The Free Farm Stand

"Wanna get free vegetables with me?"
"Huh, it's free?"
"Yes!"
"Are you stealing?"
"No."
"I don't believe you."

I've had many conversations with friends about the free farm stand. So many that I need to write a yelp review so I can save my breath of excitement.

WHAT IS THE FREE FARM STAND?
The Free Farm Stand is place that gives away free produce. Think of it like a free farmers market.

WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN?
It happens every Sunday from 1-3pm. They take 3 weekends off over the holidays in late December and early January. Otherwise, this farm stand happens rain or shine.

WHERE IS IT?
It happens at the Northeast corner of Parque de Ninos (a park in the Mission district between 22nd/23rd and Folsom/Treat).

WHO RUNS THIS EVENT?
Volunteers! Thanks for all your work!

WHERE DOES THE FOOD COME FROM?
The volunteers collect the left-over produce from farmers markets, gardens, stores, etc. around the city. No food waste, yeahhhhh.

WHAT TYPE OF FOOD DO THEY HAND OUT?
Everything! I've tried so many different vegetables and fruits from this place. You name it, they've had it before. Chard, lettuce, purslane, broccoli, aloe vera, figs, persimmons, herbs, etc. Lots of variations from all different cultural backgrounds. They also have bread, hummus spreads, pasta, etc. sometimes. It's always unpredictable, depending on the week. See attached photos for examples of weekly hauls.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
- Once you arrive, you ask for a ticket # and get in a queue.
- To get the food, you wait until your number group is called, as they do it within groups of ten (#1-9, #10-19, #20-29, etc.).
- Once your group is called, you go through the line. Volunteers divide and distribute the produce.
- There's two shifts in which the food is handed out. If you have a number #1-59, you go in the first shift that starts at 1pm. If you have a number #60 onward, you go in the second shift that starts around 2:15pm. Times can vary depending on the week and when the second delivery of good gets in. Usually, to get a number between #1- 59, you have to show up before 1pm. Unless you get there at the end, plan to wait about 30 minutes.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Bring bags to put the produce in. The bigger cloth bags, and I also bring the smaller plastic bags that I get from grocery stores.

WHO SHOWS UP FOR THE FOOD STAND?
Anyone! It's a true community gathering spot, and there's no pretense around here. It's a great place to people watch.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFO?
https://freefarmstand.org/

"Give until it hurts" --Mother Theresa

The year was 2001 & was attending the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University in Boulder, CO (it really exists) when I discovered the free box. There was a free box at Naropa University & one at the intentional Buddhist Community where I lived. This is a great concept of giving to others what you no longer need so someone else can put it into good use. In the free box there was books, clothes, & more.

Fast forward to the year 2017 in San Francisco as I just went to the Free Farm Stand today. I had a great experience. When you show up you get a number & come back at an allotted time.

Heaps of organic produce for free & received some good bounty while meeting some friendly folks. Awesome that this exists as truly feel that organics should be available to all as they can sometimes be expensive at the grocery store compared to conventional produce depending on what you are getting.

Thanks to all the volunteers that make this possible & would love to see similar grass roots Free Farm Stands elsewhere as is a wonderful concept that is put into action to make a positive difference in the community.

I was there on 1/12/2020. They had a break and then started up again. They had a full bounty that day and it was organized and such. They did not run out that day. However, I was there on 1/26/20 and arrived at 12:30pm and there was hardly any food at all. I was told that their was no line at 1:00pm and that I can start now to get food now (at 12:30pm). But...they only had about four food stations (2 tables only) for a very small amount of greens and 1/2 loaves of a bread and a few rolls. There was no other mixed varieties of Fruit produce and no selection of other root vegetables. They did not have much and I am glad I got there at 12:30 because I would not have gotten anything much that day. However, I am grateful for what I did get. So thanks.... Just have to be aware that what they get weekly varies a great deal on what is available. Good idea to get there at 12:00 noon, get a number and see how much they have and that will determine when you come back at 1pm or maybe they start the line sooner than 1pm if there is not much food to pass out. BYOB and carrier. Great organic produce and day old breads and rolls.

Tree the founder is just wonderful and kind to everybody. He got the great heart to start this organization saving excess vegetable and sharing with everyone, I would gladly give him 10 stars if I could. For somebody who does not mind to line up early for free vegetable, I highly recommend it.

Nevertheless, I have to give the review a one star rating coming from an ex-volunteer's standpoint; due to the fact that they have a really irritating manager - "Big Hat" who sucks at basic communication but wouldn't stop barking commands almost every second.

