TNDC Tenderloin People’s Garden

Mission: The Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation’s (TNDC) gardening began with the TNDC Tenderloin People’s Garden in 2010: A vacant lot near San Francisco’s City Hall transformed into what is now a vibrant and vital community garden. Located on the corner of Larkin and McAllister Streets, the TNDC Tenderloin People’s Garden was created as part of TNDC’s work for food justice, promoting a more equitable food system that prioritizes all people’s access to the basic human right of healthy food.  The garden brings together hundreds of volunteers of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses to grow food and build community.

Get involved! General Volunteer and Scheduled Group Volunteer Questions:
Haley Caldwell
TNDC Volunteer and Corporate Outreach Coordinator
(415) 358-3944
hcaldwell@tndc.org

City Slicker Farms

The mission of City Slicker Farms is to empower West Oakland community members to meet the immediate and basic need for healthy fresh food, free of chemicals, for themselves and their families by creating high-yield urban farms and backyard gardens.

City Slicker programs are an immediate solution to West Oakland’s lack of real choice for fresh, affordable, healthy food. Our programs also have a long-term sustainable impact, changing underutilized urban landscapes into ones that provide healthy, affordable food and improve the environment for generations to come.

Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved with City Slicker Farms, to learn and to support our work.
• Volunteering
We have plenty of administrative and urban agriculture opportunities for people of all skill levels to volunteer in our Community Market Farms and Backyard Gardening programs.
• Farm Tours and Service Learning
We welcome tours and service learning workdays at each of our Community Market Farms. Learn how you can request a tour or workday.
• Allyships
We have administrative and urban agriculture allyships available (formerly known as our Urban Farming Internship).  Allies commit to volunteering with City Slicker Farms for a 3-to-4 month period.
• Youth Crew
City Slicker Farms’ Youth Crew is a summer program that introduces youth to food justice and urban agriculture. Youth Crew members work from June through August.
• Join the Board
We are growing our board of directors. Learn more about board service with City Slicker Farms.
• Join us at an upcoming event!
We frequently hold farm tours at our various community market farms, so check out the calendar to see what's coming up.

Learn More at http://www.cityslickerfarms.org/get-involved

Never Be Too Busy To Talk About What Matters

I learned how the People's Garden employees and Tenderloin Development Corporation representatives help with other things like how they turn hotels into apartment buildings that aren't as expensive as normal San Francisco residences. At SPAWN I learned  that there were two different types of salmon that they protect, and how English ivy is invasive. It was very fun to do research on CFTB because both Hanna and I love books, so when we talked to strangers about The Center For The Book - it felt enlightening. Otherwise morally I learned that there are many people out there who have different places on their minds - which seemed kind of disappointing for us because they'd rather be at work than listen to what we had to say.

~Vivi

Never Too Old To Play

So far I have enjoyed week two of LEAF. I discovered new games that I'll show my friends back at school. It turns out, even if I thought I had outgrown games, they are really entertaining! I learned a lot about myself on Wednesday, where we had to hand out flyers to strangers and talk to them about the establishment we support.

I went in there feeling burdened, remembering last year, where we had to do a similar activity. Though I dreaded it, Christina had a lot of fun with it. I was surprised to see her approach so many complete strangers. It was inspiring to watch her unfailing resolve and eagerness. I have a newfound respect for flyer people.

~ Nanette

Lessons Worth Sharing

Over the past few weeks we have gone on many great adventures and visited many amazing organizations. Although we only had a brief moment for them to share their wisdom with us we took away great lessons that are sure to be shared. From SPAWN to SFPUC these are moments I will never forget and hope not to.

~ Sam

We see a lot of LEAF!

This week I've seen a lot of Leadership, Ecology, Action, and Fellowship. I saw leadership at SPAWN when the interns taught us about the history and mission of SPAWN, macroinvetebrate sampling, invasive species removal, and native plant seed collecting. I saw ecology at the farm today when we worked the compost piles and put compost on the plants. I saw action and fellowship when we handed out the flyers we created for each of the organizations we support.

~ David

I learned that there are a lot of macroinvertebrates in streams and that planting is a lot of hard work. I can't wait for tomorrow and Friday, the last days of LEAF.

~ Jae

This week, I feel like I have noticed a lot of fellowship because on Monday we did a lot of trust/team games. Tuesday, we worked in teams at SPAWN. Wednesday (today), we worked in teams at the People's Farm, while handing out flyers, and at the Heart of the City Farmers Market. Another thing I have noticed this week is leadership, because even though we don't always have clear leaders, people will take leading roles to guide others (which connects back to fellowship).

