Tomatoes!

When the first edition of Golden Gate Gardening was published, gardeners throughout San Francisco had a resource rooted in the soil of our home; the chapters of this manual tended by a gardener and educator Pamela Pierce. This seminal work continues to inspire, empower and support gardeners all over the city, from small scale planters on balconies to 2.2 acre urban farms in the heart of San Francisco, Pam Pierce is a legend to those of us with green thumb!

She contacted Graze the Roof recently in regards to offering the garden tomato plants. Pam Pierce was not just offering any tomato plants, she was offering diverse varieties known for resisting late blight (a disease that can negatively affect the health and harvest of a tomato plant) and for thriving in the unique microclimates of San Francisco. These are plants that Pam started in her laboratory at City College of San Francisco. Thank you Pam!

Pam's research and writing can be found at : www.pampeirce.com

Today was a beautiful day on the roof; sunshine and a cool, refreshing breeze encouraged productivity, camaraderie and creativity. Around noon we were joined by members of the Glide staff who decided to organize a communal picnic lunch and enjoy it on the roof together. Their picnic (as you can see in the photo) was colorful and delicious!

Heirloom lettuce is thriving, carrots have sprouted, tomatos stand tall, peas are flowering, kales are developing and the garden has new lessons for us every week. Tis the season to grow, and to garden. Join us EVERY THURSDAY 11a-2pm!

See you on the roof!

Next workshop is scheduled for June 18th: Integrated Pest Management - The natural way to manage garden pest. Contact grazetheroof@gmail.com to register.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Throw some fava beans on the grill, they're superb! Read more...

Bioregionalism and Discoveries throughout the Tenderloin

Bioregions are defined by Peter Berg Director of Planet Drum as "Life-Place," a cultural and natural landscape where one lives. Connecting to our "Life-Place," is integral to developing understanding of and appreciation for the natural world and how we as human beings inhabiting bioregions can support the greater equilibrium of Place.

In the workshop at Graze the Roof on Saturday, Peter invited us to make a map of the places where we live. We were asked, draw the closest water body to where you sleep, to draw/label native flora and fauna, to draw the type of soil that dominates the land where you live, the highest peaks near your home, and the best and worst contributions of humans to their respective bioregions. Each participant's map had it's own unique flavor and character. I was filled with a deep sense of inquiry, wondering aloud how I, a passionate steward of the natural world, a gardener, an educator did not know the answers to many of these seemingly fundamental questions about Living in Place. I came to the conclusion that this was the beginning of a practice. These questions are opportunities to learn more about the Place that I live and feel so connected to, a chance to discover the layers of beauty that make the Bioregion of Northern California such a special place to be from and to live.

After a morning of mapping we began our journey onto rooftops and into the streets of the Tenderloin to explore the different projects that support the ecological balance, habitat, beauty, community and education. We toured Graze the Roof, and the rooftop garden atop the CW House next door to Glide Memorial Church's Foundation Building.

From the rooftops to the streets. We walked toward a project on Ellis called the Tenderloin National Forest. An alley that has been stewarded by artists since 1989; it is now a community commons, where people of all ages can gather for public art, performance, experimental art projects and classes connected to supporting this inner city garden and art space. I was overwhelmed to discover such a radiant project embodying transformation. When we arrived, the forest was brimming with artists busy at work creating a Hydro-Labratory, water features, tending to succulents and shrubbery, warming themselves by the earthen oven and hanging signs made from recycled materials. It was phenomenal!

http://www.luggagestoregallery.org/tnf/

Connecting to the Places we Live inspires stewardship, community and possibility! Read more...

Bees and Basil!

The morning and early afternoon sparkled! Warm sunshine and bright blue skies supported the freshening of garden beds and the spring planting of six different varieties of heirloom tomatoes and basil plants, as well as dozens of sweat pea plants delicious fava beans!!!

Thank you to Purple Carrot, Flatland Flower Farm and Occidental Arts and Ecology center for your donations of fava beans, carrot seeds, pea plants and the robust and vibrant plant sales over the weekend where much of our new plants have come from!

http://www.ilovepurplecarrot.com/
http://www.cuesa.org/farm/flatland-flower-farm
http://www.oaec.org/

As we were enjoying a picnic lunch at the center table, nursing students from the health clinic joined us, and we found ourselves in joyful conversation. It is wonderful when the greater Glide staff community makes use of the rooftop garden, as a place to harvest seasonal produce, learn new skills, develop appreciation for the natural world and growing cycle as well as build community!!!

Paul Koski, our resident Bee Keeper, called as we were finishing lunch and said he'd drop by to install the bees!!! We were thrilled and prepared for Paul's arrival. He came with a wooden bee box(hive) all taped up. He said this infant bee colony had been settling into this new hive for about a week. Paul informed us that an infant bee colony such as ours, most likely holds 7000-7500 bees!!! This colony could support up to 60,000 bees! Wow!

As we were observing the bees during the installation, we discovered the queen and lots of healthy larvae.

Paul will come back to check on the bees in about two weeks!

Bee well!

:) Read more...

More opportunities to Volunteer, Learn, and Grow Food!

A colorful and bountiful harvest was gathered on Thursday afternoon during the workday! Orange, deep red and white carrots, purple potatoes, mint, parsley, green onion, leek, chiogga beets, and more!