"Big Hat" treated certain volunteers rudely (the meeker ones I think). And she kept reminding volunteers not to take too much of vegetable. I only saw one volunteer taking more than he should (during work too). But hey, if he sees that as his payment of working five hours straight of hard labor, I do not have a problem. Most of the volunteers are here just to do good, taking a little for fun. We don't need to be insulted constantly by a clueless immature manager.

Another issue I saw plagues this organization is the huge army of older ladies from a certain ethnic group competing for vegetable. They actually "demand" the produce. I told a lady that there are a lot of people; I could only give her so much... she barked," JUST HAND THEM TO ME". I thought I were a bank clerk in a robbery scene. There were times when things were out of control and crazy, and of course "Big Hat" the manager just made it worse. I know this problem is not unique to the Free Farm Stand, but to most organizations in the Bay Area that give away freebies. It is up to these organizations to educate people about their goal of sharing and to discourage bad behaviors; however, I do not see the Free Farm Stand taking any stand. I don't think these aggressive people are all heartless, they just need to be talked to; to be made aware of the local culture. Silence is Consent (or Snobbery). Smart management is sorely needed here.

I live about two blocks away from the FreeFarmStand and stumbled upon it just a month ago (it's been around for about a year). I thought, "How great, a farmers market in my neighborhood." So I picked up a beautiful loaf of bread, some herbs, mixed greens, and then i asked, "How much for these?"

The response threw me for a loop and it truly did not compute for a moment. "Free?" And it was wild how this felt. Suddenly, I wasn't worthy or in need enough. Maybe I was even embarrassed. But it's simply free ... for everyone.

And there is a bounty of beautiful, fresh, organic produce. I can't believe this place isn't swamped - with those in need, as well as those not so much in need.

It's a really beautiful thing to see these days.

I was lucky enough to discover the Free Farm Stand when I was unemployed and short on cash. Now that I have a job, I'm trying to give back as a volunteer. It's an amazing grassroots, community organized service that rescues organic vegetables, bread, fresh pasta, and more and gives it to the wonderful Mission community. It started 8 years ago as a labor of love from an adorable hippie gardener named Tree (who also donates homegrown seedlings as well). Every week is a different selection of vegetables. It was here that I had my first taste of purslane, nettles, cardunes, and bitter melon. Come by, say hi, and grab some free veggies :)

One of the best ongoing projects that exists in San Francisco.

The goal of the Free Farm Stand says it all:

"help make locally grown, fresh and nutritious organic produce accessible to all, especially those families and individuals on low-incomes and tight budgets."

Which is exactly what it does.
Every Sunday you can find locally grown and gleaned produce from vegetables to fruit to herbs, sprouts and starts. Not to mention, incredible day old bread, honey at times and countless smiling humans (smiles are pretty much guaranteed.) Definitely a wonderful place to be.

Produce generally comes from local gardeners and organic farmers.

Check the website for plentiful volunteer opportunities.

www.freefarmstand.org

Whether you have interest in getting your hands in some soil and helping out in a community garden or two
or
you have a garden and would like some help
or
you want garden advice/help
or
you have an abundance of produce coming from your garden-
this is a wonderful place be, share and connect with the community. If the plethora of Tomatoes from my garden didn't already get distributed among friends and neighbors, the Free Farm Stand is where you would get a chance to taste how delicious they are.

If I could give the Free Farm Stand more stars on Yelp... You bet your beanstalk I would!

Thanks to Tree and all of the lovely people that help make the Free Farm Stand a reality and keep the community growing.

The free farm stand is a nonprofit that gives away locally gleaned and produced veg, along with farmers market extras and one day old leftover Acme bread. Not surprisingly, availability is unpredictable, but there's always something. Everything is free, and everyone is invited to bring whatever they might have a little extra of (so long as it's vegan). Official start time is 1PM, get there on the dot for the best selection, bring your own bags, jars, and other useful vessels, and prepare to meet and greet. Free fabulous produce and a great neighborhood vibe? Ooooh yeah.
PS- if the carnivore urge strikes, I swear the best taco truck in the mission (el gallo giro) is directly across on treat. You can reassure yourself that you'll behave yourself once you cook up all those lovely veg.

This is an absolutely amazing thing to offer the community. Huge thank you to those that put this on every week. I went there for the first time today to check it out and left with an reusable bag stuffed full of veggies and 3 different types of bread. Everyone working the stand was incredibly friendly. In days where so many low budget offerings consist of ramen noodles and mac 'n cheese, the Free Farm Stand is helping keep things healthy!

FREE organic produce in San Francisco....um, what else do I need to say?!