~ JP

Loving LEAF

Reflecting on these past few days at camp - My days at camp have been very lively and unique. I really like the concept of riding the bus everyday, knowing that each stop will be helpful, educational and fun. Everyday, we learn something new and interesting. For example, I learned that we need a compost bin, the one difference between rainbow trout and salmon is that salmon go to the bay and trout doesn’t and I also learned that local food is better than produce from afar. I have been having a great two weeks at camp, talking to my new and amazing friends and enjoying each and every beautiful day, walking, laughing and smiling. A few of my favorite moments during the past few weeks were, serving food at Glide, eating chocolate chip ice cream and meeting a few wonderful people, who I am glad to call my friends. They make me laugh and I want to keep on smiling for who they are. They have supported me from the first day as I was still learning their names till now. I love LEAF and want it to keep on happening so we can enjoy it and love it for many more amazing years.

~ Polina

Giving it our all for the Tenderloin Development Corporation

Today we went to the Heart of the City Farmers Market, and the People’s Garden. At the people’s garden I saw leadership when our guide showed us what to do. I also saw action in us when we handed out flyers to the public and informed them about the different communities we researched, including Glide, SPAWN, Gospel Flat farm, The Center for the Book, Heart of the City Market, Recology and SFPUC. I witnessed fellowship on the MUNI when we were all talking together. I also saw ecology when I asked about the peaches at the farmers market.

~ Jonah

Eight Days of Connection, Learning and Growth

The past eight days in LEAF Academy have let me build on my skills and understanding from last year and form a more complete understanding of Leadership, Ecology, Action, and Fellowship. I really enjoyed and learned from the people and projects at SPAWN. I learned about many species of aquatic life in the rivers. I also learned how to tell if a ecosystem is healthy or not. I have tried to take on Leadership whenever someone asks for my advice. I believe I have done well with understanding and exploring ecosystems and seeing my impact. Action is what I could work on. There are many times when I have a good idea but don't take action. Last, we have fellowship - my friendships are good but I will try to talk to different people. I will also try to listen more attentively. I am really enjoying this year at LEAF.

~ Tim

Come Celebrate! Friday 07/22/16 - 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at 2112 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94117

 

Please join us at our LEAF 2016 closing celebration. Students will present their project work and hopes for the future with friends, family and community members. Families, friends and community members are welcome to come talk with our young leaders, hear their stories, learn how to live more sustainably, and enjoy the delicious foods our students will prepare and serve.

SPAWN - Salmon Protection and Watershed Network

SPAWN stands for Salmon Protection and Watershed Network. It was started by Todd Steiner when he found salmon stuck as they tried to spawn above Roy’s dam in Marin County. SPAWN's mission is: "Protect endangered salmon in the Lagunitas Creek and the environment on which we all depend.”

Established: In 1999 by Todd Steiner

Location: Lagunitas Creek and Forest Knolls of Marin County California

Significance of name: Salmon Protection and Watershed Network

How can we find more information? Visit SPAWN’s website https://seaturtles.org/ and showing up at their place for creek walks and community based restoration projects.

How can we help? You can help by volunteering for SPAWN, not fishing for salmon, removing invasive species from your garden, opposing development and planting rain gardens.

~ Sam and Nicholas

Glide

Mission: To provide meals for people with food insecurity. “GLIDE's mission is to create a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization.”

Established: Glide Methodist Church was founded in 1929 by Lizzie Glide.

Location: 330 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Significance of Name: Glide is the family name of the founder of the church not an acronym as many believe.

How can we help and learn more about Glide? You can volunteer to help serve and prepare food.  You can also donate and volunteer to help a community in need. To learn more about Glide go to there website to find information at www.glide.org

~ Darby and John

SF - Marin Food Bank

Mission: SF-MARIN Food Bank’s mission is to provide nutritious and healthy food for the food insecure. The Food Bank will buy food from farmers and stores that they don’t want to sell because it might be bruised and then give it to the less fortunate and food insecure. (People that are food insecure are people that don’t have the money to supply food for themselves and or their family). They serve about 42,000,000 lbs per year to about 450 industries.

Established: The SF Marin Food Bank was established in 1988.

Location: 900 Pennsylvania Ave, San Francisco, CA 94107.

