Alemany Farm Claims To Reduce San Francisco's Crime By Growing Organic Food (VIDEO)

In this clip, KVIE Public Television reports from Alemany Farm, a four acre organic paradise amidst the urban sprawl of one of San Francisco's worst crime areas.

Executive Director Alice Carruthers says her vision with the non-profit "was to slow the crime down." Since the farm began in 1991, families have been able to put fresh organic food on their tables and find a safe haven from the hostile environment where their children can play and learn about the environment.

Bianca Armstrong, a seventeen year old mother, tells KVIE that before she became a volunteer at Alemany Farm she ate a lot of junk food. She talks about how the experience has helped her change and grow into a better person, and how she hopes to pass on what she has learned to her daughter.

NOTE: This story has been updated from an earlier version to clarify that reducing crime is the objective of Alemany Farm, though no statistical results are available at this time. The video was produced by KVIE Public Television.

WATCH how an organic farm is striving to change a community:

Comments

[Daniel Bakondi]

04:34 AM on 08/03/2010

Thank you for covering this story.
Regards,
San Francisco Lawyer Daniel Bakondi
http://www.danielbakondi.com/San_Francisco_Lawyer.htm

[TruelyFedUp]

11:52 AM on 08/01/2010

Please see my petiton entitled Unemployment Solution USA http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/766/237/867 to help the 44.25 million unemployed in America have a solution like you have seen here. Our alternative is to have massive numbers of hungry, angry people with the right to bear arms in our neighborhoods seeking any means to survive.

Truly

[Tutonehcc]

08:20 AM on 07/31/2010

See photos of organic cannabis http://marijuanaphotos.co

[bragladish]

01:22 AM on 07/31/2010

this is such a great story... the old saying "it just takes one person" rings true here.

[organicconnect]

05:52 PM on 07/29/2010

This is the second piece covering the drop of crime in an area with good food. Interesting trend. It is actually quite encouraging. It gives new meaning to the concept of "safe" foods, those that are organic or actually natural and not loaded with chemicals, GMO and antibiotics. http://organicconnectmag.com/wp/2010/07/can-we-cut-crime-by-changing-cafeteria-menus/

[Molly Goodreau]

05:27 PM on 07/29/2010

I suggested a garden to my co-workers as a classroom project for high schoolers with special needs. It has been great and has inspired us to take on a larger space and bring in a range of students; from honors to at risk. Gardens are a place to bring people together and promote inclusion. Check out our garden at :

http://www.yourgardenshow.com/users/mollyfin/room-608

[livesimply]

11:42 AM on 07/31/2010

Thank you for sharing this. I used to teach special education too. You and your students are an inspiration! Fanned.

[Molly Goodreau]

01:07 PM on 07/31/2010

Thanks for the nice comment. Why did you leave teaching? The burnout rate is tremendous.

[I3addog]

04:53 PM on 07/29/2010

Now how do we get kids into gardening all across the country ?

[saskatoonie]

03:28 PM on 07/29/2010

As a former farmer this article lifts me up. What a great idea.........wish I could do more to help other communities like this!

[onalimb]

03:22 PM on 07/29/2010

Organic produce for the masses and an opportunity to enjoy nature.
All inner cities need community gardens.

[BannedNBoston]

02:53 PM on 07/29/2010

Food is the most important thing.
Good social aspect too.

[Jan Moore]

01:26 PM on 07/29/2010

Great story. This will be what ultimately saves our food and our environment. Local accessible food also cuts down on carbon emissions and also revitalizes communities. Sad however that stories like this get so little attention in comparison to the celebrity crap.

[mikecal]

12:36 PM on 07/29/2010

Inspirational story. But the background music in the video is a little bit cheesy and manipulative. The story stands by itself.