Page Street Garden

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

Winter solstice

2011-12-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

A new cycle begins at the garden

2011-11-26T08:42:00.003-08:00

I just cleared my plot this week after a productive season growing mostly cherry tomatoes and different lettuces and some beans. I tried green peppers this year and managed to produce one pepper from two plants! My strawberries, on the other hand, were juicy and delicious! I just wish I had room to grow more of them.

The green plant in the spiral above is a mimulus, a california native also known as the monkeyflower. I planted it a year or so ago and love the yellow flower it produces in the spring. But it has really spread all over my plot so I'm removing it and will try to transplant some in the tree wells.

After clearing my plot, I planted a bunch of fava beans. Last year, I grew fava beans and enjoyed a big harvest in the spring. This year I'm growing fava beans to enrich my soil with nitrogen. Instead of letting the plants produce beans, I'll cut them down right as they begin to flower and turn them into the soil. Fava beans are an excellent nitrogen-fixing plant. In the early stages of its growth, the plant will take nitrogen from the air and fix it in the soil. But once the plant starts to flower it takes nitrogen from the soil. To learn more, check out this video.

Rainy weather brings out the mushrooms!

2011-11-13T17:08:00.001-08:00

photo by Kym

Time to make plans for winter gardening

2011-11-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who turned out for last weekend's work day and workshop on winter gardening. We took care of some garden chores but mostly wanted to encourage gardeners to begin making plans for the winter.

Please keep in mind that you have until December 15 to either plant your winter crop or prepare your plot for the winter by sheet mulching it. Gardeners who don't take care of this by then will have to give up their plots to one of the many folks on our waiting list.

Growing winter crops: Catherine gave a great overview of winter gardening options at our gathering last Saturday. If you're looking for some inspiration, check out her garden plot: it's the one with the white pvc frame around it in the middle row at the back of the garden. You'll also find great winter gardening advice in Golden Gate Gardening, Pam Pierce's book in the toolshed. Catherine made copies of some of the most relevant pages from the book with tips on what to plant and when. You'll find them tacked on the inside door of the toolshed. Feel free to take a copy.

If you're looking for another hands-on opportunity to learn about winter gardening, check out Garden for the Environment's workshop on Saturday, November 19.

Sheet mulching your plot: Gabriel also led a demonstration on how to sheet mulch your plot for the winter. Sheet mulching is an excellent way to prepare your plot for the winter because it will help enrich your soil and keep weeds under control during the rainy months. You'll find all the supplies you'll need for sheet mulching in the garden (straw is up front, manure is under the blue tarp, and cardboard is in the toolshed). We've posted a step-by-step guide on sheet mulching previously on the blog. I've also tacked a copy of the sheet mulching instructions on the toolshed bulletin board for easy access while you're at the garden.

Growing a cover crop like fava beans: You can also plant a cover crop like fava beans during the winter. You'll find a bag of fava bean seeds in the toolshed available for planting. Growing fava bean plants is a great way to add nitrogen to your soil but its important to remember to cut the plants down at the base as they begin to flower if that's your goal. Check out this video on planting fava beans to enrich your soil for more details. Of course, you can also let the plants continue to grow and enjoy a nice fava bean crop in the spring (but you won't get the same benefit for your soil).

I hope these tips are helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions or need any assistance. Thanks!

Check out the carrots Chris grew in his plot!

2011-11-07T10:57:00.000-08:00

Spiders and Monsters in the Garden!

2011-10-25T07:56:00.001-07:00

The garden is crawling with spooky spiders right now, but they're not the only creatures hiding out at Page Street! Just in time for Halloween, Kym and Denah have taken some fun photos of some of the little monsters you can find in the garden and made a really cool short film featuring the spider who lives by the back patio.

Music, bubbles, and yummy food at the garden...

2011-09-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

Even though the sun never quite came out, there were plenty of good vibes and lots of great music in the garden at our annual party!

It’s always so nice to have music in the garden and this year we got to enjoy several different performances. DJ Kym helped set the party mood with a fun set of tunes followed by musical performances by Jascha, the Rabbles (featuring gardeners Marina, Jay, and Kevin), and Super Natural. Thanks to all the musicians who helped make the party so special. And a big thank you to Aisha, Maizie and Aiden for keeping the bubbles blowing during all the performances!

Saturday’s party would not have been possible without everyone’s help, including: Jen G. for making the party flyer; Susan and John for helping with party set-up; Mark, Kitty, and Steve for barbecuing delicious burgers and dogs on the grill; Andria, Kym, and Denah for taking photos;Lynn for organizing fun activities for the kids, and all who helped with clean-up.

We had a lot of leftover burgers and hot dogs so I froze them and figured we'd have another cook-out at our fall workday (probably the first weekend in November). Stay tuned for details. See you next time!

Photo Credits: Andria Lo (Photos 3,5,6,8,9,13), Kym Farmen (Photos 4,7,10,11,12), Michael McCauley (Photos 1,2)

Summer work day a big success!

2011-08-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who helped make last weekend’s summer work day such a big success! We had a great turnout and tackled some big projects that have been on our wish list for some time. We managed to weed the common area gardens, water the tree wells, install two new brick utility patios, create two new member plots, turn the compost, and enjoyed an informative herb garden workshop!

Check out these photos taken by Denah, Kym, and Gabriel for some highlights.

Catherine helped trim and weed the common area gardens along with Diane, Kitty, Steve, Mary and Gabriel. Thanks also to Eddie for watering the tree wells along Page and Webster Streets.

Mark did an amazing job installing two new brick patios in the back of the garden -- one by the water spigot and another to the left of the tool shed. Thanks also to Adam for assisting with this project and to David for helping me pick up the supplies.

Denah and Kym created a new extension of the communal herb garden.

Kym conducted a workshop on creating a medicinal salve using comfrey leaves and another salve with St. John's wort flowers from the herb garden.

Kitty collecting St. John's wort flowers for the herb garden workshop.

Brent, Chad, and Adam turned the compost and transferred a big load into the "ready bin" available for gardeners to add to their soil.

John, Chris and Chad created two new garden plots for new members.

The garden is looking really great these days thanks to everyone's hard work and creative energy!

Herb garden gets beautiful new signs!

2011-08-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

Marina, Gabriel and Kym have been doing a wonderful job taking care of the communal herb garden and it's really thriving this summer. And now thanks to Chad, we have some beautiful new signs to help you identify all the different herbs growing in the garden!

We created the communal herb garden several years ago since many gardeners like to grow herbs but don't necessarily need a lot for personal use. You'll find a nice range of culinary and medicinal herbs growing in the plot that you are welcome to take trimmings from for your own use.

Mary admires Chad's beautiful new signs for the herb garden.

Freshly harvested from the garden

2011-08-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

We've got such a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and other plants growing in the garden this year and it's great to see what folks are harvesting from their plots. I've been collecting a nice big bag of mixed lettuce greens from my garden about once a week and enjoying a delicious little crop of strawberries this summer. Check out some photos I took this weekend of some of the things gardeners are harvesting from their plots.

What's growing in your garden? I'd love to continue documenting the harvest at Page Street. Send me your photos to add to the blog.

Comfrey leaves come with caution!

2011-07-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

Symphytum officinale – Boraginaceae
“Comfrey” or “Knitbone”

Borage family
Native to England
Bee and Butterfly plant
Leaves high in Potassium - good fertilizer, compost activator, green mulch
Invasive - do not compost or disturb roots!
Remove seed heads!
Cut flower and leaf stalks 2” above ground while flowering
Wear gloves
Dry or fresh leaves may be used for topical preparations

Warning: For external use only

• All oral comfrey products have been banned by the FDA since 2001
• Comfrey contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (liver toxins)
• Consuming comfrey can lead to liver damage or death
(Research available documenting risk of prolonged oral use of high concentrate root extractions)

However. . .Topical preparations containing comfrey are still commercially available and considered safe when used in moderation. To my knowledge there have been no reports of poisoning from topically applied comfrey leaf products, but research suggests the skin absorbs PAs, so it should:

• NOT be applied to open wounds or broken skin
• NOT be applied to pregnant or breastfeeding women, children or the elderly.

Before the FDA issued warnings about this plant, it had been used for centuries as a pain and inflammatory, skin and bone healer. Today there are clinical trials suggesting topical efficacy for pain and inflammation associated with injury and arthritis. So look at the research and use your own common sense and judgment before experimenting with this controversial plant.

BY Kym Farmen, Master Herbalist

Bumper crop of alderman and maxigolt peas

2011-07-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

The garden is really thriving these days and it's been great to see the success that gardeners are having this year. One standout so far has been the peas that Catherine grew (to great heights!) on the trellis she built around her plot.

Catherine shared some photos and some info on the peas she grew that I wanted to pass along to other gardeners. Here's what I learned from Catherine:

Catherine grew two varieties of peas: Alderman Tall Telegraph an heirloom, and Maxigolt not an heirloom. Both are shelling peas, also called English peas. This is the variety of peas that have the most total nutrition (even including the pod of a snap pea or snow pea).

Catherine set out seedlings using organic pea inoculant on the roots in mid-February. She put out the Aldermans a little before the Maxigolts because Aldermans have a longer date to maturity, which is typical of heirloom varieties.

