The Garden

Raphael Garden, with its raised beds, orchards and pasture, is located at the center of the 13-acre Rudolf Steiner College campus. Raphael Garden is a fully functional, Demeter-certified, biodynamic urban farm. With three acres from Rudolf Steiner College and financial support from the Raphael Association, Harald Hoven founded Raphael Garden in 1987 and subsequently the CSA in 1993. The gifts of these institutions, together with the dedication of many volunteers and apprentices, have made possible the thriving farm you see today.

Raphael Garden supports seasonal fruit and year-round vegetables for a 40-member CSA, a large seed saving operation, and the beauty and serenity of a diverse plant and flower life.

Chickens, ducks, sheep, and Bella the cow grace the site with animal presence and products. Beehives nestle under trees near the manure compost. Plant compost rests in the shade of an olive grove. A small greenhouse nurtures tender seedlings. Vegetable crops in raised beds line the slope overlooking the orchard. At the center of it all, flower beds encircle a small pond and it's melodic flow form.

Despite its small size, Raphael Garden is able to provide for most of its needs from within the farm ecosystem. Soil fertility is maintained by carefully composting garden and kitchen waste, cow and sheep manure and the use of cover crops and crop rotations. Plant debris from the farm is composted and used to start seeds, making it unnecessary to bring potting soil in from outside. The majority of the seeds we plant have been grown on the farm in previous seasons. Biodynamic compost and spray preparations are used rhythmically to enhance life forces.

The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

The foundation of Raphael Garden is the community that supports it; the 40+ shareholders that form the Raphael Garden CSA. Members of the CSA purchase annual shares and in return receive weekly baskets of garden bounty. Members work together to distribute the produce, tend the crops on Garden Days, create a shareholder newsletter, and plan for the future. The shareholders keep Raphael Garden viable, ensuring this little gem continues to shine at the heart of Rudolf Steiner College. In return, the garden sustains its shareholders with healthy, life enhancing, Biodynamic produce.

For information on becoming a shareholder in the Raphael Garden CSA, contact Harald Hoven, 916-965-0389.

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