April at HANC will be devoted to a report on the transformation of the HANC Recycling Center into the “Kezar Gardens Ecology Center” and what steps we need to take to make it real and permanent. It is one hell of a story of how a neighborhood organization, using resources from recycling, has added an entire new garden center at no cost to the public, creating a new model of both sustainable urban agriculture and recycling. Come to Park Branch library Thursday, April 12th at 7 PM and hear for yourself the story of this remarkable undertaking.

On March 8, 2011 the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution, drafted by then Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, calling upon the City to work with HANC to “establish a comprehensive Parks recycling program utilizing the expertise, volunteer base and facilities of the HANC Recycling Center in Golden Gate Park, … to establish an Independent Recycling Center Master Plan” and to implement the Golden Gate Park Master Plan by integrating recycling and education programs into the park. The Resolution also called upon Mayor Lee to urge Recreation and Parks to negotiate in good faith to allow HANC to continue to serve Golden Gate Park (click here for full text of the Resolution).
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For more information about these workshops, or to become a GFE member, go to www.gardenfortheenvironment.org
INTRO TO ORGANIC GARDENING
PART II, GARDEN CARE
Date: Saturday, April 14th, 2012
Time: 10AM - 12:30PM
Location: Garden for the Environment, San Francisco
Cost: Free
Planning ahead for low-maintenance design and sustainable products is a key element to a successful organic garden. Join us to learn about natural maintenance practices that will keep your garden beautiful and your labor to a minimum. More info here.
INTRO TO ORGANIC GARDENING
PART III, GARDEN WATERING
Date: Saturday, April 21th, 2012
Time: 10AM - 12:30PM
Location: Garden for the Environment, San Francisco
Cost: Free
Water is vital to garden health. But, when is enough, enough? Join us to learn earth-friendly ways to water the garden and the most efficient practices for the Bay Area’s Mediterranean climate. More info here.
CITY CHICKENS! And Ducks Too!
Date: Saturday, April 28th, 2012
Time: 10am - 12:30pm
Location: Garden for the Environment, 7th Ave at Lawton Street, San Francisco
Instructor: Paul Glowaski, Co-Founder of Urban Eggs & Farmer at Dinner Bell Farm
Cost: $25 or $15 for GFE Members
Begin your morning by harvesting fresh eggs from your own urban back yard! You can keep chickens and ducks in San Francisco! Join Paul Glowaski, Co-Founder of Urban Eggs & Farmer at Dinner Bell Farm, for an exciting workshop on organic “eggriculture”. Whether you dream of just a few chickens, or dozens, you will learn all you need to know to keep even your chickens (or ducks) healthy and happy in San Francisco. This class will walk you through the entire process, including: ordering chicks, organic feed for chickens and ducks, sanitation & human health considerations. Register Here
URBAN BEEKEEPING!
Part I - How to Set Up a Beehive
Date: Saturday, May 12th, 2011
Time: 1pm - 3pm
Location: Garden for the Environment, 7th Ave at Lawton Street, San Francisco
Instructor: Paul Koski, San Francisco Beekeepers Association
Cost: $25 or $15 for GFE Members
Join GFE and local beekeeping instructor Paul Koski of the San Francisco Beekeeper Association for Part I in our Urban Beekeeping Series and learn how to manage an Urban Honey Beehive in San Francisco. In this introductory class participants will learn about beekeeping supplies and equipment, where to get bees, and how to install them into a hive. The class will also cover basic hive management principles: how to open and inspect a hive and what the beekeeper should expect to see and do for the first few months. You will leave this workshop with the keys to success for keeping honeybees in an urban area. If weather permits, we will look into GFE's already active hives. Register Here
* 2012 URBAN BEEKEEPING SERIES *
May 12th - How to Set Up and Manage a Beehive
June 16th - Hive Management
August 18th - Honey Extraction