Since I’ve been back from South America, I’ve heard about the Hayes Valley Farm a few times. The farm is the epitome of urban agriculture, located on two city-owned blocks near the US 101 freeway ramp, Fell, and Oak Streets.
The first time I heard of the farm, I was both proud and inspired. San Francisco has been so committed to the environment. Composting is required by law, and the organic produce movement has been embraced via numerous farmers markets and the abundance of locally-grown products in stores.
During our around-the-world trip a few years ago, Whit and I spent four weeks at the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farming Institute at Creque Dam Farm on St. Croix. Run by a young Georgian farmer dedicated to agriculture and sustainability, VISFI was built to “promote local and sustainable agriculture with the hopes of spreading this message to communities around the world.”
Our experience there (as captured in our travel blog) certainly aligned with that mission. I miss waking with the crow of the rooster, the soft pattering of gecko feet on the cabana roof, and the sense of truly living not on, but with the land. On top of all that - the food! The beautiful food!
Seeing a city-based program with the same mission is like a dream come true. Now I just need to get myself down there to discover it first-hand!