Join us on the roof on Thursdays from 11-2 and during the month of May on Tuesdays too (11a-2pm)!

During the month of May we plan to do a lot of planting, paint educational signs, fix up the greenhouse and take care of our newly designed worm bin and recently installed bee hive. Come and say hi to the worms and observe the bees do their dance of pollination!!!

We need you to keep the garden growing. Volunteer workdays are an amazing way to contribute to this special project and learn and/or relearn skills under the vibrant umbrella of urban farming. Grow food, make friends, get dirty and celebrate the sweetness of spring!

Email grazetheroof@gmail.com with questions, curiosities or ideas! We'd love to hear from you.

MAY 14th Workshop in Bioregionalism and connection to place facilitated by Planet Drum. If you are interested please RSVP to grazetheroof@gmail.com.

Happy Spring! Read more...

Earth Day in the City

There are so many ways to connect to Mother Earth in San Francisco, a city abundant in parks and green spaces. The opportunity to connect to nature amidst the urban environment is such a blessing! Time spent in nature is nurturing, healing and incredibly joyful.

This weekend is all about Earth Day and our great city offers lots of diverse ways to celebrate the Earth!
Join Graze the Roof this Saturday at the Civic Center Plaza for EARTH DAY SF!

http://www.earthdaysf.com/

We'll have a booth and would love to see you/meet you! Discover ways to participate in urban agriculture projects all over the city, learn a new homesteading skill, make a new friend, enjoy some delicious seasonal goodies, honor the farmworkers, and most importantly celebrate, celebrate, celebrate!

In the spirit of stewardship, community and connection to place,
HAPPY EARTH DAY! Read more...

Shitakes and Oysters Nestled within the Garden

Urban mushroom cultivation requires a passion for the fruit of the earth! Oh and did we feel impassioned this past Saturday when Nik Dyer led us in an conversation about the life cycle, biology and ecology of mushrooms. From bioremediation, to medicinal properties to culinary treasures, mushrooms, or more aptly stated, mycellium, the heart of the fungal network is responsible for so much of the dynamic equilibrium that holds our ecosystemic balance in place, not to mention that mushrooms and mycellium embody great potential for healing, nourishment and artistic inspiration.

As a group, the workshop participants represented diverse walks of life, professional endeavors and personal hobbies; we live all over San Francisco and the East Bay and each have a unique connection to the enchanting world of mushrooms. We learned in community and then we worked in community! Together, under the sun, we worked hard to create a mushroom garden for Graze the Roof; shredding and pasteurizing straw, filling burlap sacks with straw and shitake spawn and drilling holes in oak logs which we filled with inoculated dowles of oyster spawn.

The mushroom garden is now nestled among the other edible and beautiful elements that make up Graze the Roof!
Come check it out!

THIS THURSDAY 4/14 - VOLUNTEER WORKDAY SPECIAL HOURS: 3pm-5pm
Read more...

FUNGUS AMONG US!

GRAZE THE ROOF PRESENTS:

"FUNGUS AMONG US!"
Introduction to the Wonderful World of Mushrooms and
Urban Mushroom Cultivation

DATE: Saturday April 9th 2011

LOCATION: Graze the Roof, 330 Ellis Street, San Francisco

TIME: 10:30a-12:30p

PRICE: Sliding Scale, pay what you can: $5-$20

RSVP: Spaces are limited! Email grazetheroof@gmail.com to reserve your spot for this unique learning opportunity!

This two hour workshop will start with a brief introduction to the basic biology and ecology of the mycelial fruit we call mushrooms. Participants will then learn about how to cultivate several choice culinary mushrooms as they help install a mini-mushroom farm on the roof. Two techniques will be explained and demonstrated: spawn inoculation in bunker bags (burlap sacks filled with straw), and plug spawn inoculation in logs. Everyone will take home some shitake spawn; and hopefully also the inspiration to grow mushrooms at home!

Nik Dyer, workshop presenter, has a BA in Agroecology from UCSC, a MA in Ecological Agriculture from New College of California, a permaculture design certificate and over 10 years hands on experience in agriculture and horticulture. He is also an avid fungophile who loves to share his passion for foraging and cultivating mushrooms with anyone who shows the slightest amount of interest. He is the sole proprietor of Purple Carrot, an edible garden design and education company based in San Francisco. Please visit his website: www.purplecarrotgardening.com

Keep an eye out for future workshops:
* May 14th, 10am - 4pm, "Planet Drum Foundation" - A Bioregional Ecology Exploration of the Tenderloin
* June 18th, 11am - 1pm, "Integrated Pest Management" - Controlling Garden Pests
* July 23rd, 11am - 1pm, "Art & Meditation in the Garden" - A Holistic Garden Experience
* Honey extraction, aquaponics, fruit trees, permaculture, natural building, composting, worm bins, and more.. dates TBD!!

**All workshops take place at Glide Foundation at 330 Ellis Street in San Francisco. Proceeds will help cover the cost of implementing a rooftop beehive as part of Graze the Roof, an education and demonstration rooftop container vegetable garden on the roof of Glide Foundation. No one turned away for lack of funds. Come learn about Mushrooms and support Graze the Roof! *** Read more...