Garden

The Slide Ranch garden covers almost an acre of total space that faces south overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Slide Ranch’s microclimate is strongly influenced by the ocean, and is characterized by cool wet winters and cool, foggy rainless summers, with frequent wind and almost no frost. The steep slope of Mt. Tamalpais to the north creates our own watershed and fog packet, with plenty of water in the winter and fog in the summer. The mild temperatures mean that we can grow many crops, such as salad greens, year-round.

The garden’s design was influenced by the Chadwick garden at UC Santa Cruz, with biointensive-style beds oriented north-south for maximum sun exposure rather than across the slope. The main principles of the biointensive gardening method focus on soil health and plant diversity. Soil is treated as a complex ecosystem that is the foundation of a healthy garden. Using ecological gardening practices the garden has never had chemical fertilizers or pesticides applied over its 36-year existence. Organic nutrients are fed to the soil through compost, mulches and cover crops, thus producing rich and fertile soil. Permanent beds are worked with hand tools, and have never been compacted by foot traffic or machinery. The diversity of cultivated plants creates a healthy ecosystem that helps control pest problems. When pest problems arise, natural methods are implemented. The garden grows over 100 species and varieties of plants each year. Most of our plants are started in a greenhouse to allow for more efficient use of a limited garden space.

Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA), a local organic certification agency has reviewed the garden and determined that it meets organic standards. The garden goes beyond those standards to demonstrate a model of sustainable food production.

Educational features of the garden include: a medicinal herb area, an urban-style container garden and 3-sisters. We also have a compost area where we have a worm box, hot piles and composting bin to convert our food scrapes, garden waste and animal manure into healthy soil. In addition, each teacher-in-residence has their own garden bed.