Written by Casey Gold | 26 May 2010

Hayes Valley Farm is Where the Magic Happens

On Monday May 17^th, Bush Baker Preschool visited the farm to kick off Magic Mondays. To give you a little background, our Magic Monday program is a day reserved for groups at the farm. We ask for a minimum of 5 kids in the same age group to run a 2-hour program. Our biggest audiences of interest thus far have been schools, although any youth group regardless of affiliation is certainly welcome.

Eight students and three adult allies from Bush Baker Preschool arrived by public transit around 10am. Three of us garden educators greeted the group with smiles bright enough to ward off the rain clouds, at least for the first hour of program.  We led a welcome circle and run through of HVF rules manifested through the acronym LAUGH- Life (Respect it), Always Ask, Use Tools Carefully, Give, Have Fun. On to a composting activity involving: a fishtank used as compost receptacle, 1-liter recycled water bottles used as scoopers, 8 curious minds and 16 explorative hands to gather and assemble the compost pile. We taught the exercise in food terms- to forage the ingredients of the “cake,” pour in rough measurements of each, mix together, and let sit bake until warm and ready.

By 11am we were making Potato Towers from hardware cloth, mulch, manure and potatoes. By the time sprinkles of rain began to fall, we grabbed several barrels of hay and headed under the greenhouse for sheltered arts and crafts. The kids practiced making leaf impressions by rubbing the flat side of a crayon over paper and over a leaf. We plucked a variety of leaves from around the farm, and we found that apple and eucalyptus leaves worked best because of their toughness.

After a lovely brown bag lunch under our greenhouse roof, Bush Baker Preschool was treated to garden-themed temporary tattoos as a farewell gift. The group headed back on MUNI, with garden education on their minds and rockin tattoos to show for their Magic Monday at Hayes Valley Farm.

Photo by Vanessa Roland, May 17, 2010

Written by Alex Lampert | 18 May 2010

We'd like to start off in letting you know how excited we are for our Farm Film Night event coming up on Tuesday!!  Just imagine it... tomorrow evening we'll all be enjoying the outdoors in the city, surrounded by fava beans and friends on the farm.  

Amidst the hilarity and chaos of Bay to Breakers, many of us enjoyed the workday yesterday by painting signs to direct our future guests.  For those of you already looking forward to it, the night will be featuring delicious, flavored popcorn (thanks to mmm Butter): think sweet and savory, with a fine dining edge... (bacon anyone?) and hot beverages too. And, as always, many thanks to our wonderful volunteers who helped yesterday with site-beautification and plantings!

Photo: "Farm Film Night Prep" by Alex Lampert, May 16, 2010

For more photos, check out the Work Party set by Zoey Kroll

Written by Angela Goebel | 17 May 2010

I asked volunteers about what motivates them to participate at Hayes Valley Farm. Here’s what they told me:

Harshal comes for "good food, good friends and fun exercise."

Ishani is taking an Indigenous Permaculture class through the Ecology Center in Berkeley. On Sunday April 18, she and her class visited the farm for the first time. They are touring gardens to see how they’re designed.

Trevor said he was "interested in growing food." He is enrolled a permaculture class in the East Bay, but previous to Hayes Valley "hadn’t gotten involved with anything in the city." He believes that "the space provides an amazing opportunity."

Maria grew up on an 80-acre farm growing corn and potatoes in Mississippi.  She lives a block away, and she said, Hayes Valley Farm "reminds me of home."

Dan stops by Hayes Valley to gain knowledge. He would like to learn more about farming and gardening fruits and vegetables. "I come twice a week," he said, and "I meet a lot of new people building community."

Haley is studying permaculture in Bolinas.  Her class picked the Hayes Valley lot as a theoretical site project.  "I was really excited when I found out it was actually happening."

Casey enjoys "the feeling of community and unity" present at the farm, "and working for a greater cause."

Photos: "What brings you to Hayes Valley Farm?" by Angela Goebel, April 18, 2010

Written by Jay Rosenberg | 13 May 2010

Upcoming Work Parties

Thursdays, 2:30-6:30pm
Sundays, 12:30-4:30pm

Upcoming Events

Farm Film Night - Tuesday, May 18, 7:30pm
Magic Mondays - Mondays, 10am-4pm
Greenhouse Installation Continues - Thursday, May 13, 2:30pm

Upcoming Classes

Permaculture Bootcamp - Sunday, May 16, 10am-1:30pm
Kitchen Garden Workshop -  Tuesday, May 25, 6:30-8pm
Photo Adventure Workshops - Thursdays and Sundays in May, 3-4pm

Written by Jay Rosenberg | 04 May 2010

The greenhouse arrived at Hayes Valley Farm this past Sunday, May 2.

John Bela, Masha, and the Rebar team, working with Ron and Nate from Studio 12, arrived in a box truck half way through the work party bringing all of the parts.

Then, all of the amazing volunteers helped out, preparing the space and assembling it on the Northwest corner of the farm.

The greenhouse installation continues at this Thursday afternoon's Work Party. Come join the fun!

Check out all of the great photos on Zoey Kroll's album from the greenhouse installation.

Zoey will be hosting a free Photography and Social Media Workshop during the work party from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.  No need to sign up, just show up with your cameras.
"Greenhouse Arrives at Hayes Valley Farm" by edibleoffice