Get Involved!
Everyone, young or old, experienced or still learning, is welcome to join our community workdays held from noon to 5pm, every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month, the Saturdays in-between (that’s the 2nd, 4th, and sometimes 5th weekend), plus every Monday afternoon from 1:00-5:00. New volunteers are encouraged to take an orientation tour of the farm at the beginning of the workday.
WHAT TO BRING:
1. Water Bottle
2. Hat
3. Sturdy Shoes
4. Jacket with layered clothing underneath
5. Sunscreen
6. Snacks
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS:
We’re always grateful for your energy. No need to sign up, just show up on a scheduled workday and we’ll try to make it a rewarding experience and send you home with a few veggies.
GROUP VISITS (more than 5 people):
We can only accomodate group visits on our regularly-scheduled volunteer workdays. See above for the dates and times of our volunteer workdays.
When you come to one of our volunteer workdays as part of a group, we want you to have a great “Alemany Farm” experience. For this reason, we ask that your group arrive promptly at the beginning of the workday, follow the “What to Bring” instructions (see above), and that your group stay to help with the work we will be doing that day. At the very beginning of the workday, we will provide your group an orientation tour to the Farm and to the work that will be done that day by volunteers (including your group).
Because we are an all volunteer organization, our ability to handle more than one group per workday can be limited. For that reason, if you are planning to bring a group to the Farm, or to come to the Farm as part of a group, please contact us via email (at community.gardeners@gmail.com) so we can schedule and properly prepare for your group’s visit.
Groups of fewer than 25 people:
If your group will consist of fewer than 25 people (of any age), contact us via email at least 2 weeks in advance (at community.gardeners@gmail.com) and be sure your email includes the following information:
1. Name or affiliation of your group, and your name and contact info (as the representative of your group)
2. Number of people to visit the Farm in your group, and their general ages
3. Date, and times during that date, your group proposes to visit the Farm (it must be a regular volunteer workday — see above)
If you do not receive a reply within 5 days after you send your email, please feel free to send us a follow-up email reminding us of your group’s proposed visit.
Groups of kids/youth:
If your group will consist of kids and/or youth (age 18 or younger), your group must have its own supervising adults who will be accountable for the behavior of the group, encourage involvement, enhance the educational experience, and ensure productivity.
Groups of 25 or more people:
If your group will consist of 25 or more people (of any age), additional requirements apply — Please see and follow the instructions of the “Permits” section below.
TYPICAL WORKDAY ACTIVIES:
On the weekends we focus on the row crop production area and compost, while on Mondays we’re on the hillside, focusing on veggie production, orchard care, and water management. Depending upon the season, typical work activities include weeding or weed cutting, digging or trenching, mulching, composting, plant and seed planting, pruning, terracing, wheelbarrow hauling, laying irrigation and watering, building garden structures, and harvesting.
DONATIONS:
As we are a volunteer organization, any donations are greatly appreciated and help us keep the farm running. Donation checks should be made out to our fiscal sponsor, SF Parks Trust, with “Friends of Alemany Farm” written in the memo line.
PERMITS:
In accordance with policy of the SF Recreation and Parks department, any group visit of 25 or more to Alemany Farm requires (1) 30 days’ advance notice, and (2) a permit.
To request the required permit, please send us an email (at community.gardeners@gmail.com) not less than 30 days before the date your group proposes to visit Alemany Farm. Once we confirm that we can host your group on the proposed date, we will give you directions for completing the RPD permit which you can do online or over the phone. Be sure to include the following information in your email.
1. Name or affiliation of your group
2. Your name and contact info (as the representative of your group)
3. Number of people to visit the Farm in your group
4. The general ages of the members of your group who will visit the Farm (pre-school, grammar school, middle school, high school, young adult, adult or retired adults)
5. Date your group proposes to visit the Farm (it must be a regular volunteer workday — see above)
6. Time your group would arrive
7. Time your group would depart
If you do not receive a reply within 7 days after you send your email, please feel free to send us a follow-up email reminding us of your request.
DIRECTIONS:
For public transit and biking, Glen Park is the closest BART station. It is a 15 minute walk or 5 minute bike along Bosworth under the San Jose St bridge crossing Mission St at the 5th intersection to become Murray. It is 3 more blocks on Murray to the entrance of St Mary’s Rec Center. At the entrance gate take an immediate right and go down the hill past the courts and the dog park to the walk way ramp where you can enter at the edge of the fence at the top of the ramp or at the gate at the bottom or around the highway frontage sidewalk to the main drive-in entrance and walk-in gate.
You may search Google Maps for ”Alemany Farm” to make your own route by bike, bus, or car.