On average Alderman peas take about 75 days; and Maxigolt, about 60. The Alderman grew a full 8 feet tall! Maxigolt grew 4 feet. As expected, Alderman took longer to mature.

According to Catherine, the Aldermans have a seriously old fashioned pea flavor but no starchiness. They taste sweet until you eat a Maxigolt. The Maxigolt are milder, brighter, and sweeter. They also have bigger peas within those smaller pods. Catherine enjoyed them raw, barely steamed, and even frozen and then raw or steamed. There is no need to blanch them first.

Contact Catherine with your questions at catherine_ashworth@yahoo.com

Flowering now in the herb garden!

2011-06-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

Pick and taste!

Anchusa azurea – Boraginaceae

“LARGE BLUE ALKANET” or “ITALIAN BUGLOSS”

Borage Family
Native to Italy – Perennial
Cut back after first blooming
Cut back hard after second blooming
Wear gloves
Bee nectar plant
Vase life 10-14 days

Edible leaves and flowers
Mild, nondescript taste
Use flowers to garnish drinks, ice cubes, soups, salads
or candied to decorate cakes
Pick young leaves for salad or garnish
Young hairs dissolve in mouth
BY Kym Farmen, Master Herbalist

Springtime fava bean harvest

2011-05-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever I planted fava beans in my plot this winter and they really took off. Fava beans do great in our garden and they're an excellent winter crop. You can grow fava beans to help enrich your soil because they're an excellent nitrogen fixer. To do that, you'll need to cut down your plants right after they flower and before the beans start growing. Check out this video to learn more.

I decided to let my fava beans grow and ended up with a big basketful of beans to enjoy for dinner last weekend. Have you ever cooked with fava beans? I found a simple recipe but discovered that they're a bit labor intensive to prepare. The good news though is that they were yummy and worth the work!

I'd love to document what's growing in the garden and what folks are harvesting throughout the year. Send me your garden photos and let me know if you'd like to post to the blog.

Learning to love compost!

2011-04-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who came out to our compost workshop on the 9th! We had a great turnout and got a chance to learn the basics about our compost systems and how to use compost to improve the soil in our garden.

Special thanks to Brent for helping to organize this event along with Tristan and Carmen from Garden for the Environment for leading the workshop.

We turned the compost in our bins at last weekend’s compost workshop so we have a decent amount of compost ready for your use in the left bin (next to the toolshed). Brent and I will be picking up some compost from the Hayes Valley Urban Farm this weekend as part of the Great Compost Giveaway so they'll be plenty of compost on hand at the garden for your use.

If you need a refresher on compost basics, check out these compost tips developed by the compost team as well as this cool video on vermicomposting with worms.

Here are some photos from last week's workshop. All the great close-up shots were taken by gardener Andria Lo. Thanks Andria!

Garden bursting with springtime color

2011-04-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

Rainy chard harvest

2011-03-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

Cherry tree blossoms mark a new beginning

2011-03-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

I wanted to report that the cherry tree was removed from the garden yesterday. The impact of seeing the tree being cut down really hit me as Gabriel and I were getting things ready for the crew to arrive yesterday afternoon. The cherry tree had probably been a part of the garden for over 30 years and had provided us with beautiful blossoms every spring. It was hard to believe that such a large tree that had been a fixture of the garden since its early years would be gone in just a few hours.

While it was difficult to see the tree come down, our concerns about the fungus damage were confirmed yesterday. Over half of some sections of the base of the trunk and and an upper branch were damaged and the crew foreman expressed concerns that it could have fallen down in heavy winds.

Fortunately, the crew was very respectful of the garden and took
special care to avoid damaging surrounding plots. While the work was
being done, Gabriel and I pruned a large collection young branches
from the cherry tree that were just beginning to bloom. We've left
them in the garden to share with everyone. Please feel free to take a
few branches.

We'll be making plans soon to re-design the area of the garden where
the cherry tree once stood. We had to remove most of the other plants
that surrounded the tree to minimize potential damage and to make it
easier for the crew to do its work. We went ahead and planted two of
the fucshia plants in the back patio area and need to figure out where
the other plants go as we develop our plans for the center garden.

I want to to make sure that everyone who is interested has an
opportunity to contribute their ideas for this project. Please stay
tuned for more details and to learn how you can get involved.

Bluegrass & BBQ at the garden!

2010-09-26T07:08:00.000-07:00

It was a real treat to hear the bluegrass trio Walking in Sunlight perform at our annual garden barbecue on September 12! Special thanks go out to Greg, Nathan, and Eva for serenading us with their beautiful harmonies and guitar and banjo playing, and to Nigel for hooking us up with the band.

We had a really great time that day -- enjoying bluegrass on the back patio, delicious food from the grill and potluck, and having fun hanging out in front of the garden.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success, including: David and Josh for handling the barbecue, Rick for taking photos and assisting with set-up, Gabriel for helping pick up some of the food, and Chandler for giving me a hand with the clean-up. A big thank you to Raven, Theo, Maizie, and Ian for the bubbles and wonderful chalk drawings on the front sidewalk!

We had a lot of leftover burgers and hot dogs so I froze them and figured we'd have another cook-out before the end of the year maybe after our fall workday (probably the first weekend in November). Stay tuned for an announcement.

Check out some photos from the event. See you next time!

Tree well planting on Saturday, February 27

2010-02-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

We got a bunch of free plants from the City that will allow
us to finish the tree well planting project surrounding John Muir
Elementary school that we started a couple of weeks ago.

Volunteers are needed to help finish the job by planting the tree wells
with drought-resistant, flowering plants on the Webster Street side of
the school. If you'd like to help, please meet at the garden at 10am
this Saturday, February 27. If it's raining at that time, we'll
re-schedule.

Questions? Give me a call at 902-9537.

2010 Membership Dues Needed by March 1

2010-02-10T07:52:00.000-08:00

A belated "Happy New Year" to everyone!

With the start of 2010, it's time again to collect annual membership dues for the garden. Your dues help pay for needed supplies, ongoing maintenance, and unexpected expenses. 2010 membership dues are needed by March 1.

Over the past year, we used garden dues to cover the expenses of a number of projects, including the purchase of new tools, plants for the common area gardens and the Page Street tree wells, and food and other items for our workshops, garden barbecue, and other special events.

More people than ever before are anxious to join our garden -- over 50 people are currently on our garden waiting list. Please keep this in mind as you consider whether to renew your membership.

Given the demand for garden plots we want to make sure that all members make a serious commitment to actively garden throughout the year. Gardeners agree to use their plots year-round on a regular basis and to keep their plots (and the area surrounding them) weeded. All gardeners are encouraged to come to every workday and are expected to participate in at least one of them.

Annual dues for the garden are on a sliding scale as follows (choose whatever contribution level works for you):

$12 – gardener
$25 – butterfly
$50 – sunshine
$100 – golden trowel
or you can choose your own contribution amount

If you are interested in renewing your membership for the garden, please send a check made out to "Page Street Garden" to:

Michael McCauley
881 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-2614

I'm anxious to make garden plots available to the folks on our waiting list, so please let me know by March 1 whether you intend to renew your garden membership. If you plan on giving up your garden plot, I would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible.

Give me a call if you have any questions (902-9537). Thank you!

Tree wells take bloom on Page Street

2010-01-13T08:08:00.000-08:00

Have you walked by the garden along Page Street lately? Last Saturday, a group of garden volunteers worked to transform the tree wells on Page Street that border John Muir Elementary School by planting them with beautiful, drought-resistant, flowering plants.

We've been interested in adopting these tree wells for many years because they've been neglected and are often used as trash cans and dog toilets. Now they are planted with rosemary, mexican sage, bush daisies, and California native plants like Zauschneria. The plants are small but should fill in the tree well spaces nicely, help to discourage trash, and create a beautiful natural corridor along the block.

Special thanks go out to all who helped make this transformation possible: Bridgit, Gabriel, John L., June, Mary G., Matthew, Richard, and Steve. Check out these photos from the tree well planting workday.

The plants for this project were purchased at a deep wholesale discount using garden membership funds. But we're working now to try to get donated plants from the city to finish planting the tree wells along the Webster Street side of the school. I'll keep you posted as these plans progress.

By adopting these tree wells, the garden is making a commitment to take care of them, including watering them during summer months, pruning and weeding them as needed, and painting over graffiti. We've deliberately chosen low maintenance, drought resistant plants to minimize this work. Let me know if you are interested in becoming a part of the tree well team. Thanks!

Help Page Street bloom!

2009-12-14T20:45:00.000-08:00

Volunteers are needed to help transform the tree wells surrounding John Muir Elementary School, with beautiful, drought resistant, flowering plants. Please let me know if you are interested in lending a hand.

Over the past few years, we have talked about adopting the tree wells that surround the elementary school to help beautify the neighborhood and extend the garden beyond our gate. This winter we're going to make that happen.

Right now, the tree wells are often full of trash and routinely tagged with graffiti. We 're planning on planting them with plants that will thrive in this environment, discourage trash and graffiti, and add beauty and greenery to the block. Now is the perfect time to get started on this project because the rainy winter months will help ensure that the new plantings get off to a good start.

