about

Yards to Gardens grew out of a realization of the tremendous potential in the vast amounts of space that we use for growing grass. Take a walk or bike through the neighborhoods around you. Imagine what these spaces would look and feel like if, instead of grass lining the sidewalks and blanketing yard after yard, there were a colorful patchwork of flowers and food bearing plants covering the urban landscape. Now imagine that each of these spaces is a collaboration, a cooperative arrangement between land owners and gardeners to create food, color, and a stronger fiber within the community.

A Huge Thank you to our Volunteer Coordinators!

In the Summer of 2010, Y2G got the help of some amazing volunteers through Net Impact San Francisco - an organization that connects business and marketing professionals with non-profits and growing organizations that need organizational support getting started. We are infinitely grateful to Adam and Lora Menter for connecting us to them, and helping to start establish a presence in San Francisco. So thank you to Mara and Katie for spearheading the efforts.

Mara Slade is a freelance brand strategist and advisory board member of Y2G based in San Francisco. She first fell in love with gardening as a youngster in the Bay Area growing veggies in the family’s backyard. These days you can find her volunteering in San Francisco’s burgeoning urban farm community or taking care of her herb and vegetable container garden. She is a strong believer in the local food movement, and sees urban agriculture as an opportunity to strengthen urban communities and make them more sustainable places to live.

Katie Storey is a sustainable business enthusiast and advisory board member of Y2G based in San Francisco. With a background rooted in sustainability, Katie has utilized her skills across many sectors working in fair trade, sustainable investing and urban agriculture. When she’s not thinking about how to launch the next sustainability concept, she can be found practicing yoga, attempting to bike up San Francisco’s hills, and learning to surf and enjoy the oysters in Northern California.

The Yards to Gardens Team

Jesse Eustis is the graphic designer and co-founder of Y2G. Jesse grew up on a biodynamic vegetable farm in southern Michigan and has since left the farm to explore art, dance, politics, and the healing arts. Now returning to his roots, Jesse is active in his own vegetable garden and has been involved in helping to organize community gardens in Minneapolis.

Jonas Goslow lived in Minneapolis for eight years as a student and then actor at the Guthrie Theater where he co-founded Y2G.  Transplanted from the Bay Area, CA where he grew up amidst the dot-com boom, he now considers himself a true midwesterner, and is grateful to have lived there. Jonas now lives in New York City, where he pursues his career as an actor, and continues to work to create more gardens (rooftops are next!).

Donovan Walker grew up in the Southwest. On a visit to Minneapolis in 2006 he fell in love with the place and now calls it his home for much of the year. When Jesse and Jonas approached him about co-founding Yards to Gardens, he couldn't resist.

Zach Bogoshian was born and raised in California, in the fertile Salinas Valley - the “Salad Bowl of the World”. He attended UCLA to study Political Science (with a semester in Melbourne, Australia thrown in). Having spent the last year living by the beach in San Diego working in education and growing an organic garden on his roof, Zach has returned to northern California to expand the Y2G vision in the San Francisco Bay Area

How to help

We are just beginning to see the possibilities for Y2G, and need your help to spread the word. If you know someone who wants to garden, or someone with an empty yard, or extra tools and resources, let them know about Y2G.

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Or you can just pass out one of our Y2G flyers (color or black & white) in your neighborhood.

Also, we welcome your feedback or suggestions, the more the merrier! Contact us directly at [email protected].

For the Press:

Y2G Welcomes any newspapers, blogs, community pamphlets, news or radio shows to do a piece on Yards to Gardens. You can use our recently published Y2G Press Release or contact us directly ([email protected]).

If you run a publication or website and want to run a Y2G ad to help spread the word, use this small banner. Look back soon for more Y2G banners.