Urban forest erupts in San Francisco's Tenderloin

The "Tenderloin National Forest" is likely one of the world's smallest "forests"- it's just 23 feet wide by 136 feet deep-, but it is a refuge in one of the most densely packed neighborhoods in the heart of San Francisco.
When artists Darryl Smith and Laurie Lazer first moved into a space on Cohen Alley in 1989, it was "a place emblazed in a health-hazardous cesspool of bodily fluids and other dumped items, non-supervised open-air chemical experiments and illicit -- criminal activities".
In 1990, Smith planted a 12-foot redwood that "didn't look like it was going to make it, actually, it felt like we'd committed a crime against nature". Later, they brought in more trees, built a wood-burning oven (that the fire department later deemed safe for their community cookouts), added murals to the walls, hand-crafted stone floors, and a tiny, wattle-and-daub shed.
Today, Smith's Luggage Store Gallery pays $1 per year to lease the property from the city, provided they keep it open to the public 20 hours per month. Anyone can come garden here (there are tools in the earthen hut) and a few times a month they bake things like pizzas, breads, and yams in the traditional "horno".
More info on original story: faircompanies.c...

[@tanyatressler3132]

Can't wait to see it! I love San Francisco...lived there for awhile...some family lived there. Used to work in SF...spent ALOT of time enjoying the city. I grew up in Berkeley

[@mmatih22]

Watching this ; how a community of people start where they are, to adapt and create something so beautiful, healthy and functional , makes me happy, gives me hope!

[@ssue4q]

Absolutely gorgeous

[@carolynbostic5784]

Very nice. As a wheelchair user, I like the "concrete" floor of the park. Trees were magnificent.

[@lezbriddon]

seriously they do, they cause great cracks in brick built buildings etc, and in many areas you are not allowed to plant within so many feet of a building foundation, dont underestimate a tree! nature is very powerful!

[@captainKbobkeeshan]

yeah, i wondered about the roots too. My mom had a dwarf pear tree in her backyard but ripped it up to my dismay because of the concern of the roots to our neighbor's property and our property. Some of those roots can be really strong. Otherwise, I love this trees and the artwork!!!

[@rriverstone1]

hang planters up the walls & green the roofs

[@greenknitter]

I don't think it's pathetic, they're just making the most of the space they have available to them. Better to have a nice green area no matter how small than none at all don't you think? I agree what you say would be awesome. Check out Copenhagen in Denmark, it has implemented a green roofs policy on all new roofs with a less than 30 degree slope as part of it's aim to be the first carbon neutral city in the world by 2025.

[@MrTRYTOO]

add some hydroponics!!

[@sexyellex]

I love this idea!

[@highcountrytimber]

This is awesome idea. Now they need to do some roof top gardens on the surrounding buildings.

[@lezbriddon]

wont those trees push roots under the building creating structural damage....

[@olger05]

1:16 just keeping the streets clean!

[@meleagrisfelis]

I agree. They could have planters at the edge of the roof with plants that cascade down the sides. Have you seen the "Skyfarming prototype? 8-story, climbable vertical garden in Barcelona" also on this channel? /watch?v=1oC_ghwmBV4 (I love this channel!)

[@69Grunden]

This goes to show the beautiful things that can be created when a neighborhood works together. Thanks for sharing..

[@jettrink7510]

Do you have to listen to other people's bad music?

[@val-schaeffer1117]

Tenderloin is edgy ? You mean rough as hell. It is a little piece of Third World in USA.

[@BobNchannel]

great work on the garden, i admire the hard work and how the life of a tree can start a new life for a neighborhood

[@thereversepolarbear]

That's so inspiring. Goes back to the ideas of the Industrial Revolution - green spaces bringing health to society. It's so wonderful seeing people do things for the benefit of the whole - and it working..

[@ALayne08]

I love it when a community comes together and makes a lasting difference. Thanks.

[@VasilyKiryanov]

Well, if these buidings can be damaged by roots... Helluva structure!

[@DreamingWorlds]

Gotta love it...tenderloin national forest....more of these!

[@BoringPeopleEnt]

really enjoyed this one, thanks a lot

[@tmskatap]

the trees roots are problematic

[@PinkShirtz]

Old man at 4:51 = so adorable

[@2000pancake]

I'm with you! @Marie K

[@mariekruse__]

i love your videos!

[@tomdobbs2733]

Two trees is not a forest

[@Scampergirl]

Super pretty for illegal activity under cover....