No date has been set yet for the planting, but I wanted to send out an email to begin recruiting volunteers. We hope to complete this project in the next month.

Let me know know if you are interestred in helping out. Thanks!

End of the year garden deadline approaching

2009-11-23T20:31:00.000-08:00

The end of the year is approaching and this is a reminder that all gardeners who aren't planning on actively gardening during the winter months are required to prepare their plots for the season.

To be clear, there are many things you can grow during the winter in the Bay Area and I don't want to discourage anyone from doing that.

But if you aren't planning on doing so, you are required to either sheet mulch your plot or grow a cover crop. Gardeners who don't take care of this by the end of the year will have to give up their plot to someone on the waiting list. Sheet mulching your plot or growing a cover crop will keep weeds under control and also help to improve the quality of your soil.

You'll find step-by-step instructions for sheet mulching tacked on the bulletin board at the back of the garden and here:

All the supplies for sheet mulching are in the garden: manure is under
the blue tarp in the front, cardboard is in the toolshed, and there are
a couple of bales of straw by the apple tree.

Cover Crop Instructions

Cover crops (also called green manure) suppress weeds, build productive soil, and help control pests and diseases. Plus, cover crops are easy to plant and require only basic care to thrive. Here are the basic steps to follow:

1. Remove all invasive weeds from your plot (oxalis, knot weed, crab grass – see picture of each posted on the top of the compost bin). Discard these invasive weeds in the green city compost trash can.

2. Aerate the soil in your plot by poking it with a fork spade.

3. Spread a ½” (or less) layer of horse manure over the soil in your plot (from the manure pile in the front of the garden).

4. Using the metal rake, gently mix the manure into the soil.

5. Spread the cover crop seed throughout your plot. You'll find seed in a jar in the tool shed. Try using 1 cup per square yard.

6. Using the metal rake, mix the seed into the soil.

7. Cover your plot with a very thin blanket of straw. If too much straw is used it will suppress the cover crop. The straw is used to hide the seed from birds and rodents.

8. Keep your plot watered until the winter rains start.

9. One month before planting towards the end of winter, chop the cover crop with pruners and mix into the soil. Cover with straw and wait for one month. Be sure to keep the plot watered. Remove the straw from plot on planting day. The straw goes into the garden compost bin not the green city compost trash can.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Planning ahead for winter gardening

2009-10-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

It's not too early to begin making plans for winter gardening. In fact, its best to start cool weather crops when the season is still warm and there are enough hours of sunlight to encourage germination and initial growth.

Some winter crops that do well in the garden are peas; root vegetables like carrots, turnips and beets; greens like lettuce and spinach; brocolli, kale, and collard greens; and garlic and onions. More information about winter crops can be found in Pam Pierce's "Golden Gate Gardening," which can be found on the bookshelf in the toolshed.

You can learn more about winter garden this Saturday at the Garden for the Environment's "Organic Gardening for the Winter" workshop from 10am to noon. The garden is located at 7th and Lawton and pre-registration for the workshop is required.

Next workday and workshop: November 7

If you are not planning on gardening during the winter months, you are required to prepare your plot for the season, which will help keep weeds under control and improve the quality of your soil. On November 7, we'll have our fall workday and hold a workshop to demonstrate how to prepare your plot for the winter months. And we'll follow the workshop with more music and food in the garden. Stay tuned for more details.

Music and great food in the garden!

2009-10-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day for our annual garden party last weekend. Sunny skies and warm temperatures along with yummy food and great music made for another fun event in the garden. I really appreciate how everyone pitched in to help make things run smoothly. Special thanks to Bridgit, Marina, Jay, and Jamie who serenaded us with a wonderful accoustic guitar performance. Check out some photos from the event taken by Chad and myself.

Our next event will be November 7. We'll be holding a workshop on preparing your garden plot for the winter followed by another musice performance in the garden. Stay tuned for details.

More summer plums ripe in the garden!

2009-07-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

We harvested the golden plums from the back of the garden and you'll find a basket of fruit on the compost bin. There are a limited number of plums available, so just take one so others can enjoy them. First come first served!

Plums are ripe and ready for pickin'

2009-07-07T07:36:00.001-07:00

Have you tasted one of the delicious plums from the back of the garden yet? The plums on the middle plum tree (bordering the southeast corner of the patio) are ripe and ready for picking!

All fruit at the Page Street Garden is available to members of the garden. Feel free to use the fruit picker on the long pole by the toolshed to pick a plum. Just position the basket of the fruit picker beneath one of the plums. Tap the branch and the plum should land in the basket. I'll also pick a few and leave them on top of the compost bin.

There aren't that many plums in the tree, so please just take one so everyone gets a chance to enjoy them. The fruit from the other two plum trees will ripen in a few weeks. I'll keep you posted.

New compost set-up and instructions

2009-06-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Compost Team) did some work last weekend to catch up on all the plant material that has been accumulating in the compost area, and in general make sure the compost is progressing nicely. The main change we made is this: please use the left side of
the tumbler to add your kitchen scraps and non-invasive weeds. The right tumbler is now closed off to new additions and will be only opened to add water once in a while while it continues the decomposition process. A small tag has been placed on the right tumbler to remind you to use the left one.

Here is an overview of the compost area now, as you are facing it,
from left to right :

Left Wooden Box: Finished compost, ready to sift into your plot.

Right Wooden Box: Chopped up bulky plant material from what had accumulated, mainly the bamboo, mung bean stems and tall stems from the front of the garden, covered in hay.

Left compartment of Compost Tumbler: Newly started compost area, PUT YOUR SCRAPS HERE, as well as your non-invasive weeds. Remember to check the posted pics if you are unsure if your weed is invasive or not.

Right Compartment of Compost Tumbler: Resting compost, this compartment should not be added to.

Questions? Call Brent at 750-1570. Thanks!

Springtime bounty at the garden

2009-05-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

The fava beans, kale, and chard have been doing great in the garden thse past few months. Gordon just harvested a big bowl of fava beans from his plot for a feast he was preparing and said the leaves from the top of the plants are also delicious for sauteeing.

How's your garden growing? Send me photos of the veggies you're harvesting, flowers you're growing, or your time spent in the garden. I'd love to post more photos on the blog and on the bulletin board in the front of the garden. Email photos to mccami@covad.net

Daily Show: Little Crop of Horrors

2009-05-16T11:56:00.001-07:00

Check out this hilarious Daily Show send-up of the American Council of Science and Health (ACSH), which criticized Michelle Obama for planting an organic garden at the White House. Not surprisingly, the ACSH gets a lot of its funding from chemical companies that would love everybody to slather on the pesticides when they garden.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Little Crop of Horrors

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

Political Humor

Volunteers needed for garden teams

2009-05-03T17:18:00.001-07:00

At last weekend’s workday we discussed a number of teams that are forming to take the lead on different garden projects.

Compost Team: Brent, Adam, Gabriel, Shawn, and Chad signed up for the compost team. They’ll work on devising a plan for maintaining our compost systems, including the new Compost Tumbler, and to develop signage and materials to help make sure everyone knows how contribute and use it.

Common Area Gardens Team: Steve Smith, Gabriel, Stephen Davidson, Laura, John McMahon, Shawn, and Meghan signed up for the Common Area Gardens Team. They’ll work on taking responsibility for watering, maintaining, and making improvements to the common area gardens.

Events Team: Gordon, John McMahon, and Michael signed up for the Events Team. We need more volunteers to help plan special events in the garden, including workshops, open-mic music performances, and garden barbecues.

Workday Team: I need volunteers to help me plan and prepare for workdays, including set-up beforehand and clean up after we’re done.

Communications Team: I’d love to have some help creating a more engaging blog and bulletin board for the front and back of the garden. Writers and photographer volunteers needed.

Art Projects Team: Gabriel is interested in developing some art projects in the garden. Laura and Karen signed up to explore ideas.

Please consider volunteering for one of the above teams or let me know if you are interested in lending a hand in some other way.

The garden is looking great these days! Help us build on this success by volunteering some extra time to the garden.

Thanks!

Strange Attractor at the Garden

2009-04-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

The artificial flowers of Strange Attractor are currently cohabiting with native flowers at the front of the garden. The installation was created by Mang who was on hand at the garden for an opening for his project following our spring workday.

Check out Mang's blog for more photos and information.

Do you have an idea for an art project for the garden? Contact Gabriel at reconeix@hotmail.com to join the Art Projects Team.

Spring workday scheduled for April 25, 10am-1pm

2009-04-02T07:24:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars and make plans to attend our Spring workday on Saturday, April 25, from 10am to 1pm. We'll spend some time weeding the common area gardens, making improvements to the succulent garden up front, clearing out some of the junk that has accumulated near the tool shed, and working on other garden chores.

Brent will also lead another compost workshop, including demonstrating how to use the new Compost Tumbler, which he was able to get donated to the garden from the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council. It's critical that everyone attends this workshop to learn how to use the new compost bin and contribute to this important garden resource.

