The corner of Larkin and McAllister is not home to yet another liquor or convenience store; since 2010, the Tenderloin People's Garden has occupied the space.
Formerly a vacant lot, the lush garden grows a variety of fresh greens and vegetables to distribute at no cost to neighborhood residents. The garden is operated by the nonprofit Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation as part of its work to build "food justice," a more equitable food system that provides access to healthy food to all people as a basic human right.
The garden serves the entire Tenderloin community, including people with disabilities, seniors and low-income residents. The food is distributed from 10am-12pm on Harvest Days, the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month.
With the success of the People's Garden, TNDC has also planted and maintains four rooftop gardens atop properties it manages—Curran House, the Kelly Cullen Community, SOMA Studios and Family Building and 990 Polk St.—to serve the buildings' residents. Access and participation in the rooftop gardens is restricted to tenants, but the food grown in the People's Garden is available to anyone in need, with outreach happening via flyers and brochures left in TNDC buildings, residential hotels, and the public library, coordinating with neighboring organizations that serve food to those in need, and issuing invitations to passersby.
Despite the difficulties in growing food in winter months, the gardens are operated in all seasons. Popular year-round crops include Swiss chard, lettuce, green onions, basil, radishes, and fava beans, while beans, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, snap peas, beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, and potatoes number among the seasonal favorites.
The Tenderloin People's Garden is a source of pride for the entire neighborhood, appreciated and watched over by nearby residents, staff, and students from UC Hastings. Earlier this year some graffiti appeared on the Civic Center Power House, which borders the garden, but has been recently painted over by the Department of Public Works. A new mural by Precita Eyes Muralists is also being planned to overlook the site, and will feature the diverse community members who contribute to and benefit from the garden.
Anyone interested in helping tend the garden is welcome to drop in from 10am-12pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Extra hands to help pick and distribute the produce on Harvest Days are encouraged to reach out to Kamillah Gallofin, TNDC's health and wellness program manager, at [email protected]. And groups should contact Haley Caldwell, the TNDC volunteer and corporate outreach coordinator at [email protected] to schedule a day in the dirt.
TNDC is also one of the sponsors of the Tenderloin Healthy Corner Store Coalition, which seeks to increase access to fresh produce by converting corner stores into healthy retailers. The coalition meets 3-4pm on the fourth Thursday of each month in the auditorium at 220 Golden Gate Ave. All interested members of the public are welcome to attend.
