On this cold and cloudy beets morning I noticed some new buds on the tomato plant and a bit of over crowding because the plants have gotten so big. -Mirai Kusi, 2024 Summer BEETs Intern   The post 2024 Summer BEETs Journal Entry #5 first appeared on CommunityGrows ..read more

“End of an era”, the neighborhood says it’s farewells as Safeway closes in the Fillmore district, leading to conflicts amongst the community, the city, and the Franchise. -Julian, 2024 Summer BEETs Intern The post 2024 Summer BEETs Journal Entry #4 first appeared on CommunityGrows ..read more

“On Hope”  -Kris, 2024 Summer BEETs Intern   The post 2024 Summer BEETs Journal Entry #3 first appeared on CommunityGrows ..read more

Week 2 pt. 1 On July 22nd, in the Koshland community garden, BEETs interns researched what crops grow in San Francisco and used them to create recipes that we could potentially grow and cook in our garden.  Week 2 pt. 2 HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHERE YOUR WASTEWATER GOES, TOILETS, DRAINS, FLOODWATER, ETC? On July 25th, we visited College … The post 2024 Summer BEETs Journal Entry #2 first appeared on CommunityGrows ..read more

In an era dominated by fast fashion, the environmental toll of our clothing choices has become increasingly evident. Fast fashion, characterized by the rapid production and consumption of inexpensive clothing, significantly contributes to pollution and waste. However, amidst the detrimental impact of this trend, thrifting and innovative programs like Buffalo Exchange’s “Token for Bags” initiative offer promising solutions to mitigate … The post Fast Fashion and Thrifting: A Sustainable Approach to Reducing Waste first appeared on CommunityGrows ..read more

For the Summer 2024 cohort, our BEETs interns will be partnering with the Communications Team on a weekly project. They will learn about nature journaling and publish their own writings to share their discoveries. For the 2nd week of Beet’s we focused on sustainability and resilience in our community: First, we started with a plant check-in, the lettuce and tomatoes … The post Summer 2024 BEETs Journal Entry #1 first appeared on CommunityGrows ..read more

Photo from CBS San Francisco For more than four decades, the Safeway market located at 1335 Webster St. has been an indispensable resource for the residents of San Francisco’s Fillmore District. Providing essential services such as prescription fulfillment, banking, and groceries, it has been a linchpin for the community’s well-being. However, on January 4th, 2024, Safeway dropped a bombshell, announcing the permanent closure of this vital location in March of the same year. This sudden decision left Fillmore and its neighboring communities with a mere two months to brace themselves for wha ..read more

Vanessa, a passionate advocate for outdoor education and sustainable living, has dedicated her career to teaching youth how to grow and cook their own food. Her journey began in 2015, fueled by a childhood interest that evolved into a lifelong commitment. Vanessa seized the opportunity to channel her enthusiasm into action, embarking on a fulfilling path that has left a lasting impact on the communities she has served. In 2017, Vanessa joined Americorps and Education Outside, focusing on outdoor education. Her commitment to integrating food and cooking into garden education became evident d ..read more

In the heart of San Francisco’s Western Addition neighborhood lies a vibrant hub of growth and learning—the Rosa Parks school garden. At the core of its flourishing existence stands the Green Team, a dedicated group of parents committed to nurturing this thriving oasis. Among these passionate individuals is Doug, whose journey with the Green Team over the past three years exemplifies the transformative power of parental involvement. Doug’s personal journey, marked by a cross-country move to San Francisco, further fueled his desire to be actively involved in his new community. Eager to get i ..read more

In the heart of the East Bay, a vibrant and passionate Guatemalan artist named Rene is making waves with a project that is not only visually stunning but also deeply rooted in social change. Rene’s journey as an artist has been a path of self-discovery, community connection, and a commitment to using art as a powerful tool for transformation. In this interview, we sit down with Rene to delve into the story behind their mural project and the impactful messages it conveys. Rene’s artistic journey started at an early age. As a child, they were drawn to the world of creativity and self-expressi ..read more