Agency Details:

St Marys Urban Youth Farm provides individuals and communities youth with the means in achieving social, economic and environmental justice utilizing tools in urban gardening and greening projects. While our vehicle is urban gardening, our aim is in phases of re-develop in an overall improvement of the quality of urban life within St Mary’s Urban Youth Farm open space and incorporating a youth mentorship programs with skills generating greening projects that combine urban environmental beautification with sustainable skills and community-based economic development.

Description:
St Mary’s Urban Youth Farm a nonprofit built on volunteers taking an interest in preserving the little open space San Francisco has to offer. Our obligation is a stewardship and obtain support funding:

• maintenance,
• grounds keepers
• crating a viable accessible and pleasurable experience
• developing youth programs



History:
We are at St Mary’s Recreation Park open space area. Historically before redevelop, its wild state was one of the major aviary flight paths into a vast pastures and tidal marshland known as Isle Creek. This marsh stretched all the way to the Excelsior and feed by the Glen Park Canyon Creek then out to the bay. Obtained by Archdiocese1862 for St Mary’s College that later moved to Oakland the land was obtained by the City of San Francisco and portion set aside for a park as housing was developed and pipelines to divert water soon became the city’s dump site.

Through community out cry of a cleaner environment in the 1980’s San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners (SLUG) came to life with stance of greener less concrete environment. SLUG took on the challenge in organizing with City’s Hazard Departments to clean up St Mary’s for the conversion of a viable demonstration agricultural and environmental habitat (EcoFarm) includes Isle Creek pond. Establishing the St Mary’s Urban Youth Farm provided youth mentorship (youths teach youths) skill building programs such as: job training, group spirit, communication, and entrepreneur.

We have taken the name St Mary’s Urban Youth Farm to preserve its’ integrity and history, bring back the contours of the area as well its youth programs. As the organization continues to blossom the need to push toward for funding is necessary: improving this public community spaces like this and would continue a public volunteerism forum in exchange for place for a youths development.
A place where youth grow.



Contact people:


Adminstration Management, (phone), (email) Coordinator Volunteer, (phone), (email) Garden Coordinator, (phone), (email)


Main office number: (415) 519-2006

Address:


PO Box 885343 San Francisco, CA 94188


Web Site: http://slug-sf.org

Directions:

This is the front walk - in entrance to the park. There is residential curb parking. Please respect the neighborhood & do not block residents. The Farm is at the back of the park behind the eucalyptus trees, must walk down the driveway, down the overpast & the gate entrance is on Alameny.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: none   Nearest Bus Stop: 67, 14, 49, 20 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	No others
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	13 years old (younger must be accompanied by Parent or Gaurdian)
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	No
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	Yes

Last updated on January 20, 2010