We'll take a break around noon for a meeting to discuss plans for the year and to talk about some new teams that are forming to take the lead on different projects in the garden. We really want to encourage everyone to contribute their talents and ideas to building community in the garden and helping to make it an even more special place for the neighborhood.

Finally, at around 1pm we'll be hosting an opening for Strange Attractor, the artwork installed by Mang in the California native plant garden by the front gate. Stay tuned for more details.

See you on the 25th!

Getting down and dirty with compost

2009-03-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

We had a terrific workshop on composting on Saturday thanks to a fun and informative presentation by Amy Kessler of the Garden for the Environment. Some of you may remember Amy (also know as the "Worm Lady") from another workshop she led at the garden a few years back. Amy is a hardcore composting fanatic who broke it all down in a very engaging and often very funny presentation.

Special thanks to Brent for organizing the event, which covered the basics on backyard composting and how it helps reduce waste, builds soil, and encourages your plants to thrive. Amy demonstrated the three-bin composting system down the street at the Koshland Garden and then showed us how to use the worm compost bin at Page Street.

You may have noticed the new Compost Tumbler at the garden. It was generously donated by the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council after Brent applied for a grant. The Compost Tumbler will enable us to produce compost more efficiently because it makes it easier to turn the pile, which helps things break down more quickly. We'll be getting this new system up and running soon, so stay tuned for details on how to use it.

Finally, we'll be holding another compost workshop at our Spring workday, which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 25. If you didn't make it to yesterday's workshop, please make sure to come to this one.

Compost workshop on Saturday, March 21: 2-4 pm

2009-03-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

All gardeners are encouraged to come to a special workshop on composting this Saturday, March 21, from 2-4pm. The workshop will begin at Koshland Park Community Learning Garden (Page Street near the corner of Buchanan)and then continue at the Page Street Garden.

This workshop is being presented by Garden for the Environment, Page Street Community Garden, and the Hayes Valley Park Group. It's a perfect opportunity to learn the basics about composting and to jump-start your spring garden with some homemade compost! Aside from giving veggies and flowers a healthy start, composting encourages beneficial organisms in the soil and can help break the life cycle of plant pests and disease.

Join us for this fun, hands-on class teaching methods for backyard and worm composting. Come learn what you can do to improve your garden without chemical fertilizers or pesticides and prevent organic waste from ending up in the landfill! Rot on!

To pre-register, please call (415) 731-5627, or email info@gardenfortheenvironment.org

Here comes the rain again - workday CANCELLED

2009-02-22T10:59:00.000-08:00

It looks like we've got another rainy day ahead of us so
we're canceling today's workday. We'll try again next weekend.

Keep an eye out for another notice later today with the date and time for the re-scheduled workday and workshop.

Questions? Call me at 902-9537.

Deadline TODAY for membership dues

2009-02-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

Today is the deadline for paying 2009 garden membership dues. Thanks to all who have sent in their dues. I haven't heard from quite a few of you so I'm hoping to receive payment in the mail real soon.

If you haven't mailed your membership dues and still want to keep your plot, please email me (mccami@covad.net) to let me know your plans. I'm starting to contact people on the waiting list to let them know about which garden plots are available so I'm trying to get a good handle on that.

Mail or drop off membership dues made out to "Page Street Garden" to Michael McCauley, 881 Hayes Street, SF, CA 94117. Check out the blog for more details:

Scroll down to January 20th post for more info.

Questions? Call me at 902-9537.

Winter workday re-scheduled for February 22

2009-02-14T19:41:00.000-08:00

Sunday's (2/15) workday and workshop is cancelled because of
expected rain. San Francisco is in store for a big rain storm tonight
and it's supposed to continue pouring off and on throughout the day on
Sunday.

Please make plans to come to the re-scheduled winter workday and workshop one week later on Sunday, February 22, from 10am to 1pm. We'll take care of winter chores and Gabriel will lead a special workshop on building soil, weed control, and getting ready for spring planting.

Hope to see you then.

2009 Membership Dues Needed by February 15

2009-01-20T21:17:00.000-08:00

A belated "Happy New Year" to everyone!

With the start of 2009, it's time again to collect annual membership dues for the garden. Your dues help pay for needed supplies, ongoing maintenance, and unexpected expenses. 2009 membership dues are needed by February 15.

Over the past year, we used garden dues to cover the expenses of a number of projects, including the purchase of new tools, plants for the common area gardens, supplies for the new bamboo fence, and food and other items for our workshops, garden barbecue, and other special events.

More people than ever before are anxious to join our garden -- 35 people are currently on our garden waiting list. Please keep this in mind as you consider whether to renew your membership.

Given the demand for garden plots we want to make sure that all members make a serious commitment to actively garden throughout the year. Gardeners agree to use their plots year-round on a regular basis and are expected to participate in at least one of the four annual workdays. I'd like to amend the garden agreement to require all gardeners to come to two workdays each year -- we'll be talking more about that soon.

Annual dues for the garden are on a sliding scale as follows (choose whatever contribution level works for you):

$12 – gardener
$25 – butterfly
$50 – sunshine
$100 – golden trowel
or you can choose your own contribution amount

If you are interested in renewing your membership for the garden, please send a check made out to "Page Street Garden" to:

Michael McCauley
881 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-2614

I'm anxious to make garden plots available to the folks on our waiting list, so please let me know by February 15 whether you intend to renew your garden membership. If you plan on giving up your garden plot, I would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible.

Give me a call if you have any questions (902-9537). Thank you!

End of the year garden deadline approaching

2008-12-23T08:54:00.000-08:00

With just over a week left before the end of the year, I wanted to remind everyone that gardeners who aren't planning on actively gardening during the winter need to prepare their plots for the season by December 31.

Over the past month or so, a number of people have sheet mulched their plots or planted a cover crop, which will help improve the quality of the soil while keeping weeds in check (Note: Scroll down to the previous blog entry for cover crop instructions). Others have cleared their plots and planted winter crops. Most of the garden is looking ready for the winter -- there are just a few plots that are covered in weeds at the moment.

One of the other reasons we've gotten more strict about enforcing this rule is that the waiting list for getting a plot at the garden has grown tremendously in recent years. We currently have 32 people who are waiting to get a plot at our garden. This is the longest our waiting list has ever been.

It's hard to believe that 2009 is almost here. Please make arrangements to prepare your plot for the winter by December 31 if you aren't planning on actively gardening in the coming months. If you are actively gardening this winter, please be sure to keep your plot weeded and well maintained. Gardeners who don't make arrangements by the end of the year to take care of their plots will have to give up their plots to someone on the waiting list.

Preparing your garden plot for the winter

2008-11-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

The winter months are the perfect time to grow greens like chard, kale, and spinach, or crops like broccolli, brussel sprouts, and root vegetables like beets. But for those who plan on taking a break during the rainy winter months, its also a good time to work on building up the quality of your soil.

Last Saturday, Brent led an informative workshop on preparing garden plots for the winter with the aim of keeping weeds under control while enriching soil for spring planting. Brent talked about a few different techniques, including sheet mulching and growing cover crops.

Sheet Mulching Instructions

You'll find instructions for sheet mulching posted on the blog as well as on the tool shed bulletin board. All the supplies you'll need for sheet mulching are in the garden: horse manure (there's a pile up front), straw, and cardboard and newspaper (in the tool shed). Here are the instructions for growing cover crops:

Cover Crop Instructions

Cover crops (also called green manure) suppress weeds, build productive soil, and help control pests and diseases. Plus, cover crops are easy to plant and require only basic care to thrive. Here are the basic steps to follow:

1. Remove all invasive weeds from your plot (oxalis, knot weed, crab grass – see picture of each posted on the top of the compost bin). Discard these invasive weeds in the green city compost trash can.

2. Aerate the soil in your plot by poking it with a fork spade.

3. Spread a ½” (or less) layer of horse manure over the soil in your plot (from the manure pile in the front of the garden).

4. Using the metal rake, gently mix the manure into the soil.

5. Spread the cover crop seed throughout your plot. You'll find seed in a jar in the tool shed. Try using 1 cup per square yard.

6. Using the metal rake, mix the seed into the soil.

7. Cover your plot with a very thin blanket of straw. If too much straw is used it will suppress the cover crop. The straw is used to hide the seed from birds and rodents.

8. Keep your plot watered until the winter rains start.

9. One month before planting towards the end of winter, chop the cover crop with pruners and mix into the soil. Cover with straw and wait for one month. Be sure to keep the plot watered. Remove the straw from plot on planting day. The straw goes into the garden compost bin not the green city compost trash can.

Winter Gardening Deadline

Please keep in mind that if you are not planning on actively gardening this winter, you are required to prepare your plot for the season by sheet mulching or growing a cover crop. Gardeners who fail to do so by the end of the year will have to give up their plots. We currently have over 30 people on our waiting list, so this rule will be strictly enforced. If you need help with sheet mulching or planting cover crops, contact Gabriel (572-5444) or Michael (902-9537).

Apples are ripe and ready to eat!

2008-10-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, I picked an apple from the smaller apple tree in the front of the garden to see if the fruit had ripened yet. I was happy to find out that the apples are crisp and delicious!

