Recognizing that many people in the Mission were interested in starting an edible garden, but few have the resources or access to a vehicle to get supplies, Peterson set on the idea of bringing green goods to the hood. “People have come into the shop with crazy stories of how they transport huge bags of soil and gardening supplies home — on a bike,” she laughed. “I love helping people choose the right varietals for the amount of light they get as well as brainstorming what containers to plant them in that will make the most of small spaces.”

Peterson credits the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center for providing support and structure, as well as a business plan. It took her about eight months to open; she shopped around for a good location and had the able design assistance of One Hat One Hand to build out the gallery space. All the while, she took horticulture classes at Merritt College and gardened in the light well and on the rooftop of her apartment. Her new home allows her to have container gardens and large raised beds, where she’s growing lettuces, beans, beets, carrots, radishes, peas, and tomatoes. “It’s a bit dangerous having access to over 120 seeds,” Peterson noted. She’s begun to bring extra greens into the shop to share.

Fire Escape Farms’ own brand of seeds are organic whenever possible and Peterson encourages saving heirloom seeds by getting many of hers from Seed Savers Exchange. Past August, she’s hoping the Web site will remain a resource to locals as she considers other locations for her next pop up, preferably in the Mission.

The gallery/pop up will also host an art opening for Rachel Weidinger upcoming exhibit, We Are Very Hungry, on Friday, July 1 (First Friday on 24th Street).