Our central project is The School Farm at the Academy of Arts and Sciences and the School of the Arts, two high schools sharing a sprawling campus nestled between the two highest points in San Francisco, Twin Peaks and Mt. Davidson. The Vision is to create a vibrant outdoor learning space including a food producing research farm with a diversity of fruits, vegetables, herbs, native habitat, and urban livestock, on-site compost production, greenhouse nursery operations, rainwater catchment system, an outdoor classroom/kitchen powered by solar energy and small, functional examples of natural building techniques and appropriate technology from around the world. The project is collaboration between ECOSF and the school community to integrate ecological learning, critical thinking and practical skills for sustainable living into the curriculum. Our goal is to enhance the educational experience and teach students leadership and cooperation through hands-on lessons in experiential learning.

The School Farm sits on the rim of Glen Canyon, one of the City’s largest natural areas, and at the headwaters of Islais Creek, one of the last free flowing creeks in the city that once collected water from a huge area and flowed into the bay at Islais Landing. The project centers around a sunny ¼ acre space that will be planted with organic farm rows, a fruit tree orchard, native habitat, a plant nursery, a cultivated wetland that will enhance an existing wetland on the site, and small scale livestock operations. The farm and orchard will supply fresh, healthy organic food to the school while educating students and the community about urban agriculture and local food systems. The students and the community will cooperate to build the infrastructure of learning facilities demonstrating natural building techniques and appropriate technology. The many living things that dwell in this vibrant space will be living examples of science in action and will supplement classroom science lessons with hands-on field experience. The space is also a bridge between the classroom and the Islais Creek watershed that lies next to the campus and in which the school has already worked with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to restore habitat and build trails.

Since February 27^th, 2010, with many hands supplied by the San Francisco Urban Permaculture Class, Hands-On Bay Area, students and other community volunteers, we’ve sheet mulched and mounded 6 of the planned 24 farm rows which stretch 25 feet, and also built a wood fired earth oven out of clay sand, straw, brick and wood, which we will use to bake fresh breads, pies, pizzas and more! As we create more growing space, plant the orchard, and start on some of the larger building projects we look forward to working with more of the community at our monthly gathering (Bakers Alley) to cooperatively cultivate The School Farm project. Like most non-profit community service projects we are doing the work on the ground, or the land in this case, while also working on fundraising, in-kind donations of farm, greenhouse and building supplies, and of course developing strong community volunteer support to keep up the energy and make this project the shining model of sustainable education that it can be.

FARM UPDATE- June 30th 2010

The last few months have been busy and bustling. We're expanding the farm space to 6 more 25 foot rows mounded on cardboard laid over lawn, building a chicken coop using several different natural building methods including slip straw, cob, wattle and daub, straw wattle and adobe brick, and  nurturing our newly planted windbreak with over 30 different species of California natives.  Projects on the horizon include a straw bale outdoor classroom with earthen plaster, living roof for the chicken coop and building the run for the little layers to keep out the coyotes (pronounced ka-yotes ).  We're gearing up for the early start of the school year in mid August when we'll start working with an Environmental Science class at the school on these projects, composting operations, and more.

Please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any feedback and visit our get involved section to see how you can support the project. See calendar for schedule of regular summer volunteer workdays on the Farm and check out the gallery for pictures of the project. See ya on the Farm!

The School Farm (map) is located on the campus of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and the School of the Arts – 555 Portola Dr. San Francisco. Parking is available on O’shaughnessy Blvd just before it crosses Portola. Close to 36, 44, 48, and 52 Muni lines. From the parking area on O’shaughnessy, proceed on foot to the right, down the hill towards the athletic field.  Limited parking is available further down the driveway at the loading dock, but please do not park on the grass. The farm is behind the east bleachers across the field.