Significance of the name: The Food Bank that serves people struggling with food insecurity both in San Francisco and Marin County.

How can we help? You can donate food to the food bank and volunteer to do things like packaging, sorting, etc. http://www.sfmfoodbank.org/volunteer

How can we find more information? You can go to the website at http://www.sfmfoodbank.org/about-us .

~ Tim and JP

Recology

Recology’s mission is to create resource ecosystems that protect the environment and sustain our communities. Recology was established in 1920, and as of 2015 they have approximately 3,000 workers and have raised $800,000,000. In 2007, the employees bought the company. Recology is now 100% employee owned. The Recology we went to is located on 501 Tunnel street San Francisco California, but there are 8 other locations too. The name represents recycling and ecology. We can help Recology by recycling and composting correctly. You can learn more by taking a tour, you can go to the artist residence, you can visit the sculpture garden, you can take your paint, batteries, and toxic waste there, and you can go to art openings. You can also go there to take your waste. In 2000, SF lowered their waste by 50%, and now it’s reduced by 80%. You can take a peek at one of their locations or go to their website at http://www.recology.com/.

~ David and Jae

Gospel Flat Farm

The Gospel Flat Farm mission is to create a hospitable community oriented center of food culture and art. The Murches are organic farmers. They also have their own farm stand that runs on the honor system, which is a system that trusts the customers to pay for the goods on their own, strengthening the sense of community. Behind the farm stand, there’s an art space for exhibits, events and classes. Don Murch, a long time salmon fisherman, started the farm in the 1980’s. They are located in Bolinas, CA. They’re associated with the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), a coalition between farmers and environmentalists united by common concerns. They aim to ensure farmland protection and open space for all Marin communities forever. You can help by spreading the word and buying groceries from Gospel Flat Farm and from other local farmers. For more information go to their website: http://gospelflatfarm.com.

~ Nanette and Christina

Heart of the City Farmers' Market

The mission of the Heart of the City Farmers’ Market is to be a non-profit organization that is farmer operated. Their mission also includes getting sustainably sourced produce from smaller farmers down the coast. The reason they are in the Civic Center community is so they can provide customers with great and reasonable priced food. Heart of the City Farmers’ Market was established in 1981 by a board of 5 people who were elected by the city.

The Heart of the City Farmers Market is located in the San Francisco Civic Center community. The farmers market is called “Heart of the City” because it is in the middle of the city. We can learn more by visiting their website at http://heartofthecity-farmersmar.squarespace.com/ and visiting the actual farmers market. We can support the farmers market by going and buying vegetables and fruits from them. Lastly, we hope that this market stays in good conditions so it can keep on making the city’s population happy and healthy.

~ Polina and Jonah

Center For The Book

The CFTB is a facility specifically designed to support the appreciation of books, teaching how they were made before modern day printers, and showing how books have grown from scrolls to digitally printed books. It was co-founded in 1996 by Mary Austin and Kathleen

Burch. 

The Center For The Book is located on 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103, US. You can help CFTB, or Center for the Book by participating in their activities and passing on their information to others. You can learn more about all the amazing community activities the offer like parties, classes, gallery showings and how you make books!.You can learn a lot more about them by going onto their website: www.sfcb.org/home

~ Hana and Vivi

Working Together as a Community

My experience at Glide today opened my eyes to the simplicity of the solution to some problems. The work we were doing was not complicated. The fact that they can make getting food to people so easy and straightforward gave me a lot of hope. We just needed someone to DO it. Another thing really stood out to me today: the feeling of working together as a community. The atmosphere at Glide was uplifting and homely. Everyone pitched in a little and made a big difference. It felt good to give back to the community. Society's problems today don't seem as insurmountable as they did before. You just need a practical solution, a little man-power, and most of all, a want to help.

~ Nanette

Learning Community Not Facts

From seven years ago all the way to the present day - LEAF has made many changes in the ecological world. I thought this was influential. Especially this year because I have learned much more than last year like how the Tomales Bay was two different plates that were split up and then ocean water spilled inside the crater. Also that printing has been developed from scrolls to books to today’s technology - like I’m writing on now. I was really surprise when Todd told me about LEAF’s Natalia selling the LEAF water bottles to her schoolmates and how she would do all this stuff to make sure that people were drinking lots of water everyday until they drank for 21 days straight. I realized that LEAF leaves a huge impact on people who go to this camp. It’s true that we learn a lot every year but we also change from what we’ve learned and how we learned it. LEAF is an amazing camp in it own way not only because of where we explore but because of our wonderful teachers. They’re always energetic making the class exiting. Because of this we learn more and more every year even though we were at the same place the year before. Finally LEAF has surprised me every year - what I learned this year was about community, not facts.