All fruit at Page Street is available to members of the garden. Feel free to use the fruit picker on the long pole by the toolshed to pick an apple. Just position the padded basket of the fruit picker beneath one of the apples. Tap the branch and the apple should land in the basket. I'll also pick a few and leave them on top of the compost bin.

There aren't that many apples in the tree, so please just take one so everyone gets a chance to enjoy them.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a good crop of apples this year on the tree in the very front of the garden. The apple and plum trees tend to produce fruit in cycles, and it looks like this was an off year for the front apple tree.

I'm hoping to get the City to do some additional pruning on the apple and cherry trees again before the end of the year. I'll keep you posted about that effort.

Summer fun at the garden party!

2008-09-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

What started out as a foggy morning turned into a beautiful sunny day in the garden for our annual BBQ party on Saturday. Thanks to all who came out and helped make this day so much fun: Gabriel and Lynn for helping to set up and decorate the garden; John K. and Stephanie for taking charge of the barbecue grill up front; Zo for organizing the open mic performance on the patio; and Chancellor and John L. for helping with clean up at the end of the day.

We enjoyed some spoken word and especially great music this year with performances by Kim, Zo & Rick, Delano, and, of course, Aiden. Kenne gave us a glimpse into the future with tarot card readings. And we enjoyed a yummy potluck thanks to Lynn, Gordon, Darrow, Stevyn, and Anna!

Check out the photo page for some pics of the event.

We're already making plans for a Halloween bash in October. Stay tuned for details!

Garden barbecue coming up on September 13

2008-09-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

Now that San Francisco's real summer has started, it's time to get ready for our annual garden barbecue coming up on Saturday, September 13.

Join us on the 13th from noon until 4pm for a garden potluck picnic! We'll have the barbecue set up out front and will supply burgers and hot dogs (including veggie versions) for the grill. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share with fellow gardeners. Throughout the afternoon we'll also feature open-mic music performances on the back patio. And we'll have bubbles and chalk drawing and other fun games for kids.

Volunteers are needed to help set up and clean up after this event. If you'd like to help out or if you're interested in participating in the open mic, please contact Michael at 902-9537.

This is a great opportunity to spend some time with your fellow gardeners and to meet others in the neighborhood. I hope to see you on the 13th!

More plums are ripe at the garden!

2008-07-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone has been enjoying the delicious fruit from the middle plum tree by the back patio this past month. There are just a few plums left in the high branches of this tree but now the fruit in the other two plum trees are ripe and ready for picking!

All fruit in the garden is available to members of the garden. Feel free to use the fruit picker on the long pole by the toolshed to pick some plums. Position the padded basket of the fruit picker beneath the plums that are ripe. Tap the branch and the plums should land in the basket. I'll also leave some plums on the top of the compost bin.

If you discover that the plums are still hard and not fully ripe, give them a little extra time to ripen. If you refrigerate them before they are ready, they won't ripen.

We want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to enjoy these plums, so please don't take more than your fair share. Thanks!

Bamboo fence under construction

2008-07-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

If you've been by the garden lately, you've probably noticed that construction has begun on the bamboo fence up front. Last weekend, Gabriel and I built the frame for the fence. The next step is to construct the two panels that will fill in the fence within the frame. The fence is based on a traditional Japanese design and is going to look amazing when it has been completed. It's coming along nicely and we hope to complete this project soon.

Victory Gardens return to San Francisco

2008-07-05T12:58:00.001-07:00

Did you know that there were once hundreds of vegetable garden plots in Golden Gate Park maintained by local residents? It was all part of the nationwide Victory Gardens program during World War II that encouraged the growing of vegetables on public and private land to help reduce the pressure on the food supply brought on during the war. At its height in the 1940s, these gardens produced over 40 percent of all the produce consumed in the country.

Now there's a big effort to bring back Victory Gardens in San Francisco. Victory Gardens 2008+ is a program of Garden for the Environment and the City of San Francisco's Department for the Environment. This two-year pilot project aims to support the transition of backyard, front yard, window boxes, rooftops and unused land into organic food production areas.

Victory Gardens 2008+ will install at least 15 pilot urban organic food gardens in San Francisco this year. While 1940s-era Victory Gardens were part of a massive government effort to address food shortages during wartime, Victory Gardens 2008+ aims to encourage self reliance and independence from the industrial food system, according to founder Amy Franceschini.

Perhaps the most prominent pilot garden of this effort will be the demonstration garden now underway in front of City Hall (a photo of the garden is shown above). This quarter-acre, edible, ornamental landscape is being organized by Slow Food Nation and will feature a wide variety of heritage organic vegetables suited to the Bay Area microclimate.

The planting for the Civic Center demonstration garden is scheduled for Saturday, July 12 beginning at 9am. To get involved in the planting and to find out other ways you can support this effort this summer, contact info@slowfoodnation.org with "Victory Garden" in the subject line.

Volunteers needed for Open Garden Days

2008-07-03T07:14:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, we held our first Open Garden Day to enable more folks in the neighborhood to enjoy our beautiful, little garden. We're hosting Open Garden Days on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month from 10am to 2pm this summer to provide a regularly scheduled opportunity for people who aren't members of the garden to come by and check it out.

Volunteers are needed for 2 hour shifts during these days to welcome visitors to the garden. Last Saturday, Lynn kicked off our first Open Garden Day and was on hand to great a handful of people who stopped by, including one person who signed up on our waiting list. Thanks Lynn!! I took over during the second half and talked to a few more folks. It was all very low key and provided a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the garden for a couple of hours on a nice afternoon.

I'm heading out of town today for a 10-day vacation back east and need to recruit two folks who can be on hand for the July 12th Open Garden Day. If you are interested, please sign up on the volunteer list posted on the tool shed. Volunteers are also needed for upcoming Open Garden days in August.

This is an easy way to help support our efforts to make the garden more accessible to our neighbors and to build greater connections with the community. Please consider volunteering today. Thank you!

Sunny summer work day in the garden!

2008-06-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

Our summer work day turned out to be a big success thanks to a great turn out by members of the garden and beautiful sunny weather throughout the afternoon. Everyone pitched in and we got a lot done, including a thorough weeding of the footpaths and common area gardens, spreading new wood chips throughout the garden, repairing the compost bins and some damaged garden plots, and reorganizing the work space by the tool shed. Thanks to all who came out and lent a hand last Saturday!

After a few hours of work, we took a break for a brief meeting and to talk about some ideas for the garden. Here’s a brief rundown of what we discussed:

New Bulletin Board: The city recently installed a new bulletin board at the front of the garden. Bulletin boards are being installed at all community gardens throughout the city and are designed to serve as a spot for posting notices about the garden (left side) and the community (right side) for the neighborhood. We deliberately chose a shady spot in the front of the garden for the bulletin board so that it wouldn’t block too much sun.

Open Garden Days: The city is encouraging community gardens, especially those like ours that are locked, to look for opportunities to provide greater public access. This summer, we’re going to host Open Garden Days on the second and fourth Saturday of every month from 10am to 2pm. Volunteers are needed for 2 hour shifts during these days to welcome visitors to the garden. You’ll find a volunteer sign up sheet posted on the bulletin board on the tool shed.

Bamboo Fence: Gabriel is leading a project to construct a bamboo fence along the west side of the front of the garden to replace the damaged chain link fence in that area. The fence is based on a traditional Japanese design and will be built in the coming weeks. Marina and Darrow volunteered to help him with the construction.

Tool Shed Inventory: We’re going to do an inventory of the tool shed later this month to identify what tools we have on hand, which ones might need to be replaced, and what other supplies are needed. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Annual Garden Barbecue: We made plans to organize our annual garden barbecue and party on Saturday, September 13. Volunteers are needed to help plan and organize the event. This event is open to all and inlcudes live music, great food, and other fun in the garden! Please let me know if you are interested in helping out.

Movies in the Garden: Lynn has been exploring the idea of hosting a movie night at the garden. She has a friend who is a film collector and the idea is to show some films (cartoons and other family-friendly movies) on the outside walls of one of the buildings bordering the garden. Stay tuned for more details.

Other ideas for improving the garden: We ended the meeting by having a discussion about other ideas people had for how we can continue to improve the garden and make it a real gathering place and focal point for the neighborhood. Mang talked about a garden art project he is interested in doing at our garden his interest in plantings that attract butterflies. Other art projects like mosaic and stencil work on the walls were discussed. We also talked about hosting potlucks at the garden and organizing workshops on composting, making jam from the garden plums, and other gardening subjects. We're looking into ways to expand the garden beyond our front gate, including the idea of creating sidewalk gardens along our block of Page Street. Finally, we're interested in adding some additional sitting areas along the sides of the patio and reconfiguring the compost bins to make room for a larger upper patio and stage for performances.

Ever since the garden was saved from development a few years ago, we’ve put a lot of effort into making it an even more special place for the neighborhood. It’s undergone a wonderful transformation since then thanks to the creative energy and talent of a growing core of gardeners who have volunteered for special projects like the ones above. I’m excited about all we’ve accomplished these past few years and look forward to building on this success.

If you are interested in helping out with any of these projects or have other ideas, please let me know!

