Out & About: Urban Gardening

It may not seem like it right now, but the sun IS coming back next week! What better way to make use of all this newly irrigated soil than to dig in the mud and grow something? If you don’t have a backyard, or even if you just don’t want to commit to your own garden, you can still try out some of these gardening opportunities around San Francisco.

• Alemany Farm: Anyone is welcome to volunteer at regular work days here, which occur either Saturday or Sunday every weekend. They’ll even try to send you home with a few veggies. 

• San Francisco Botanical Garden: There is a story time and family walk (suitable for children 4 to 8) here every first and third Sunday at 10:30 a.m. 

• Presidio Trust Community Garden Stewards: People of all ages can volunteer to tend one of seven community gardens in the Presidio. Every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon, meet at the Presidio Transit Center. 

• Garden for the Environment: Located in the Inner Sunset, open dawn to dusk most days of the year. You can volunteer on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: Volunteer to help maintain this beautiful national park right in our city. Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Locations vary. 

• Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden: Located at 780 Frederick St., this is primarily a community garden with assigned plots. It is open to the public and houses demonstration beds and a native plant nursery.

• White Crane Springs Community Garden: Located in the Inner Sunset, this community garden is open to the public. Stop in to enjoy the well maintained plots and maybe even chat with a local gardener. 

• Flora Grubb Gardens: Would you like an espresso with that trowel? You can get Ritual coffee and make your own living creation at The Potting Bench. 

• Urban Sprouts Parklab Community Garden: Located in Mission Bay. Try renting a plot from Urban Sprouts if you’re ready for more commitment, but you don’t want to wait on a Parks and Rec garden plot to open up. 

This article originally appeared in the February/March 2019 issue of GGMG Magazine.