PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Gloria Chan, 554-6926

July 24, 2010

URBAN GARDENERS GATHER TO TRADE VEGGIE GROWING TIPS

DPW and San Francisco Parks Trust host an all-inclusive gardening workshop to promote food production on public land

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Over 100 San Francisco gardeners, gleaners and vegetable growers gathered today at the Visitacion Valley Greenway to learn about urban horticulture techniques and swap civic food cultivation secrets as a part of the semi-annual sustainable gardening workshop “Dig In San Francisco”, hosted by the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the San Francisco Parks Trust (SFPT).

The free sessions included discussions and presentations on topics including composting, planting, irrigation, and garden maintenance techniques. The morning workshops also provided a tour of San Francisco’s Visitacion Valley Greenway, a six-block-long park corridor with green space and community gardens. Attendees were also treated to a cooking demonstration from local vegetarian chef Leif Hedendal on how to properly cook freshly harvested garden vegetables.

“Increasing food production on public land is a priority for  San Francisco, and the Street Parks Program fosters partnerships that help us engage the community and utilize the collective expertise and enthusiasm for greening our City,” said Mohammed Nuru, Deputy Director for Operations for DPW. “These workshops are becoming more popular, as residents see the benefits of starting up and maintaining neighborhood gardens and creating an environment that brings together communities and healthy food." 

Today’s greening event also included a barbque lunch provided by Recology, and each participant received a free gift from Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi.

“We are lucky to live in a City that values community managed gardens”, said Karen Kidwell, Executive Director of the San Francisco Parks Trust. “A healthy San Francisco is dependent on easy access to fruits and vegetables, grown right here in the City.”

The program was presented by DPW and the SFPT, in partnership with The American Community Gardening Association, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, and Recology. Street Parks workshops are held twice a year, with one session concentrating on techniques and information for the novice garden hobbyist, and the other geared more toward the seasoned horticulturalist.

The Street Parks Program currently has 100 projects designed for urban gardening and landscaping that are either complete or in development. The program began in 2004, and works to engage the community to transform vacant lots and empty hillsides into lush gardens and serene community gathering spots. More information about the Street Parks Program can be found at www.sfdpw.org.

DPW is responsible for the care and maintenance of San Francisco’s streets and much of its infrastructure. The department cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and maintains City street trees; designs, constructs and maintains city-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; constructs curb ramps; removes graffiti from public property; and partners with the diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco to provide stellar cleaning and greening services.

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