Summer Work Day Coming Up: Saturday, June 14

2008-05-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for our next garden work day, which will take place on Saturday, June 14 from 10am to 1pm. Summer is approaching and we've got a few projects to tackle to help get the garden ready for the new season. Join us on the 14th to help with weeding, repairing some of the garden plots, spreading another layer of wood chips on the footpaths, and some work on the compost bins.

Everyone is encouraged to come to each work day, but please keep in mind that all gardeners are required to help out on at least one work day every year.

I hope to see you at the garden on the 14th!

Community Hero Honored: Barbara Wenger

2008-05-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago I attended a very inspiring event organized by the Chrissy Field Center to recognize Bay Area residents who have worked to improve their local environment. Among the Community Heroes honored this year was Barbara Wenger, a longtime neighborhood activist who founded the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group and headed up the effort to clean up Koshland Park right down the street from our garden.

In the 1990s, Koshland Park was a magnet for drug dealing and prostitution in the Lower Haight. Barbara volunteered to lead a committee to reclaim the park for the community. She organized a "Take Back Your Park Day" and the response from the neighborhood was tremendous. Hundreds of neighbors turned out and spent the day removing trash and other debris from the park and began working to restore it as a safe place for kids to play.

Today, Koshland Park has a new playground, beautiful landscaping, and a vibrant community garden that serves as an outdoor classroom for children at nearby John Muir Elementary School. Check out the video posted below and you'll be amazed at how this organizing effort transformed a derelict park into neighborhood jewel.

The Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group has restored play structures, replanted three parks, rejuvenated two community gardens, and enriched the neighborhood with art projects, including the Peace Wall that surrounds Koshland Park.

The work of Barbara and all of those who came together to restore Koshland and the other nearby green spaces has made such a difference in our neighborhood. It inspires me to continue working to improve our garden and to look for more opportunities to build community and beautify the neighborhood.

Gabriel and I have been tossing around a few project ideas for extending our gardening efforts beyond the Page Street Garden's front gate. Stay tuned for more details and to find out how you can get involved.

John Muir School gardening project on Saturday

2008-04-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, April 26th, from 9am to 4pm, volunteers will be working to help beautify the area around John Muir Elementary School. The school has received a grant from Rebuilding Together SF to plant new California native plants in the garden along the Webster Street side of the building and to repair some of the planter boxes for the trees that surround the school on Page and Webster Streets. You can help support this effort by lending a hand for a couple of hours on Saturday.

As you may recall from the Spring workday announcements, a group of Page Street gardeners had begun working with the Tse Chen Ling Buddhist Center to raise money to replace the planter boxes for each of the trees surrounding the elementary school. But then I learned recently that a similar project was already in the works with Rebuilding Together SF and scheduled for this Saturday.

This is a great opportunity to help support John Muir Elementary and to improve the garden used by educators to introduce young students to nature and gardening. The volunteer crew will be working most of the day, but if you have a couple of hours to spare, be sure to stop by.

Spring work day update

2008-03-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

Chancellor and Lynn plant a protea and some succulents in a new wine barrel planter in front of the garden.

If there's one thing you can count on in San Francisco, it's that the weather forecast will be wrong.

Despite earlier concerns about rain, Saturday turned out to be nice after all and we ended up having a very productive workday. Thanks to Brent, Celeste, Chancellor, June, Kevin, Lynn, Michael L., Stephanie, and Zo for helping to get the garden in good shape. We spent the morning weeding the footpaths and some of the common area garden plots, spreading new woodchips throughout the garden, and planting some new plants in the succulent garden and in another wine barrel planter out front.

After a couple of hours of work, we took a break for lunch and to have a brief meeting. Here are a few garden reminders and updates we discussed:

Regularly weed around your plot: Gardeners are expected to keep the area around the front, back, and sides of their plots free of weeds. Be sure to keep this area weeded throughout the year, including the winter.

Keep invasive weeds out of the compost: You can compost most garden waste in our compost bins, but there are three invasive weeds that should stay put of the bins: oxallys with yellow flowers, knot weed (sometimes called "sticky weed"), and crab grass. You'll find pictures of all three weeds on top of the compost bin. These three weeds should go in the green city compost trash can instead.

Hang front lock on the trellis: To help prevent the front lock from being stolen or lost, please hang it on the trellis when you enter the garden. The lock has been stolen a number of times when it has been left unlocked by the front gate.

Check with Michael about planting in common area gardens: Over the past few years, we've spent a lot of time trying to improve the common area gardens by slecting plants that are appropriate for each location. If you have a plant that you'd like to move out of your plot, please check in with me first to see if it might be approproate for one of the common area gardens.

Respect your neighbor's plot: A few gardeners have reported that produce has been removed from their plots. Some gardeners have taken it upon themselves to weed their neighbor's plot when weeds have gotten overgrown. Please refrain from disturbing anyone else's plot unless you've made arrangements with them to help them maintain it. We'll update the garden plot map tacked on the inside toolshed door with phone numbers in case you need to contact your garden neighbor about any issues that may arise.

Clean tools before putting them away: Please remove any dirt from the tools you use before putting them away in the toolshed.

Help maintain the garden hose: Be sure the yellow valve on the hose is open when you turn off the faucet so all the water can drain out. If the valve is closed and water is left in the hose after the faucet is turned off, then the build-up can create leaks in the hose. Also, be sure you wrap the hose into the coil after using it.

New compost plans: Brent reported on a new compost bin we'd like to get for the garden. The Compost Tumbler2 is a more efficient composting system that will be easier for everyone to use. It costs around $500, so we have approached the manufacturer to see if we can get a donation or significant discount. If that effort fails, we'll consider other fundraising options.

John Muir Tree Box Project: Stephanie was recently contacted by the director of the Tse Chen Ling Buddhist Center about the possibility of collaborating with the garden on creating new planter boxes for the trees that surround John Muir Elementary School on Webster and Page Streets. Gabriel and I have since met with the director to discuss this in more detail. The hope is to raise funds for the new planter boxes from local businesses and foundations and to begin construction sometime this summer. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact me.

Volunteers needed: Finally, we need volunteers to take a more active role in helping to maintain the garden. Volunteers are needed to maintain the herb garden, compost bins, plan work days, and help with the common area gardens. If you'd like to lend your time and skills to any of these projects, please let me know. Thanks!

Reminder: Spring work day this Saturday, 3/29

2008-03-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally arrived and that means it's time for our first work day of the year. I hope to see you at the garden work day on Saturday, March 29, from 10am and 2pm.

The current weather forecast calls for a slight chance of rain on Saturday, but we'll just have to wait and see what kind of weather we're dealing with that morning. In the event of rain, I’ll send out an email letting everyone know the work day has been cancelled and we’ll re-schedule.

You can also call me at 902-9537 on Saturday morning in case the weather is looking questionable and you want to find out whether the work day is still on. Hopefully, the weather forecasters will be wrong and we’ll have a nice sunny day to enjoy working in the garden.

We'll spend our time on Saturday weeding the footpaths and the common area gardens, planting another wine barrel planter for out front, replacing some of the rotten garden plot boards, and spreading new woodchips throughout the garden. At around noon or so, we'll take a break to enjoy a potluck lunch and have a group meeting. Please bring a snack or dish to share with your fellow gardeners.

During the meeting, we'll go over some garden reminders and make plans for the year. I'm anxious to talk to everyone about opportunities for getting more involved in the garden and a new project that is just getting underway to create new planter boxes around the trees surrounding John Muir Elementary. And I want to hear your ideas about how we can continue to improve the garden. What's on your garden wish list for this year?

I hope to see you on Saturday!

Love & Lemons at the Page Street Garden

2008-03-19T21:06:00.001-07:00

Gardener Heather O'Neill has started a blog on Hayes Valley as part of a new web site that aims to cover every ZIP code in the nation. Heather says she expects the web site will function as a nationwide Yelp, with reviews and comments about different neighborhoods.

One of her first posts was on the Page Street Garden and tells the story of how she was introduced to the garden by her new boyfriend Byron, whose been a gardener for the past few years. It's a great story with some nice photos of the garden. Check it out here.

Spring workday: March 29, 10am to 2pm

2008-03-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Our first workday of the year will take place on Saturday, March 29, from 10am to 2pm. We'll spend that time working on some garden chores, like weeding the footpaths, spreading new woodchips, tending to common area plots, and re-organizing the toolshed and back work area. At around 12:30, we'll take a break for a potluck lunch and to make plans for the year.

Stay tuned for more details on our Spring workday...In the meantime, please save the date.

Volunteers need for compost team

2008-02-04T21:10:00.000-08:00

Have you checked out the compost bins lately? The "finished" bin on the left is filled almost to the top with rich compost ready to be used in our garden.

Brent has done an amazing job revitalizing our compost bins over the past couple of years. Thanks to diligent chopping by all of you and Brent's stewardship, we have a really incredible resource that has helped to build and improve the soil in the garden.

Brent is interested in recruiting a team of gardeners to help him maintain the compost bins on a regular basis. This is a great opportunity for those interested in learning more about composting and getting more involved in supporting the garden.

Brent developed his composting expertise by taking an intensive composting educator class through Garden for the Environment. Graduates of that program work with gardeners throughout the city passing on their composting knowledge and skills.

