Little City Gardens

A couple weeks ago I drove out to see Pilar at Sunnyside Organic Seedlings in Richmond. We had great conversation about our new market garden and the blossoming of our business. As a young business woman and grower, it was great to feel her support. She offered advice, ideas and material donations – shade cloth, clear plastic, pvc pipes, seeding racks,potting trays – items that were sitting unused at Sunnyside, that we could retro-fit and refurbish.  We hope we can find a way to support her back and build up this network of generosity.

Sunnyside is an inspiring place. They just moved, after their sixth year of business, into a 3000 ft. greenhouse that is bustling with regenerative activity. Like much of the landscape out in the nursery district of Richmond, the greenhouse was in a state of decay when they rented it. They are in the process of retrofitting so it will be well equipped for their fast-paced, rigorous work of producing thousands of starts per week.

In my opinion, Sunnyside is the Bay Area’s best consistent source of annual vegetable and culinary herb starts. Pilar is the inspiring, powerhouse of a lady who owns and operates Sunnyside. It’s amazing to see what she and her staff have been able to create and to see her at work. Pilar has command of both the infinite details and the big picture of the nursery business. (She is so experienced and in tune with the life of the nursury that she can tell, by a scent in the air, when a flat of onions are about to germinate).  She makes it a point to employ young people who might otherwise have a challenging time finding rewarding work, and to generously support Bay Area garden/farm activists with plants. My housemate and friend, Kenji just spent the last couple of months building a garden out on Sunnyside’s property too. It is a promising beginning of what will in a few years be Ranch Richmond, a farm producing food for Richmond residents.