instructor Carey has answers!


When: Saturday, October 14, 10 am - 12 pm, Saturday, November 11th, 10 am - 12 pm, Saturday, December 2nd, 10 am - 12 pm


Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue


Registration: Urban Composting Workshops


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Grow Your Own Food In October  San Francisco's rainy season is on its way and every drop counts, especially in this severe drought time. Learn how to easily and safely capture rainwater to use in your garden or home. In this workshop, you’ll learn what to consider and where to start for systems as simple as a single barrel under a downspout or as complicated as an indoor plumbing system for toilet flushing. Keep precious rainwater out of the sewer and keep money in your pocket by harvesting the water that lands on your roof. The workshop fee is $10, but you will get a $10 gift card to the Urban Farmer Store or Cole Hardware for attending! Please consider making a donation to GFE for this workshop, which is free when you attend and receive a $10 gift card. Sponsored by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission


When: Saturday, October 14th,10 a.m. - noon


Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue


Registration: Registration: Grow Your Own Food In October $25-$50


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Sustainable Gardening Series: Fall 2023 October 21st, 28th, and November 4th - Saturdays from 10am to 12pm. Cost: $30 for the full three-part series, and receive a $10 gift card at each workshop. 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.

The full series is $30, but you will get $10 gift cards to the Urban Farmer Store at each workshop (for a total of $30 in gift cards if you attend the two workshops).

When: Saturday October 21, 10 a.m. - noon 


Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue


Registration: Sustainable Gardening Series $30- Sold Out, Join the Waitlist!



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Fall Wreathmaking Learn how to make beautiful wreaths for gifts and to beautify your home! Experienced flower arranger and gardener Hannah will teach you how to incorporate beautiful backyard foliage into a stunning seasonal wreath. She will identify some garden-grown favorites for the project, as well as some beautiful branches and flowers picked up from the local flower mart. Then you will have the opportunity to make your own wreath to take home with you!  


When: Saturday October 28, 10 a.m. - noon (morning session) or

                           1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (afternoon session)

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue


Registration: Wreathmaking- Join Waitlist $55 - $80


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Grow Your Own Food in December  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.

In December, you'll learn about planting cold-hardy crops such as garlic, peas, and edible perennials, and caring for your garden in the colder months by amending the soil, adding mulch, preventing weed infestations, and harvesting herbs for wintertime gifts. If you have questions, instructor Carey has answers!


When: Saturday December 9, 10 a.m. - noon


Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue


Registration:  Grow Your Own Food - December $25 - $50

Watch and Learn Now: Recorded Workshops and Presentations



Growing Healthy Soil  Join Randy Ritchie, founder of Malibu Compost for this Organic Gardening class. Whether you’re gardening in-ground or in containers, here’s what you’ll learn:

  • Topdressing and Biological Inoculation
  • Feeding Your Soil, While Feeding Your Plants
  • Protocols for the Organic Garden, and much more


Watch hereGrowing Healthy Soil


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Backyard Compost Troubleshooting UCCE Master Gardener Soil Specialists have pre-recorded this two hour troubleshooting workshop that focuses on backyard compost piles and includes:

  • Ten-minute review of backyard composting concepts
  • Answers to common questions
  • Cold vs Hot Pile Composting


This is a class for people who are currently composting and have questions or challenges. Beginners are welcome, just be aware that this is NOT an introductory how-to class.


Watch here:  Backyard Compost Troubleshooting


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Seeding Demystified: How to be Successful in Starting New Plants from Seeds 

Learn the basics of growing plants from seed along with some tips and hacks that make it cheaper and easier to be successful. Presented by the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties.


Watch here: Seeding Demystified 

What to do in your garden - Fall 

October

  • Plant California natives so they can get established through the winter months. Check the UC Davis Arboretum All Star plant database for ideas. The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) website is another great resource.
  • Reduce the watering time on irrigation controllers monthly by 25%. Consider turning off irrigation controllers if rain is adequate. New plantings should be irrigated on a regular basis until they have become established. Comprehensive information about water conservation in irrigation is available through the University of California’s Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS).
  • Avoid working wet soil or using heavy equipment on wet soil, which can cause poor aeration and compaction.
  • Add fallen leaves and plant debris to your compost pile, or leave them on the ground to serve as natural mulch. 

November

  • Plant your winter garden by early November
  • Plant shrubs, trees, and perennials before arrival of winter rains, which help new plantings to establish strong root systems.
  • Cool-season vegetable seedlings include cabbage, kale, chard, and spinach. Carrots may be seeded now.
  • Remove dead or diseased limbs from trees and shrubs.
  • Control slugs and snails with organic slug bait that is safe for use around animals and food. Always read product labels carefully.
  • Protect sensitive plants from cold injury when frost is predicted. Average first frost dates in San Mateo and San Francisco Counties may occur around November 30; average last seasonal frost usually occurs between late January and late February. 


December

  • Plant cool-season annuals such as violas, primroses and pansies.
  • Plant perennials, shrubs and trees so that roots will get established in time to promote lush spring growth
  • Cover compost during the rainy weather to prevent it from becoming waterlogged. Turn compost to keep it moist, but not soaking.
  • Add mulch to garden beds where bulbs are planted, and to any bare ground to prevent compaction from rainstorms.
  • Prevent compaction and poor aeration of soil by avoiding working, walking on, or using heavy equipment on wet soil.
  • Watch for water that may collect after rainfall. Repair any problems in low or poorly drained areas in the landscape. Reduce irrigation or turn it off completely if rainfall is adequate.
  • Be aware of frost warnings and protect sensitive plants. Light frost is 32°-29°; medium frost 28°-25°; heavy frost 24° and below for 4+ hours. If frost is forecasted, watering plants beforehand will safeguard dry roots.
  • Maintain and repair garden tools:
  • Clean and sharpen dull blades, lubricate garden tools and repair damaged grips. 
  • Shovel blades don't need to be sharpened but should be honed.
  • Clean with soapy water and a wire brush or steel wool and air dry.
  • Apply a light coat of oil to prevent corrosion. 
  • Sand and rub down tools wooden handled tools with with linseed oil.
  • Store tools in a dry, covered area.
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