Inspired by the vegetable gardens that were created to produce food during world war two, artist Amy Franceschini and organic gardener Blair Randall created Victory Gardens 2008+, a program to install and support 15 pilot urban organic food gardens in San Francisco, in backyards and window boxes and on rooftops. I worked with Amy and Blair to install several of the backyard gardens throughout San Francisco.

When Slow Food Nation began planning its major event in San Francisco and I was invited to be part of the planning committee I suggested that rather than create a pop-up garden for the weekend long event, we recreate the victory garden that existed in front of city hall in 1948. 

The idea was to replace the patch of lawn in front of city hall with an organic food producing garden that would demonstrate the potential of urban organic agriculture and provide healthy fresh food to the SF Food bank. The concept was to redefine the meaning of “Victory”

As Blair Randall says, “ ‘Victory’ can be a loaded word. Our campaign is redefining it: 'Victory' is freedom from and independence from a food system whose values we don't support.It's also about reducing "food-miles" - using less fuel in the production and distribution of food.”

Working with an incredible network of supporters The Slow Food Nation group sponsored the creation of this garden in front of San Francisco’s City Hall. I led the design and construction of the garden working with a diverse group of volunteers, gardeners, and food activists from throughout the Bay Area.

Over the course of six months, the garden produced 1000’s of pounds of organic food, and through our skilled garden educator, taught organic gardening techniques to hundreds of people. Garden materials were donated to the Project Homeless Connect garden program.

Inspired by the success of the Slow Food Nation event and the city hall victory garden, and building on years of grass-roots activism from the urban agriculture community, in June of 2009, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced an Executive Directive to promote Healthy and Sustainable Food in San Francisco.  This first-ever comprehensive food policy for San Francisco approached the food system holistically; from food production and distribution of consumption and recycling with the acknowledgement that a thriving local food system has far reaching benefits for the health, environment and economy of San Francisco and its residents.

Collaborators

Victory Garden 2008+, Slow Food Nation, City Slickers Farms 

Hundreds of volunteers, Thank you!

Photos by Katie Standke