~ Vivi

We Should Do More To Help

My first day of camp was a blast! Preparing and serving food at Glide has taught me to be grateful of the food that is placed on my table and getting to choose what I have in my meals. It made me feel both sad and happy for the people who came to eat the food we had prepared for them and went to join their friends at a table. Most of them came in feeling depressed but, when I handed them their cup they gave me a smile, said "thank you " or even said my name and it made me want to keep on going because we had so many others waiting in line, and after like the 5th person who said "thank you" I had a whole new idea about these people. I know we've heard that "Oh they're so bad and scary" but, is it really who they are? These people could've been living a great life like you one day and maybe someone in their family had lost a job or they couldn't pay the rent anymore but, I don't think these people deserve a life on the street or not have enough money to live in a house and I think that Glide is a great organization and we should do more to help them.

~ Polina

My Actions Have Impact

Monday we explored west Marin including kayaking in Tomales bay and eating ice cream at Fairfax. While kayaking our guide told lots of information such as the mountains on Tomales bay move inward about as fast as your fingernail and that there were plans to turn the area into a big mall with houses surrounding it but 7 individuals stood up to them and the case turned to out so big that it went all the way to the Supreme Court. We finished the day by writing poetry and eating ice cream it was a beautiful ending to a beautiful day.

Tuesday took public transport The Center of the Book then to the SF Marin food bank. The Center of the Book is very unique place were we learned about the history of books and printed. For instance press printing started in about late to mid-nineteenth century. The first writing was on stone or caves. Second was on parchment paper. Third was the scroll. Last was the book that we use today. At the Food Bank we sorted through discarded apples and melon from farmers to see which ones we could use and which ones we couldn't. We were not that picky even if there was a deep whole we would slice it off. After we finished sorting the apples and melon we packaged rice. Here's how it worked, one person would estimate about a pound and put some rice in a bag. Then someone weighs the bag then takes away or puts in rice so it is exactly one pound. The third person seals the bag then it comes to the final person who puts a label on the bag. When we left the Food Bank I felt like I had really made an impact.

On Wednesday we went to work at Glide. At Glide our first job was preparing the food so I chopped carrots. After we had prepared the food I became a server and by chance I got carrots - the very ones I had chopped we served to about 550 people. When I looked at the people eating the carrots that I had chopped and served I felt very good and like the Food Bank I felt like I had made an impact.

~ Tim

Bays, Books and Food Insecurity

On Monday, we went kayaking in Tomales Bay. There, we learned that it was formed from 2 tectonic plates that made a valley and flooded with seawater. Because of this, half of Tomales Bay is the Pacific plate, and the other half is the North American plate.

   

On Tuesday, we learned about the printing press at Center For The Book (CFTB). We learned the history of them, and the history of books. For example, books started off as scrolls. After that, we went to the SF Marin Food Bank. We learned there that they give about 42,000,000 lbs of food a year to the food insecure.

Today, we went to Glide (a soup kitchen) and served about 500 people. I learned how many people can't supply food for themselves, which made me quite sad.

~ JP

I can't wait for my next adventure!

So far, we've been to the SFM food bank, GLIDE, Center for the Book, and kayaking. I have learned lots of new things and gained new experiences. At the Food Bank, we packaged lots of food for people who need it, then we served lots of food at GLIDE. We made some LEAF books at Center for the Book, and we had a really fun time kayaking in Tomales Bay. The main lesson that I came up with was being grateful for what I have because not everyone has it. I really enjoyed my time at leaf so far and I can't wait for my next adventure!

~ Hana

How a Magical Bay Is Formed

So far this week I’ve done many fun things and learned many things. At Tomales Bay, it was very interesting learning about the plate tectonics and how Tomales Bay divided the North American plate and the Pacific plate. Also, it was formed when the two plates collided along the San Andreas fault. It formed a valley, that then flooded with seawater, forming Tomales Bay. I also enjoyed learning about the wildlife and about he pelicans we saw. I learned that white pelicans can be identified by their black-tipped wings, and how they hunt by “bubble netting”. I also learned that there are six types of crabs, as well as octopus, and many types of fish and diving birds that call Tomales Bay home. Almost all of the wildlife in Tomales Bay relies on eelgrass as a place to lay their eggs, or to live in. Eelgrass is the only plant to ever go back into the water, after it evolved to live on land.

