Garden Workday November 8

You're invited to the Garden Workday 
Saturday, November 8,  9-12 noon. 

We'll rehabilitate the Friendship Garden, meet Farmer Ben, and find out more about the 6 distinct garden areas we have at MES. 

Bagels and coffee will be provided! 

For more information, please email Joanne Luby, Garden Volunteer Coordinator.

Garden to Cafeteria at MES!

Last Friday, the delicious pasta was even more delicious thanks to basil from our garden! The Garden to Cafeteria program has begun! Farmer Ben delivered a beautiful bouquet of herbs to our kitchen manager, Maria Cortez (center) and chef, Jamie McGee (right). They were delighted. Farmer Ben and kids will be planting more crops specifically for the lunch menu. This meal is just the beginning of kid-grown food in the Montclair Cafeteria. 

Be part of the excitement and SAVE THE DATE for the November 8,  9-12 Garden Workday!

Back to School Garden

Welcome back!

For the first time, the annual first day coffee was enjoyed in the garden. What a great place to catch up with old friends, meet new families, and yes, shed a few kindergarten tears. 

Stay tuned for 2014-2015 MES Garden info, including this year's garden schedule. It will be posted here- on the side banner.

The Garden Fairies Watered!

Thanks, Leslie and helpers for keeping our new plants healthy over spring break! