Spring has arrived in Mission San Jose, and with it comes a burst of activity across the Dominican Sisters’ grounds. Birds are busy gathering materials for new nests, bees hum steadily between blossoms and young seedlings push through the soil—clear signs that gardening season is in full swing.
Over the past several years, the Dominican Sisters have been steadily restoring their long-standing agricultural tradition. The property, once again home to orchards, vegetable beds and beehives, has recently expanded to include a flourishing community garden open to local residents.
Managed by Alameda County master gardener Guy Duran, the community garden features 32 individual plots of varying sizes. The gardeners themselves represent a wide spectrum of experience—from first-time growers to seasoned landscapers—creating an environment rich in shared knowledge and cultural diversity.
“The soil here is incredibly fertile, and the garden community is truly special,” Duran said, noting that gardeners often exchange advice, seedlings and occasionally even part of their harvest. He adds that the collaborative environment is what makes the space unique: “When someone asks a gardening question, it makes my day.”
In addition to cultivating produce, the garden has become a hub for social connection. One of the highlights of the summer season is the garden’s popular pizza socials, where participants gather to enjoy handmade pizzas baked in our outdoor pizza oven—topped with many ingredients harvested directly from the plots.
A limited number of garden plots remain available for those eager to begin growing their own food this season. Community members interested in joining can contact Guy Duran at ca********@***oo.com for more information.
As the birds and bees of Mission San Jose remind the neighborhood: it’s garden time—and the Dominican Sisters’ land is once again flourishing as a center of nature, nourishment and community.