At the center for the book learned all about letterpresses. I learned about their history, and how they work, as well as how to use them. At the SF Food Bank I learned how many people are hungry. 1 in 4 in the city, and 1 in 6 in the whole US. Today, at Glide we actually got to meet those people. Overall, this week has been great so far.

~ David

A Journey of Learning, Growth and Giving

After these first three days at Leaf Academy, we have gone to many fun places and learned many interesting things. On the first day we went kayaking at Tomales Bay. I learned that Tomales Bay was formed by a collision of two tectonic plates and then Tomales bay flooded with seawater. All of the creatures also came in, like octopus, fish and six types of crabs.  I also learned that seaweed is actually not rooted to the ground, but eelgrass is rooted to the ground and there is plenty of eelgrass in the bay. If you cross the bay you will be on a totally different tectonic plate than the rest of the country is on.

On the second day we went to the food bank and the San Francisco Center for the Book.

At the Center for the Book, I learned all about the evolution of the book, from scroll to PDF. We also learned about letterpress and all of the different machines used for book making. At the food bank I learned that 48 million pounds of food are served each year. It made me feel happy that so many people will be served by all this food.

Today we went to Glide and volunteered. I learned a lot and it made me feel very lucky to have food every time I need it. Being at Glide made me feel happy because I got to see that all these people got food. I saw someone get arrested and that made me feel sad because he probably will not get another meal for a while. I learned that 1 in 4 people in San Francisco are hungry and 1 in 6 people in the U.S.A are hungry. That is astounding considering we live in a very wealthy economy

~ Jonah

Attention Getters!

I learned that Tomales Bay is split in two tectonic plates and it was formed when both plates ran into each other, I also learned that part of Tomales Bay was going to be turned into a financial district and how seven people came together and fought against it.

I also learned that he SF Marin Food Bank shells out 48 million pounds of food a year, that's about 500,000 meals!

~ Jae

Enthusiasm Wins The Day!

The last three days at LEAF have been fun and educational. Our first day I enjoyed kayaking and learning about how Tomales Bay was formed.

Tuesday, we learned about how books were originally created. We also created our own mini books. Later that afternoon we packed apples and melons and also measured rice to the exact pound at the SF/Marin Food Bank.

My Glide experience is always my favorite day. Preparing peanut butter sandwiches and serving hot dogs to people in need is very meaningful. It was also satisfying to know that all the food we packed the day before at the food bank, showed up at Glide, all ready to be eaten.

I have had such amazing adventures that I can't wait for the next two.

~ Rou Rou

A Makers' Faire Morning at The Center For The Book - An Afternoon of Action Supporting Food Insecure San Franciscans

Today in LEAF academy we traveled to The Center For The Book via Muni. There we learned how old school printing worked and I was quite impressed with its industrialism. We were able to create our own booklets using old printing presses. Afterwards we headed to the SF-Marin Food Bank where we sorted apples and rice to ship them out to the hungry in San Francisco. This gave me a good feeling for knowing that I had made someone's day much better with this gift of food and that I would be able to see it tomorrow on our trip to Glide.

~ Sam

Today LEAF Academy visited San Francisco Center for the Book and learned how to print and bind. We were introduced to the process, machines, materials, and the overall satisfaction of printing by hand on a cylinder proof press and binding our own personal LEAF booklets. Today we also visited the SF-Marin Food Bank. We toured the warehouse where thousands of pounds of food are either collected or donated and then distributed to soup kitchens, and other organizations. We learned that as a result of high unemployment and a difficult economy, people are forced to eat less or skip meals altogether. 1 in 4 residents of both Marin and San Francisco are unable to afford a sufficient amount of food. In the warehouse, LEAF Academy helped sort and pack apples, melons and rice, which would later be shipped out to partner organizations. While at the Food Bank, the "Fact of Life" that stood out most to me was: one species' waste is another species' food. All of the fruit we sorted and packed today had otherwise gone to waste at local supermarkets, etc. but it was donated to the Food Bank so that it could help feed the many people without food on their table. The produce was waste from another manufacturer or farmer, but it was perfect food for a hungry family.

~ Natalia