Garden for the Environment

What Garden for the Environment does

Garden for the Environment (GFE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public teaching garden founded in 1990 in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood, operating on land owned by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and fiscally sponsored by Earth Island Institute. The organization delivers hands-on environmental education to Bay Area residents, K-12 students (notably SFUSD), corporate teams, and aspiring garden educators through five core programs: paid and free workshops (e.g., Urban Composting), the three-month Get Up! Garden Educator certification training, youth field trips, corporate team-building days, and a Wednesday/Saturday volunteer program. The garden itself is a 13-stop demonstration site featuring a 3-bin compost system, drip irrigation with automatic timers, rainwater harvesting, 47 fruit trees (apple, pear, plum), beehives, native plant gardens, a victory garden, and a carbon sequestration station, with a free self-guided tour published as both a PDF and a web experience.

The underlying technology is fundamentally physical and pedagogical rather than digital: closed-loop composting, water-conserving irrigation, permaculture design, and beekeeping form the core technical assets, supported by the Growing Gardeners Blog and an email newsletter as content distribution channels. GFE produces approximately 500 pounds of fruits and vegetables annually, donated via Food Runners and HealthRight 360 to local food-insecure communities. The organization is governed as a nonprofit with 1-10 employees, relying on a partner ecosystem of more than 60 Bay Area organizations including city agencies (SFPUC, SF Department of the Environment), universities (SFSU, UCSF, USF), nonprofits (Recology, Alemany Farm, California Native Plant Society, UC Master Gardeners), and indigenous land acknowledgments (Association of the Ramaytush Ohlone).

GFE's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue mix: workshop and program fees (the Get Up! certification is a paid three-month course; many workshops are free), donations from individuals and corporate philanthropy, and minor produce/honey sales. Distribution is anchored by the physical garden at 1590 7th Avenue and supplemented by online self-guided tours and Eventbrite listings. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven — word-of-mouth through volunteer participation, school referrals, and partnership-driven programming — with no paid acquisition or enterprise sales motion. GFE is currently seeking a new Director, signaling an active leadership transition.

Name

Garden for the Environment

Legal name

Garden for the Environment

Website

https://gardenfortheenvironment.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Garden for the Environment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public teaching garden in San Francisco, founded in 1990 on SFPUC land, that delivers hands-on urban gardening, composting, and environmental education through workshops, the Get Up! educator certification, youth field trips, team-building, and volunteer programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Landscaping Services (56173)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Home & Garden Hobbies (Gardening, Floral Design, Home Decor) (EDAAAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vegetable & Herb Garden Installation and Maintenance (HSAIAFAM), Native & Pollinator Garden Design/Install (HSAIABAG)

Keywords

• Urban gardening education
• Composting workshops
• Garden educator training
• Youth field trips
• Community garden programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Workshop and Program Fees: Revenue generated from paid workshops (e.g., Urban Composting workshops) and the Get Up! educator training program. Some programs listed as free, indicating a mix of free and fee-based offerings.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a nonprofit and fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute, GFE relies on donations from individuals and corporate philanthropy. A Donate page is prominently featured on the website.
3. Produce and Honey Sales: GFE produces approximately 500 pounds of fruits and vegetables per year which is donated, but some honey from beehives is occasionally sold. Proceeds support garden operations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Garden for the Environment is a nonprofit public teaching garden in San Francisco that delivers hands-on environmental education through fee-based and free workshops (including Urban Composting), the three-month Get Up! Garden Educator training program, K-12 youth field trips, corporate team-building sessions, and a recurring volunteer program. Programming is anchored at a demonstration garden featuring composting systems, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, beehives, native plant zones, and an urban farm that produces ~500 lbs of fruits and vegetables annually for donation.

