Ever Wonder About Worms?

Written by Lindsey Goldberg | 07 December 2010

The 1st graders at the French American International School did.


As a part of our 6-week program with the 1st graders at FAIS, the budding wormologists and the HVF Youth Educators created worm-ariums to observe what worms do underground. We filled up two jars with four different layes of earth: clay, compost, mulch and leaf matter. We borrowed a few of our red wiggler friends from our worm bin on site and placed them on top of the leaf layer, closest to the top of the jar. We poked holes in the lid to ensure circulation of oxygen, and reminded the wormologists that they needed to cover the worm-ariums with a dark cloth because worms do not respond well to excessive exposure to light.f They agreed to take diligent notes and draw their observations in their farm journals (hand-made from all recycled materials found at Hayes Valley Farm).


Today the young wormologists returned to the farm with the worm-ariums and this is what they discovered...

They ate ALL the leaves!
then they poop it out
that’s the black gold!
The worms have been busy...EATING!
Worms feel vibration
Worms are really wiggly
I didn’t know worms didn’t have eyes, I thought they had tiny eyes
They pee and poop a lot                                                 
They eat banana peels
They like the dark
Worms dig tunnels and mix up the earth
...I saw some worms...
How do worms eat banana peels? They’re kinda hard...

The magic lies in the wondering... Hayes Valley Farm is filled with wonder each and every day. It is this place, and the potential for learning, growing and connecting to the food we eat, building community and all the fun we have with kids on the farm that has inspired... WINTER WONDERFARM.

WINTER WONDERFARM is a seasonal day camp camp for KIDS ages 3-13, which will inspire connection to growing food, community, and compost piles of fun through diverse land and arts based experiences.

We look forward to sharing this WONDERFUL winter camp with you!

WINTER WONDERFARM - Find out more and register here.

Lindsey, Janelle and Vanessa
Youth Education Team
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Photo by Booka Alon, May 2, 2010

Carbon Free Charge at the SolarPump

Written by Jay Rosenberg | 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

Springstone Community High Visits the Farm

Written by [email protected] | 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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Coffee Consciousness

Written by Katherine Anderson | 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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WANNA LEARN ABOUT SOIL?

Written by Aimee Hill | 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

Seasonal Eating & Healthy Living

Written by [email protected] | 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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