PRESS ADVISORY

For Immediate Release Contact: Public Works: (415) 554-6931

July 12, 2010

PUBLIC WORKS ASKS RESIDENTS TO ‘DIG IN SAN FRANCISCO’ 

Street Parks Program Provides Free Gardening and Cooking Workshops

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – On Saturday, July 24, 2010, residents with an interest in gardening and growing their own food will meet at Visitacion Valley Greenway for Dig in San Francisco, a free gardening workshop where they will learn how to grow fruits and vegetables with skills they learn, such as composting, planting and garden maintenance. In addition, a guest chef will be on hand to demonstrate how to cook using fresh garden vegetables.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is partnering with the American Community Gardening Association and San Francisco Parks Trust in order to advance Mayor Newsom’s initiatives that encourage urban gardening and healthy and local eating habits. The workshop is sponsored by Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi.

DPW’s Street Parks Program, which allows residents to adopt and maintain public land for landscaping and gardening, currently has more than 100 project areas complete or under development.

"There is a lot of opportunity to grow food on these properties, and we want to not only encourage people to become stewards of the land, but to grow food there. This workshop helps us teach everyone how it’s done and what the benefits to their communities and their health are," said Mohammed Nuru, Deputy Director for Operations at DPW.

WHO: Anyone Interested in Healthy Eating and Gardening

WHAT: Free ‘DIG IN SAN FRANCISCO’ Gardening Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, July 24, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Visitacion Valley Greenway on Leland Ave @ Peabody between Alpha and Rutland streets.

HOW: Interested participants can call 695-2114 or go to www.sfdpw.org