30th Anniversary Historical Post: Then-and-Now Perspectives from 23+ Years

In this week of celebrating GFE’s 30th anniversary, we take a look at some then-and-now photos chronicling at least 23 years of the garden’s history. The garden has undergone drastic and amazing changes, all in the effort to educate San Franciscans about the importance of gardening for sustenance and aesthetics -- both which make our world a healthier and more beautiful place for an abundance of species. As we move forward, we continually embrace constant learning, which we pass onto all who volunteer, take classes, and just wander through for relaxation. 

In Photo 1 (below), taken in September 1997, folks gather in our South Classroom space. Note the man on the left with the purple SLUG shirt -- SLUG was the San Francisco League of Urban Gardeners, GFE’s first sponsor organization. In photo 2 (below) we see a similar view or our South Classroom, which was redesigned in spring 2017. 

Photo 1: GFE’s South Classroom space, September 1997.

Photo 2: The same South Classroom space in fall 2017.

Photo 3 (below) takes us back to an undetermined time, likely before 2000. Here we see a view of our Water-Wise Garden, where the garden began in 1990. Jumping forward to March 20th, 2020, we see the same space in Photo 4 (below), looking much more mature and defined. The gazebo was removed in 2016, which has opened up the garden space and South Classroom area.

Photo 3: The Water-Wise section. This is where the garden began in 1990. Photo taken pre-2000.

Photo 4: The Water-Wise area on March 20th, 2020.

We see an enthusiastic group of composters in GFE’s central area in Photo 5 (below), looking very engaged! Note the hillside on the right side -- a gaggle of gardeners is busy there, too!  In Photo 6 (below), we see the Get Up! 2019 class turning compost last September. This is proof while much at GFE has changed, some things have stayed the same. 

Photo 5: March 1998. The garden’s central area, with people working on the composting system.

Photo 6: September 2019. Get Up! 2019 students turn the compost and learn through observation.

In Photo 7 (below), gardeners are tending to a very large raised bed near the greenhouse and potting counter. We see in Photo 8 (below) taken on May 13th, 2020 that not only have the old garden beds been replaced with taller and more easily accessible ones, but we also see our newly installed bed covers, designed and built by a Get Up! 2017 graduate! 

Fall 2006: People tending to raised vegetable beds near the greenhouse and the potting counter.

Photo 8: May 13th, 2020. Smaller, more accessible raised beds in the same place as the beds above, with their new bed covers.

Finally, in Photo 9 (below) taken in 2007, we see our dedicated volunteer Paul, who’s been with GFE for so many years, refurbishing the elevated garden bed from wood from a deteriorating adjacent bed, built when GFE first started. And our our last photo (below), we see the Get Up! 2018 class standing tall and proud in and around the completely rebuilt (and much deeper) elevated bed! 

2007: One of our dedicated volunteers, Paul, revamps our elevated “bunk bed” out of wood from the adjacent garden bed to the right, which was an original structure dating back to 1990.

Fall 2018: This year’s Get Up! class proudly shows off the elevated garden bed they rebuilt in one of their classes.

GFE is so proud to continue the legacy of conscientious gardening begun three decades ago, and we hope we’ll be back in 30 more years to celebrate more accomplishments made possible by countless community members. Thank you to everyone who’s helped make GFE a success!