If you are interested in joining the compost team, please contact Brent at brentpatterson415@mac.com

To learn more about composting, be sure to check out the
compost guide that Brent and Hallie created. It's a really informative guide that explains how everyone in the garden has a role in turning garden waste into nutrient rich soil (the guide is posted on the garden bulletin board in addition to here on the blog). And you can learn more about using the worm bin by watching the worm bin video.

2008 Membership Dues Needed by March 1

2008-01-30T07:34:00.000-08:00

A belated "Happy New Year" to everyone!

With the start of 2008, it's time again to collect annual membership dues for the garden. Your dues help pay for needed supplies, ongoing maintenance, and unexpected expenses. 2008 membership dues are needed by March 1.

Over the past year, we used garden dues to cover the expenses of a number of projects, including the purchase of new tools, plants for the common area gardens, supplies for workshops, and food and other items for our garden barbecue in September. I'm looking forward to working with everyone this year to continue making our garden an even more special place for the neighborhood.

Please think about whether you intend to actively garden this year. Gardeners agree to use their plots year-round on a regular basis, at least once a month. And gardeners are expected to participate in at least one of the four annual workdays.

Annual dues for the garden are on a sliding scale as follows (choose whatever contribution level works for you):

$12 – gardener
$25 – butterfly
$50 – sunshine
$100 – golden trowel
or you can choose your own contribution amount

If you are interested in renewing your membership for the garden, please send a check made out to "Page Street Garden" to:

Michael McCauley
881 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-2614

I'm anxious to make garden plots available to the folks on our waiting list, so please let me know by March 1 whether you intend to renew your garden membership. If you plan on giving up your garden plot, I would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible.

Give me a call if you have any questions (902-9537). Thank you!

End-of-the-year garden deadline approaching

2007-12-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

With less than a month left before the end of the year, I wanted to remind everyone that gardeners who aren't planning on actively gardening during the winter need to prepare their plots for the season by December 31.

I stopped by the garden over the weekend to do some work on my plot -- mostly weeding and preparing it for a partial sheet mulching. Over the past month, a number of people have sheet mulched their plots, which will help improve the quality of the soil while keeping weeds in check. Others have cleared their plots and planted winter crops. But I noticed that there are about a dozen plots that are covered in weeds at the moment.

A couple of years ago, we amended the garden agreement to require all gardeners who aren't planning on gardening during the rainy months to prepare their plot for the winter by sheet mulching or growing a cover crop. Before we made this change, the vast majority of plots were neglected during the winter and overgrown with weeds.

This was shortly after the garden was saved from development and it just seemed like a shame that the garden went unused for many months out of the year after so much time and energy went into saving it. Since that time, many people have been sheet mulching during the winter, which has greatly improved the soil in the garden. And others have taken advantage of our ability to garden year-round in San Francisco and have experimented with different winter crops.

One of the other reasons we've gotten more strict about enforcing this rule is that the waiting list for getting a plot at the garden has grown tremendously in recent years. We currently have twenty people who are waiting to get a plot at our garden.

It's hard to believe it's December already, but winter is just around the corner. Please make arrangments to prepare your plot for the winter by December 31 if you aren't planning on actively gardening in the coming months. Gardeners who don't make arrangements by the end of the year will have to give up their plots to someone on the waiting list.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Some ideas for winter gardening

2007-11-06T07:07:00.000-08:00

For those of you looking for ideas for winter gardening, I wanted to pass along some resources. Check out Golden Gate Gardening, Pam Pierce's guide to year-round gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area. We've got two copies of this helpful book on the shelf in the tool shed.

It includes some good suggestions for crops to grow during the winter months: artichokes, fava beans, garlic, and peas all do well in the winter. Cabbage and lettuce are also good winter crops, although you may have better luck with starter plants than with seeds at this point in the season. Broccoli and brussel sprouts will also grow during the winter, but do better when they are started in late summer so that they are half grown before the coldest part of the year.

Lynette Evans, who writes a weekly gardening column in the San Francisco Chronicle also recently suggested mustard greens and camarosa strawberries for winter planting.

Sheet mulching instructions: If you are planning on sheet mulching your plot, you'll find the instructions on this simple technique for controlling weeds and improving your soil posted on the blog. I'll also post a hard copy on the toolshed bulletin board for easy access from the garden.

Winter gardening workshop: If you missed our workshop on preparing your plot for the winter, you can participate in another one being offered by Garden for Environment on Saturday, November 10, from 10am to 1pm. Topics will include mulching, cover cropping, pest control practices, weeding tips, and a crop selection appropriate for the Bay Area Winter months. The workshop will take place at the GFE garden located at 7th Ave and Lawton Street in SF. To pre-register, call 415-731-5627. There is a $5 suggested donation.

Use it or Lose it: We currently have 15 people on our waiting list for garden plots. If you're not planning on gardening this winter, be sure to take steps to prepare your plot for the season by the end of the year. Plots that aren't prepared for the winter by the end of the year or that aren't being actively used, will be made available to those on the waiting list.

Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Fall Fun & Music at the Garden!

2007-10-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

We had another gorgeous sunny day at the garden on Saturday, which made for a perfect time to get together to learn about sheet mulching for the winter and to enjoy some music and good food on the back patio.

Special thanks to Brent for leading the sheet mulching demonstration.
If you missed the workshop, check out the step-by-step instructions we've posted on the blog (this link can always be found under "Garden Administration" in the top right column). Thanks to Wendy and Kelsy for helping out with the demo!

You'll find all the materials you'll need for sheet mulching back by the toolsheed and compost bin. If you are not planning on gardening during the winter, sheet mulching is a great way to keep weeds from over-running your plot while improving your soil for the springtime.

After the workshop, we took a break to enjoy a potluck lunch (including some delicious orzo salad made by Bridget and borscht by Anna as well as some yummy blackberry desserts) and then the open-mic got underway. John got us started with a poetry reading and then we heard musical performances by Rick, Zo, Kenne, Bridget, Robert, and Kim. Ian once again stole the show with "Do you know the muffin man?" Thanks to all the performers and everyone who helped out, including Gabriel for making our stylish scarecrow!

Check out more photos from the event in the photo archive.

Workshop & Music Coming up on Saturday (10/27)

2007-10-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

If you're planning on taking a break from gardening during the rainy winter months, be sure to come out to this Saturday's workshop on preparing your plot for the season. We'll get started at 11am and Brent Patterson will lead a workshop on sheet mulching, cover crops, as well as some important composting reminders.

Here's the poop on Saturday's workshop: On Sunday, Brent and I drove out to a horse stable near Fort Funston and picked up some donated manure for this Saturday's workshop. We also bought a couple of bails of straw and have been collecting cardboard as well. These are the supplies you'll need to sheet mulch your plot, which is an excellent way to keep weeds in check during the winter and to improve your soil.

One important thing to keep in mind about sheet mulching is that you don't have to sheet mulch your entire plot. Brent will demonstrate how to sheet mulch around existing plants that you want to keep in place. If you are planning on sheet mulching your plot on Saturday, you should give your plot a good soaking of water beforehand.

Another option for preparing your plot for the winter is growing a cover crop. If you're interested in trying a cover crop this winter, we'll provide the seeds and show you how to get started. Cover crops add nitrogen to the soil and also produce plant material that can later be added to the compost for building more soil

Potluck and music after the workshop: At 1pm we'll finish up the workshop and take a break for a potluck. Bring a dish to share with fellow gardeners and enjoy another music open-mic event beginning at that same time.

Zo is organizing the open-mic, which goes until 4pm. If you're a musician interested in peforming or if you know someone who might want to play, please give Zo a call: 845-1489

One final note: Please remember that gardeners who aren’t actively gardening during the winter or who fail to prepare their plot for the winter by the end of the year will have to give up their plots.

Apples are ripe and ready for picking

2007-10-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, I picked an apple from the smaller apple tree in the front of the garden to see if the fruit had ripened yet. I was happy to find out that the apples are crisp and delicious!

All fruit at Page Street is available to members of the garden. Feel free to use the fruit picker on the long pole by the toolshed to pick an apple. Just position the padded basket of the fruit picker beneath one of the apples. Tap the branch and the apple should land in the basket. I'll also pick a few and leave them on top of the compost bin.

There aren't that many apples in the tree, so please just take one so everyone gets a chance to enjoy them.

Unfortunately, we didn't get a good crop of apples this year on the tree in the very front of the garden. The apple and plum trees tend to produce fruit in cycles, and it looks like this was an off year for the front apple tree.

I'm hoping to get the City to do some additional pruning on the apple and cherry trees again before the end of the year. I'll keep you posted about that effort.

Planning for winter and more music in the garden

2007-10-07T20:48:00.001-07:00

One of the great things about gardening in the San Francisco is being able to grow vegetables and other plants year-round. That's why gardeners at Page Street are encouraged to use their plots throughout the year. But if you are not planning on gardening during the rainy winter months, you are required by the garden agreement to prepare your plot for the season.

