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02 December 2010
Make Magazine recently did a feature with Beth and Sachi on the SolarPump, check it out.
One of the cool things about the SolarPump is the 1950's style gas station look to it. According to some historical maps, back in the 50's, prior to the freeway being installed, there was a gas station sited at that same corner on Laguna and Fell. Does anyone have any photos or stories from Hayes Valley before the freeway was installed?
For even more info about the SolarPump, check out Sol Design Lab
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01 December 2010
Noah, Jack, Aaron, and Chris, four new Urban Farmers from Springstone Community High School in Lafayette on their recent visit to Hayes Valley Farm
Noah
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to volunteer at a farm? Midpoint last Friday, the freshmen and sophomores at my school called Springstone Community High School, in Lafayette, went to San Francisco, to tour Hayes Valley Farm and to volunteer there. In the farm, I saw a work of urban development that is rare for an urban area. Some things we discovered were a horseradish-like flower, the dumping of the soil onto the farm, and things rare for urban areas like bees and potatoes. After seeing these things, we wheel barrowed hay for thirty minutes. It required work that included balancing it and moving it across pavement. The staff of the farm were friendly and exhibited knowledge of the environment, food and other farm-related matters and they were kind even though my group had minimal knowledge of such information. Just because of their personalities, I want to return.
So, I would urge those who are able to donate and keep this wonderful garden open. This urban garden needs support and maintenance for it is a treasure of the rural in urban San Francisco. It is a great, fun place where I would highly recommend volunteering. To conclude, I would highly recommend volunteering there.
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30 November 2010
It's 6:45am on a dark, chilly morning in late November, you're out of the shower and the brain fog isn't letting up. For millions around the world coffee is the next logical move -- it sharpens the mind and quickens the step; but are there negatives to this equation? Coffee, as you may already know, is a mixed bag.
Provided it comes from a sustainable organic source, coffee can have a number of positive effects on the body: it enhances mood and can act as a mild anti-depressant; it has antioxidant properties that prevent cellular breakdown that contributes to aging. Coffee can even aid in digestion by speeding up the metabolism -- think shot of dark Italian espresso after thanksgiving dinner.
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29 November 2010
Bill Mollison describes soil as the earth’s respiratory surface:
“When the earth itself expands, great flows inward and outward must occur through the multitudinous fissures that open up in rigid sediments. The earth respiration transports and transforms fluids and their associated loads, solutes, states and ionic potentials that recreate thunderstorms or hurricanes. We are of this same respiration. The burrows of spiders, gophers, and worms are to the soil what the alveoli of our lungs are to our body. We can assist this essential respiration by assisting life and natural processes in soils.”
If you are not much of one for eloquently elaborate analogies and yet still want to learn more about soil, we are holding a series of classes at HVF centered around:
- What is soil?
- Do plants need soil? (Answer: yes! What about soil-less media? Don’t get me started…)
- Where does it come from? What is it “for”?
- What are characteristics of the “best” soil for growing food in a city?
- How do we know if our soil is working?
- How can we speed “the growth of the soil” without sacrificing naturally soil diversity/fertility?
- Why bacteria are cooler than fungi.
We will be discussing the art and science / ins and outs of designing self-sustaining, forest-floor imitating habitat for plants and their cohorts.
Yes, there will be science. No, it will not be boring. Yes, you may get dirty…
SOILS 103. Introduction to Compost
Monday, December 6th - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
SOILS 104. Introduction to Compost Teas
Monday, December 13th - 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
SOILS 105. Introduction to Soil Science
TBD
Photos by Cyndie Hoffman, June 3, 2010
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18 November 2010
A series of four classes over the course of the season on food and healthy living.
You'll walk away from this series of classes energized and motivated to care for your body with a delicious seasonal menu and farmers market shopping list in hand.
Weight Loss & Body Balance
Saturday, December 4th - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Seasons Eatings
Saturday, December 18th - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Digestive Bliss - Discovering Food Allergies & Treating Digestive Issues
Saturday, February 19th - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Introduction to Raw Foods
Saturday, March 26th - 10:00 am to 11:30 am
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Over a thousand volunteers, neighbors, and community members have helped coordinate the farm efforts.