Green Gulch Farm

FARMLAND: 5 acres in Muir Beach, approximately 10 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

PEOPLE: Sara Tashker with 4 staff members and 6 to 8 seasonal farm apprentices. Everyone who lives at Green Gulch participates in the daily meditation schedule, attends weekly classes on Zen Buddhism, and participates in meditation retreats.

FARM HISTORY/PHILOSOPHY: Green Gulch Farm was started by the Zen Center in 1972; in 1979 they opened the popular restaurant, Greens, located at Fort Mason.

At first, the five acres were ploughed and tilled by work horses, later they modernized so that the work is now done by tractors. However, 1/8 acre is still managed entirely by hand using rakes and shovels in raised beds.

The farm is open to the public without reservations and invites volunteers to help on Tuesday mornings. Green Gulch incorporates education into their farm by offering organic gardening classes and a Farmer Apprenticeship which gives six or seven people the chance to learn the techniques of this successful enterprise.

SOIL: Clay loam soil is built up by cover cropping, fertilizing with compost tea, and farm-made compost of horse manure, ground turkey feathers, and fish emulsion.

WEED CONTROL: Hand weeding, machine cultivation, crop rotations, and cover crops.

PEST MANAGEMENT: Create habitats to attract beneficial insects and schedule planting to avoid times when certain insects are most prevalent.

WATER USE: On-farm ponds collect water for sprinkler and drip irrigation.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION: CCOF since 1985