SUNOL AG PARK

The Sunol AgPark was created from the mutual interest of SAGE and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in developing an entity that integrates sustainable agriculture, natural resource stewardship, and public education about the agricultural, natural, and cultural resources of the Sunol Valley.

Today, the 18 acre Sunol Water Temple AgPark is a thriving urban-edge farm on land that SAGE leases from SFPUC. This site features the historic Sunol Water Temple, built in 1910 to honor San Francisco’s connection to its watershed in the Sierra Nevada and to its supplementary watershed in Alameda County.

The Sunol AgPark tenants are local farmers who grow food for families and market outlets in nearby communities, share infrastructure, get training in organic agriculture practices, and pay rent and water costs. The Sunol AgPark Management Plan provides a management, operations and financial framework to guide fulfillment of the project vision and goals.

Three years since its founding, the Sunol AgPark is well on the way to realizing its Community Benefit Farming Goals:

  1. Establish a working farm to optimize opportunities for multiple tenants to achieve stable, safe, and profitable business enterprises within a culture of cooperation.
  2. Develop farming infrastructure, technical support, and management systems that support the operations and viability of the farmer tenants
  3. Develop sustainable farming operations that conserve natural resources, enhance soil fertility, and follow organic farming practices

Natural Resource Stewardship

With the agricultural operations established at the AgPark, SAGE is focusing on accomplishing the following Natural Resource Stewardship Goals:

1. Protect and enhance natural resources through activities integral to and integrated with the sustainable agriculture practices.

2.  Work with the USDA NRCS and ACRCD to complete the Conservation Plan for the AgPark and implement the conservation practices called for in the plan. Implement additional resource protection practices as needed.

3. Develop and maintain the AgPark hedgerow and filter strip and other common areas in order to prevent negative impacts to ground water and adjacent streams from farming practices and to provide enhanced habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects.

4. Effectively engage stewardship volunteers to assist AgPark staff with the planning, installation and maintenance of the filter strip.

5. Promote and facilitate experimentation and research that supports the goals of the AgPark agriculture and natural resources components.

Public Education

The Sunol AgPark Management Plan outlines the following Public Education Goals:

1. Offer programs for students that foster understanding of the connection between good nutrition, local agricultural production, natural resource stewardship.

2. Engage with youth groups and underserved urban youth to offer educational opportunities, including training, internships, and special projects related to nutrition, agriculture and natural resource conservation;

3. Provide educational and interpretive opportunities for the public to learn about sustainable agriculture and natural resource conservation, water conservation and use, the regional water distribution system, and the cultural and land use history of the region;

4. Engage local communities in workdays, education programs, and on-site special events.