There are a few events coming up this month that will help you make plans for the winter. If you are interested in learning more about year-round gardening, check out a special "Fall & Winter Gardening" workshop sponsored by the UC Cooperative Extension Service on Saturday, October 20, at Merritt College in Oakland. This workshop features a number of interesting topics, including "Extending Your Growing Season with Winter Crops," led by Pam Pierce, authjor of Golden Gate Gardening. The deadline for signing up for this workshop is October 12.

If you are not planning on gardening during the winter, be sure to attend our workshop on preparing your plot for the season on Saturday, October 27, from 11am-1pm. Brent Patterson, who heads up our compost team, will do a demonstration on sheet mulching. This is an excellent way of keeping weeds in check, improving nutrient content and water retention in soil, and encouraging favorable microbial activity and worms in your plot. It's also very easy to do.

In addition to the sheet mulching lesson, Brent will instruct gardeners on planting winter cover crops for their plots. Cover crops add nitrogen to the soil and also produce plant material that can later be added to the compost for building more soil.

Please keep in mind that gardeners who aren’t actively gardening during the winter or who fail to prepare their plot for the winter by the end of the year will have to give up their plots.

Music in the Garden: Saturday, October 27, 1-4pm

After the workshop is done at 1pm, we'll take a break to enjoy a potluck lunch and another open-mic music event. Music in the garden will continue until about 4pm. If you are interested in performing or know someone who might be, please call Zo at 845-1489. More details to come.

Food & Fun at the Garden Barbecue!

2007-09-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Our annual summer barbecue was lots of fun thanks to a beautiful sunny day, good eats from the grill, and musical performances on the back patio.

Special thanks to John and Stephanie for getting food for the barbecue and working the grill (with help from Kenne). Corrine was a big help with set-up and Chancellor and Gabriel lent a hand with clean-up. Lynn came through with bubbles and chalk drawing for the kids and did a great job encouraging neighbors to check out the garden. And a big round of applause for all the musicians: Zo, Rick, Kim, & Robert! Thanks to everyone who came and brought food -- especially all the yummy desserts!

We had so much fun that we're thinking of organizing another music event sometime in October. We need volunteers to help out. If you'd like to get involved, please contact Michael at mccam@covad.net or at 902-9537.

Check out more photos from the garden party at http://pagestreetgardenphotos.blogspot.com/

BBQ on Saturday, 9/15: Bring a potluck dish

2007-09-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

Our garden barbecue and picnic is coming up this Saturday, September 15 (noon until 4pm)! Hopefully we'll have sunnier weather than this past weekend so we can enjoy a fun time together in the garden.

Gardeners Stephanie Adrakatas and John Krull have once again volunteered to pick up burgers and hot dogs (including veggie versions) for the event and will be in charge of the barbecue. Feel free to bring other items for the grill. Gardeners are asked to add to the potluck picnic spread by bringing a side dish or dessert to share. I'm planning on brings an orzo salad and some raspberry squares!

We're still looking for musicians to perform during the open-mic. If you are a musician interested in playing, please contact Zo at 845-1489. Or if know someone who might be interested in performing, please help spread the word.

We're also planning on having some fun things for kids: bubbles, chalk drawing on the sidewalk, balloons, and other fun garden games.

I need some volunteers to help with set-up and clean up. Please contact me at 902-9537 if you can lend a hand. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday. See you then!

Performers Needed for Garden BBQ on the 15th

2007-09-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

Our summer barbecue is coming up on Saturday, September 15, and we're looking for musicians and others interested in performing during our afternoon open mic. Last year, we had a number of musicians and even a magician take turns showing off their talents on our mini-stage by the back patio. Zo is now recruiting neighborhood performers for this year's show. If you are a musician or have some other talent you'd like to share, contact Zo at 845-1489. See you on the 15th!

Water is back on at the garden

2007-08-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

As of Thursday morning the 2 water spigets (1 old one and 1 new one) have running water. The new spiget is located in the back of the garden by the compost bins. When Michael returns this weekend, i'm sure we will have a new hose installed.

The project went smoothly.. and the new backflow apparatus behind the bench isn't as bulky as we feared. So that's a good thing.

Hope you'all are enjoying this beautiful august weather!!

Cheers, Gabriel

Water has been disconnected at the garden

2007-08-21T16:49:00.001-07:00

I'm heading out of town shortly, but I wanted to post a quick update about the plumbing project. I was just informed today that the water in the garden has to be disconnected while the new backflow unit is being installed.

I'm very sorry about this inconvenience, but I'm hoping the project will be completed in one week as promised. In the meantime, Gabriel is going to make arrangements with Stephanie next door to fill up three trash cans with water so that you can fill up the water can to irrigate your plots.

I wasn't able to speak to the plumbing crew this afternoon, but it appears that they were able to make a good connection with the water main in the front of the garden. I hope that means that they won't need to dig beyond the already rather large hole in the ground in the front of the garden.

Please be careful around the project site while all this work is being done. And please excuse the mess. It's probably a good idea to refrain from bringing children into the garden until this project is completed.

I'll be back on Friday evening. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please contact Zo at 845-1489.

Plumbing project gets underway on August 21

2007-08-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

I just got word that the City Plumbing Department is planning on starting its work to add a second hose bib to the back of the garden on Tuesday (8/21). The contractor is planning on either setting the water line on top of the soil along the east side of the garden, or setting it below ground along the center pathway of the garden.

The City also will install a backflow preventer unit behind the bench in the front of the garden. This device is required to bring our irrigation system up to code and will prevent water from siphoning back into the City's water main and contaminating the water supply.

Assuming there are no surprises during the work, the project should be finished in one week. There is some concern that the water line coming in from the street is very old and rusted, which may mean that a section of the existing water line leading to the water main will need to be replaced. This would obviously take longer to complete. I'll be sure to keep you informed as the work progresses and I learn more.

I'm heading out of town on Tuesday night until the evening of August 24. If you have any questions or concerns while I'm gone, you can contact Zo at 845-1489.

Sunny Summer Work Day!

2007-08-13T07:25:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday’s work day at the garden was a big success thanks to a good turnout and sunny skies, which made for a really beautiful day. As planned, we weeded the footpaths behind garden plots and all of the common area gardens. We also stained the wooden bench at the front of the garden, began repairs of some of the damaged garden plots, and cleared out the vegetation growing on the outside of the back fence. A good portion of the weeds that were cleared from the garden were the dreaded “sticky weed” that is so invasive. We bagged it all up for pick-up by the city rather than mixing it in our compost bins to avoid contamination of our compost.

After a couple of hours of work, we took a break for refreshments and a brief meeting. Here’s the run-down on what we discussed:

New hose connection for back of garden: It looks like the city will be installing a new hose bib for the back of the garden to make it easier for watering. This project will begin sometime around August 27. The city is planning on laying galvanized pipe above ground connected to the front faucet that will go behind the plots on the east side of the garden. The pipe will extend to the back of the garden to a new second hose bib and hose located right behind the compost bins.

At the same time, the city will be installing a backflow preventer unit, which will be located in the front of the garden behind the bench. This device prevents water from siphoning back into the city's water main and contaminating the water supply. The backflow preventer is required to bring the garden’s irrigation system up to city code.

To prepare for this work, we need to make sure that the space behind the plots on the east side of the garden is cleared to make room for the surface mounted pipe leading to the hose bib in the back of the garden. If you have a plot on the east side of the garden, please be sure to clear out the space behind your plot as soon as possible.

Garden security: Unfortunately, we found out that the lower apartment facing Lily Street on the east side of the garden was burglarized recently. The burglary took place a day after the garden gate was discovered open, and rope and a rope ladder were found inside the garden near the middle fence. Please be sure to always lock the front gate and tool shed when you are the last to leave the garden. After closing the lock, be sure to spin the combination and pull the lock to make sure that it is secure.

Rat in the garden: We had a report recently of a rat in the garden and there were a few more sightings during last Saturday’s work day. We discussed the fact that it is not uncommon to see rats in the city, although it is a bit unusual to see them during the daytime. A couple of gardeners suggested using traps to catch the rat(s), but others expressed safety concerns about doing so. We decided to take steps to make sure that we are not doing anything that might attract rats. We’ll make sure the garden is kept weeded, secure the trash cans, and look into whether food scraps in the compost should be avoided. Let’s keep an eye on things and see whether additional steps may be needed.

Garden Barbecue: We scheduled our annual garden barbecue for Saturday, September 15, from noon to 4pm. We’ll use garden funds to buy drinks and burgers and hot dogs (including veggie versions) for the grill. Gardeners are asked to bring a side dish to share. Zo will organize a group of musicians to perform on the back patio. If you’re a musician and would like to perform (or know someone who might be interested), please contact Zo at 864-1209. Lynn is looking into organizing activities for kids. We need more volunteers to help pull this event together. Please contact Michael at 902-9537 if you’d like to lend a hand.

Summer Work Day: Saturday, August 11

2007-07-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

Please mark your calendars and make plans to come out to our summer work day on Saturday, August 11, from 10:30am to 1:30pm. We'll spend a few hours on garden chores, including: weeding the common area gardens and behind garden plots; clearing out the weeds and other vegetation that has grown outside the back fence; staining the bench; and completing the demonstration garden trellis up front.

Around 12:30pm, we'll break for a brief meeting to share updates and make plans for our September garden party. Hope to see you on the 11th!