Organic, fresh, locally grown produce – that was the dream Virginia Mudd had envisioned when she bought the plot of land that became Crow Canyon Gardens in 1978. Now a public park owned by the city of San Ramon, the gardens are inhabited by fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Located adjacent to Mudd’s Restaurant, the Crow Canyon Gardens were originally intended to illustrate the connection between the food source – farm or garden — and the dining room. Virginia Mudd is the granddaughter of Harvey Mudd, founder of Harvey Mudd College of the Claremont Colleges in Southern California. She created the restaurant to share with the public her fascination with preparing and serving meals that were as nutritious as they were delicious.

Today the Crow Canyon Gardens proudly serve the San Ramon community through environmental education and biological agriculture. There is a group tour program available to the public during the week ,along with a demonstration kitchen garden and community gardens.

The gardens are located at 160 Park Place in San Ramon, behind Mudd’s Restaurant and just off of Crow Canyon Road.

- Joseph Natividad