Two weekends ago, I got to go to Outside Lands and watched some pretty amazing bands like Sigur Ros, Jack White, the Kills, Skrillex, Justice, Washed Out, fun.

There were lots of little themed areas, one being Eco Lands.  This section of the festival presented San Francisco’s sustainable green themed non profits.  I got to meet all three of them!

The Free Farm

At the Free Farm, I learned how to make an origami baby planter to start seeds with newspaper.  I’ve got to say, out of all the organizations, I was most moved by The Free Farm and what they do.  I wish we had a similar organization in San Jose.

ABOUT US:

The Free Farm is an urban farm founded in January 2010, by a constellation of non-profit organizations in San Francisco. We are located on a 1/3 acre lot on the corner of Gough and Eddy Streets on a parcel loaned to us by St. Paulus Lutheran Church. Since April of 2010 we have grown and given away over 3 1/4 tons of fresh organic produce, plus convened gardening and urban homesteading workshops, and hosted community, school, and religious groups.

 

Yes, I’m wearing a silver jacket and pink jeans.  It was the Skrillex day!

Free Farm showing me how to make a seed pot out of newspaper

Friends of the Urban Forest

I’ve seen FUF’s trees all over town.  I had known about them before I met them at Outside Lands.  They gave me a free seed bomb.  How nice!  🙂 They were teaching composting classes, which was really cool.  I wanted to stay for one, but Stevie Wonder was calling (all the way on the other side of the park), so I had to take off.  Just as I was taking off, a young bloke came and asked me (I don’t know why me…) what is composting and why is it necessary.  So I gave him a quick explanation about how it’s nature’s fertilizer and compost enriched soil is much better for the environment than store bought chemical fertilizers.

Mission Statement Friends of the Urban Forest’s mission is to promote a larger, healthier urban forest as part of San Francisco’s green infrastructure through community planting, tree care, education, and advocacy.

Urban Sprouts

Mission

By cultivating school gardens in San Francisco’s under-served neighborhoods, Urban Sprouts partners with youth and their families to build eco-literacy, equity, wellness, and community.

They sound very similar to CNGF and ELSEE here in San Jose.