About Pacifica Gardens
Pacifica Gardens is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Pacifica, CA. The garden project, located at the Linda Mar School, 830 Rosita Road, is made possible by the combined efforts of many committed volunteers, local donors, and grant organizations.
The Pacifica Gardens mission is to
Educate • Cultivate • Inspire
the community to grow food locally.
Pacifica Gardens Volunteers
A few of the many volunteers that make the garden possible.
The Garden Project
Pacifica Gardens currently has 42 vegetable/crop beds, 3 herb beds, 13 native plant/flower beds and 39 fruit trees. Volunteers grow and harvest 2,000-3,500 lbs. of food annually and create 20-30 cubic yards of compost in order to sustain that growth.
The garden is enclosed in a fence and has its own agricultural well and watering system. In addition, our talented and resourceful volunteers reassembled two donated greenhouses, built a tool shed, and constructed a dozen composters from reclaimed lumber.
Pacifica Gardens' flagship programs are its garden-based education field trips and food donation program. The education program hosts elementary school field trips from the local school district. The food donation program provides fresh organic produce to the Pacifica Resource Center, which serves families in need. We also offer educational opportunities for teens in our Youth Community Service program.
The garden participates with other community groups in events such as Earth Day, Great Sunflower Project Bee Counting, and the Pacifica Garden Club tour. Native plant and vegetable start sales are held throughout the year.
A Little History
What began as a dream of helping the community learn more about sustainable agriculture years ago has grown into a 30,000 square-foot garden due to the combined inspiration and efforts of committed individuals, the Livability Project, Pacifica’s Environmental Family, and the Pacifica School District.
Pacifica Gardens officially broke ground on April 12, 2008. Community volunteers joined the garden team and began de-sodding the soccer field at the Linda Mar Education Center. The “Sod Squad” worked tirelessly throughout the summer making extraordinary progress.
An official Ribbon Cutting ceremony took place on May 24, 2008. City dignitaries and school district officials joined garden volunteers and other members of the community in celebrating the grand opening of the garden.After that initial turning of soil, the garden continued to draw many volunteers and increasing community interest. A core of regular volunteers emerged from the community to grow the garden with their energy and love. The garden project reached out to the community and has become not only a place to grow food, but a hub of community engagement – by hosting events such as the First Annual Harvest Fundraiser Dinner, Earth Day activities, Plant Start sales, educational workshops, and elementary school field trips.
In the fall of 2014, Pacifica Gardens emerged from being a sponsored project of Pacifica's Environmental Family, to becoming its own independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our Supporters
We are grateful for the generous support of these organizations and individuals:
The Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation
Kaiser Permanente - San Mateo Area
Pacifica's Environmental Family
The Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Our Founding Family members,
and many other generous members of our community
Garden Milestones
Read a year-by-year account of Pacifica Garden’s progress -- harvest production, food donation amounts, garden expansion, community engagement, education programs, fundraisers, and more.
In The News
Aug 2017, Vol.3 No.1, Page 14; Pacifica Magazine - Gardens by the Sea
Mar 18, 2015, Pacifica Tribune - AmeriCorps builds dreams for Pacifica Gardens
Oct 14, 2014, Pacifica Tribune - The great giving fields of Pacifica Gardens
Sep 25, 2013, Pacifica Patch - Find Your Green Thumb at Pacifica Gardens
Aug 21, 2012, Pacifica Tribune - SF State researcher counts bees; Pacifica Gardens participates
April 30, 2011, San Jose Mercury News - Feeding the bee population, one sunflower at a time
Nov 3, 2010, Pacifica Tribune - Community Garden Celebrates Harvest with 100-Mile Meal
Oct 18, 2010, Pacifica Patch - Pacifica Gardens To Host Fundraiser Gala
Oct 13, 2010, Pacifica Tribune - Pacifica Gardens hosting 'One-Hundred Mile Meal'
Sep 8, 2010, Pacifica Tribune - Loretta O'Brien of Pacifica Gardens speaks to Garden Club
Aug 2009, Coastviews Magazine - Harvesting a Community at Pacifica Gardens
Jun 23, 2009, Pacifica Tribune - Pacifica Gardens sprouts beds for disabled people to use
Jun 11, 2008, Pacifica Tribune - Community Celebrates Grand Opening of Pacifica Gardens
May 21, 2008, Pacifica Tribune - Community Gardeners Dig In
Jan 23, 2008, Pacifica Tribune - New Community Garden Ready to Bloom