Question 1

Q: Your profile highlights your expertise in regenerative landscape design and urban ecology. Can you share a specific project where your approach transformed an urban space into a thriving ecosystem while fostering a strong sense of community engagement?

A: In 2009, we worked with the founder of Project Homeless Connect to transform an underutilized asphalt lot left vacant by the removal of the Central Artery Freeway in Hayes Valley into a community garden focused on serving underhoused people. Project Homeless Connect was a program initiated by Gavin Newsom as Mayor of San Francisco. The program has connected over 27,000 homeless individuals with essential services since its inception in 2004. The vision for the Growing Home Community Garden, located at 250 Octavia Street in Hayes Valley San Francisco was to offer a safe haven for people to get off the street, or out of shelters for a bit, and have the opportunity to experience the responsibility and nurturing involved in growing edible plants from scratch. Many of the volunteer members are homeless, in shelters, or formerly homeless. They meet weekly over communal meals to discuss different goals for the garden, and to share the work involved in maintaining an ambitious array of crops, including kale, cauliflower, berries, apples, carrots, passion fruit, and six different kinds of tomatoes. To date, over 285 people, including neighbors, students, artists and community members have participated in the garden’s efforts.