San Francisco: Ask a Plant Nerd

Real live plant nerds are offering their knowledge to the public at San Francisco’s Mission Community Market every Thursday. Asking a question is free; they also have small, affordable young plants for sale, such as nasturtiums, plectranthus…

and other succulents and herbs:

The plant nerds are from Rhizome Urban Gardens, a collective of  gardeners who offer low-key services for San Francisco residents who’d like to start a sustainable food garden but need a little encouragement and support, whether a few hours of feedback or more extensive assistance.

The gardeners specialize in small spaces, such as the little backyards behind some of the city’s houses and apartment buildings, raised beds, or even a window sill. They also emphasize a permaculture approach, using their understanding of plants’ light, water and soil needs, as well symbiotic relationships, to create gardens that are as self-sustaining, and thus sustainable.

A small business that focuses on the small-scale, on helping people become comfortable with plants, and on listening to the plants’ needs — sounds like a positive thing for urban plants and urban people. Nice to meet you, Rhizome.