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31 August 2011
Antonio from SFUAA presents the food policy platform at the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association meeting
"Future: it's a time to think about the past," the ubiquitous Cut Copy has keenly observed (John Avalos has also noted as much). Enter the Mayoral Meet 'n' Eat, which Hayes Valley Farm and the San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance (SFUAA) co-sponsored last Thursday, August 25, for the community to meet and share a potluck with San Francisco mayoral candidates running for election this November. Phil Ting, John Avalos, Terry Baum, David Chiu and staff for Dennis Herrera were in attendance, along with Hayes Valley supervisor, Ross Mirkarimi. All took a tour of the farm and mingled with Hayes Valley neighbors, SFUAA members and farmers. The community potluck featured many dishes made with greens from the farm.
The mayoral race is particularly salient to urban agriculture in San Francisco and especially for Hayes Valley Farm. The creation of the farm – and the community that has since grown around it – arose from a directive within the mayor's office. Inviting candidates to this farm to see in person what this directive allowed the community of Hayes Valley to create in the last year and a half was a vital step towards engaging them in the discussion of the future of urban agriculture in the city. All of the candidates pledged their support for the farm; many said they were looking forward to returning with their families.
The meet 'n' eat was followed by the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association meeting. We heard updates from Jay Rosenberg of Hayes Valley Farm, Antonio Roman-Alcala of SFUAA; Karen Mauney-Brodek, President of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association and Jason Henderson, Chair of the Hayes Valley Transportation and Planning Committee. Two major projects in the neighborhood, which we learned a great deal about from Jason, are the proposed developments of 55 Laguna Street and Parcel P at Laguna and Oak streets (where the upper portion of the farm is – bees!). The San Francisco Planning Department's website has details regarding the Market and Octavia Neighborhood Plan which covers Hayes Valley, the farm and these two projects. The Hayes Valley Voice has more about developments in the community, events, work parties and general insights into our neighborhood.
A big thank you to SFUAA – for co-sponsoring the Mayoral Meet 'n' Eat with us, Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association and each of the presenters. We look forward to seeing you at the next HVNA meeting and at the upcoming mayoral debates. One not to be missed is the SFUAA Mayoral Debate on September 26th, 6:30 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market St.
We enjoyed meeting you all and hosting a fun, interactive and informative meeting. Please come by the farm on a volunteer day this month – to garden or just to say "hello"!
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Over a thousand volunteers, neighbors, and community members have helped coordinate the farm efforts.