about

In 2009, the McAteer Campus established a farm covering nearly a half acre. For over a decade the farm had thriving rows of produce, chickens, bee hives, and fruit trees surrounded by native plants. It also had an earthen pizza oven, rainwater catchment system, monthly community work days, and a farm stand selling eggs, honey, and produce. 

During the pandemic, the farm fell into disrepair and the nonprofit that had been managing the farm disbanded. The core elements of the farm are still in place, and some repairs have been completed, including restoring the Farm’s pizza oven. However, the Farm desperately needs the additional restoration and the ongoing care and stewardship that the grant-funded Farm Educator position will provide. 

Since 2021, FOSOTA has led the Farm Working Group to lay the foundation for classes and student clubs to visit the Farm, doing repairs, planting cover crops and native plants, prepping beds, spreading compost and mulch, controlling invasive weeds, and supporting science experiments and student-led creative projects. The Farm Working Group is composed of over 20 parents, teachers, staff, students, and representatives from partner organizations. 

SFUSD Student Nutrition Services runs the McAteer Culinary Center, an upgraded central kitchen for SFUSD located on the campus. The Center serves as a district model for how to improve procurement practices and serve freshly-made bulk food rather than pre-packaged meals.

Foodwise has partnered with The Academy to offer Foodwise Teens since 2019, an after-school program focused on food education, cooking lessons, and life skills at the McAteer Community Farm and the McAteer Culinary Center. Over 100 students from The Academy and other SFUSD high schools participate in Foodwise Teens each year.

In the spring of 2024, FOSOTA and the YMCA funded a temporary Farm Coordinator position to help jump start the work that will be funded by this grant. Beginning in the fall of 2024, Urban Sprouts is playing a major role at the farm leading daily educational programming for ninth graders at the Academy, along with leading the revitalization of the farm and facilitating engagement opportunities for all campus students and community members. 

Community feedback in the design and delivery of this project comes from the Working Group (including student leadership) and from over 250 survey responses from students, parents, teachers, and partners to guide planning and lay out goals.