Product overview

Garden for the Environment is a public teaching garden in San Francisco offering collaborative, hands-on educational programming focused on environmental stewardship and sustainable gardening. The organization provides workshops, a three-month Get Up! Garden Educator training program, youth field trips, team building activities, and volunteer opportunities. The garden features self-guided tours with 13 educational stops covering composting, urban farming, native plants, water conservation, and beekeeping. Additional offerings include the Growing Gardeners Blog, an online resource with gardening advice, kids' activities, and recipes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workshops Hands-on educational workshops covering urban gardening topics such as composting, growing food, and environmental stewardship, delivered on-site at the San Francisco teaching garden.
• Get Up! Garden Educator Program Three-month intensive gardening and composting educator training program beginning annually in September, preparing participants to become community garden educators.
• Youth Field Trips Educational field trip programs for K-12 students featuring garden exploration, hands-on activities, and environmental education delivered at the San Francisco teaching garden.
• Team Building Corporate or group team-building activities at the garden focused on environmental learning, hands-on gardening tasks, and community engagement.
• Volunteer Program Recurring volunteer opportunities for community members to support garden operations on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Self-Guided Garden Tours Self-guided walking tours of the public teaching garden featuring 13 stops covering the compost system, victory garden, native backyard, shade garden, carbon sequestration station, beehives, greenhouse, urban farm, and water-wise garden, available as PDF and web versions.
• Free Urban Composting Workshops Free in-person workshops teaching community members how to make their own compost at home, keeping organic matter and plant nutrients in the soil.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produces and donates ~500 pounds of fruits and vegetables per year to local communities in need
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGFE is located on SFPUC-owned land. The organization supports the SFPUC's mission of educating the public about water conservation and sustainable landscaping practices.
• SFUSD (San Francisco Unified School District)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco's public school district brings students to GFE for youth field trip programming as part of environmental education curriculum.
• RecologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecology (San Francisco's waste management company) is listed as a community partner, likely providing support for composting and waste diversion education.
• Alemany FarmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlemany Farm, a collaborative urban farm in San Francisco, is listed as a community partner working with GFE on shared agricultural and educational goals.
• Association of the Ramaytush OhlonemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Association of the Ramaytush Ohlone is acknowledged as the indigenous people who historically inhabited the land where GFE now operates. GFE's historical posts recognize Ramaytush Ohlone land stewardship.
• California Native Plant Society (CNPS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNPS collaborates with GFE on native plant education and planting, with GFE's native plant pathway featuring California-native species.
• UC Master Gardener ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UC Master Gardener Program partners with GFE on shared gardening education and extension programming.
• Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds / True Leaf Market / Kitazawa Seed Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeed companies that provide heirloom and specialty seeds referenced and recommended in GFE's planting guides and blog content.
• Johnny's Selected SeedsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployee-owned, non-GMO seed company referenced in GFE's planting and seed resource guides.
• Food RunnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Runners facilitates the donation of GFE's harvested produce to local shelters and those in need.
• HealthRight 360majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGFE donates approximately 500 pounds of produce per year to HealthRight 360, a local substance abuse treatment and behavioral health organization.
• San Francisco State University (SFSU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFSU partners with GFE, including through the College Corps program which places students in community service roles.
• UCSFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of California San Francisco is listed as a community partner alongside other Bay Area academic institutions.
• USF (University of San Francisco)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of San Francisco listed as a community partner organization.
• Golden Gate Bird AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with GFE on bird and wildlife habitat education in the garden setting.
• Rainbow GroceryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSan Francisco cooperative grocery store is listed as a community partner, potentially supporting food access and community engagement.
• SF Department of the EnvironmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with GFE on citywide environmental goals including urban sustainability, composting, and water conservation.
• SF Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFPL partners with GFE on community education and access to gardening resources.
• Nature in the CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA San Francisco nonprofit focused on urban nature and ecological restoration, listed as a community partner of GFE.
• The Watershed ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Bay Area organization focused on watershed education and restoration, listed as a community partner.
• Haight Ashbury Food ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity food security organization listed as a GFE partner, likely receiving produce donations and collaborating on food access.
• Sisterhood GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA community gardening organization in San Francisco listed as a partner of GFE.
• Sutro StewardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn organization focused on stewarding Sutro Forest adjacent to GFE, listed as a community partner.
• The Gardens at Lake MerrittminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn East Bay public garden listed as a partner, sharing gardening education programming.
• Xerces SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Xerces Society (invertebrate conservation) is a partner, likely contributing pollinator and insect education content referenced in GFE's blog.
• Small Spot GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA San Francisco-based edible garden design/build firm listed as a community partner.
• Peaceful Valley Farm Supply (GrowOrganic)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm supply company referenced in GFE's resource guides for gardening supplies.
• Jordan KushinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn artist who collaborated with GFE staff to create the visual artwork and design for the self-guided garden tour PDF and web version.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alemany Farm: A collaborative urban farm in San Francisco focused on food production, education, and community engagement. Already a GFE community partner; comparable as a hands-on urban agriculture education site in the same city.
• California Native Plant Society: A nonprofit dedicated to California native plant education, conservation, and gardening. Already a GFE partner; comparable mission around native plant education and habitat stewardship.
• Sutro Stewards: A San Francisco organization stewarding Sutro Forest adjacent to GFE. Already a GFE partner; comparable as a local habitat education and volunteer-driven nonprofit.
• San Francisco Botanical Garden: Largest public botanical garden in San Francisco, offering plant collection exhibits, educational programming, and volunteer opportunities. Directly comparable as a public-facing Bay Area garden focused on education and conservation.
• UC Master Gardener Program: A statewide university extension program delivering volunteer-based gardening education and community outreach. Already a GFE partner; highly comparable as a community gardening educator network.
• Nature in the City: A San Francisco nonprofit focused on urban nature and ecological restoration. Already a GFE community partner; comparable as a local environmental education nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• Rodale Institute: A national nonprofit focused on regenerative organic agriculture research and education. Comparable mission around soil health, composting education, and community programming.
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: A large, established public garden with extensive educational programming, school field trips, and community workshops. Comparable as a mature urban garden with formal adult and youth education programs.
• Chicago Botanic Garden: A major public garden with extensive adult education, youth programs, and demonstration gardens. Comparable as a large urban garden with formal educator training and community workshops.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: A large public garden and research institution focused on native plants and sustainable landscaping. Comparable as a national-scale teaching garden with conservation education mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garden-for-the-environment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Garden for the Environment