by Jeff Bridge, answering questions from ABG Board Member, Marla Koss
Alameda Backyard Growers and so many of us as individuals have grown to love and depend on Ploughshares Nursery and its stalwart manager Jeff Bridge. In early October Jeff left Ploughshares to join a wholesale nursery in Petaluma. At Ploughshares, Jeff offered us a great selection of native and edible plants, and even more importantly his valuable experience and expertise in what, when, how and why to plant them. Jeff offered great workshops, both at Ploughshares and for ABG meetings. His commitment to the health of the environment and of the plants he raised and offered us was inspiring.
Before Jeff departed for points North, our Board member Marla Koss posed some questions to him:
Marla: When did you arrive at Ploughshares?
Jeff: I came to Ploughshares on my birthday January 23rd in 2012. I almost hit the ten year mark!
Marla: During your time there, you’ve been able to grow Ploughshares Nursery into a favorite destination for us local gardeners. Is there one thing you feel proudest of having achieved there?
Jeff: I am confident that I leave behind a fully functional nursery business where an academic project had existed before. We are solid with a diverse and unique set of vendors where before we struggled to obtain what we needed to succeed … and we now have a good grasp on what kind of plants we can propagate internally and how best to go about doing that to generate revenue for our parent organization Alameda Point Collaborative. But I am most proud of the community I have been part of here; ABGers, Palomacy, Wild Oyster Project and the many, many devoted and fascinating volunteers which have contributed to Ploughshares social enterprise mission and eccentric character. A big thank you to Alameda Backyard Growers for your support and remember that Ploughshares exists almost entirely as a word of mouth neighborhood business. Spread the word please and know that whomever comes in next to guide Ploughshares into the future will need your help to succeed. This place is truly a community asset and is powered by local people acting and thinking locally.
Marla: Will you check back in with ABG to let us know how you’re doing up in Petaluma?
Jeff: Once I get on my feet at Sweet Lane Nursery I very much hope to be part of the effort here in some fashion. I love the ideals of Ploughshares and wish that Ploughshare’s social enterprise mission was more the rule than the exception. We desperately need solutions to environmental problems and homelessness and while what we have accomplished here brings hope, a more determined and broadly supported effort is required to make solutions like Ploughshares more than just ‘hope’. Shop green my friends and support your non-profits!
We already miss you, Jeff! Thank you so much for all you’ve given the Alameda community and ABG. We look forward to meeting Ploughshares’ new manager when they are selected.