“We, the Gezi Gardens Community Farm, stand in solidarity with the people of Turkey in protecting urban open space from private development. We wish to keep the space formerly known as the Hayes Valley Farm open as a community space and a source of fresh, free local food.”
Dear Neighbors,
As you most likely know, the space formerly known as the Hayes Valley Farm is slated for development. Replacing this potentially productive farm and replace it with apartments, retail space, and parking. As the San Francisco Tenant’s Union reports, over 30,000 housing units are currently vacant in S.F. We believe there are better places for the city to develop than this beautiful farm and green space.
We are a grassroots collection of bay area residents, urban farmers, and neighbors who are disagree that all land-use decisions should based on economic interests alone. We want to see consideration of community agriculture in city planning, and are dedicated to maintaining the land as an open space for growing food in what is some of the best soil left in San Francisco.
Inspired by recent events in Istanbul, where thousands of people stood up together to stop a park and rare green space from being destroyed, we have temporarily renamed the farm Gezi Gardens, in support of the tens of thousands in Turkey who are working to protect their remaining green space, as we are here. Just as in Turkey, we want more than green space. We want massive social change, and through direct action are attempting to show ways in which those changes can begin.
We invite all neighbors and community members to join us in envisioning and planning. Input and participation is wholly welcome.
We are holding neighbor’s meetings this week at the Farm, located on Laguna between Fell and Oak:
TUESDAY @ 6:30PM
SATURDAY @ 3PM
If you have questions, suggestions, or wish to help with material needs now, please stop by the farm, check us out online, or contact Anthony at anthonybsts@gmail.com or by phone at (801) 502-1222
HUMANBEIN.ORG #GEZIGARDENS
Space TranSFormers is a collective of people that rose up together in San Francisco to create autonomous spaces that foster community and to liberate land for people through direct action.
The Human Be In gathering happened this year from September 14th – 16th at Martin Luther King and South Fork Drive near the South windmill in Golden Gate Park. The site borders the Beach Chalet Soccer Fields which the city plans to pave with astro turf. We will work to see the soccer fields remain natural grass and habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife.
Space Transformers continues to organize actions and gatherings in San Francisco. See the “Programs” drop down menu for more information on these. Send an e-mail to participate@humanbein.org with Subject line: “Meeting” to get involved.
