Who We Are

At LEAF, we believe in a world where every community has the knowledge and resources to work in harmony with nature to cultivate a healthier planet.

Powered by volunteers since 2008, our two urban gardens in Fremont are more than just places to grow food—they are living classrooms, soil science labs, and community spaces where people come together to learn, connect, and grow together.

How do we do this?

We educate people about healthy soil and caring for the planet - through workshops, classes and summer programs at our gardens and at the Fremont library
We grow and share healthy produce with our food bank partners
We advance research about healthy soil
We connect people to food, the land and each other - through community events and shared experiences

Giving Back

For the past 10 years, our main goal has been to provide produce grown with regenerative agriculture practices to those in need around Alameda County. Regenerative practices focus on building healthy soil using lots and lots of compost, crop rotations to reduce the build up of plant diseases, cover crops to increase soil nutrition, interplanting edibles with pollinator herbs and flowers to increase pollination and to create a more balanced natural ecosystem and healthier plants.

Every Monday and Thursday mornings we harvest produce fresh from our gardens, and deliver it directly to two local food banks: Tri-City Volunteers Food Bank in Fremont and Centro De Servicios in Union City.

Our History

LEAF was founded in 2008 by a group of Fremont residents under the leadership of Bruce Cates. Together, they had the vision of creating a community garden in the California Nursery Historical Park in Fremont's historic Niles district. LEAF negotiated a lease for half an acre of land with the City of Fremont while raising funds to design and build the community garden. In the meantime, LEAF started a community garden in a vacant lot in downtown Niles and began offering gardening workshops to the public.

In late 2014, LEAF secured a second site when Dr. Chris Stone offered a free, long term lease for a half acre of land behind her Mission Valley Veterinary Clinic.This site was formerly named LEAF C.R. Stone Garden after Dr. Stone's father. In 2024, now named the LEAF Urban Farm, the growing space was relocated next door due to leasing adjustments.

LEAF Urban Farm is run by a dedicated group of volunteers who work year round to grow food using regenerative agriculture practices to donate fresh, sustainably grown produce to our local food banks. In 2024, the LEAF Urban Farm became a USDA recognized People's Garden.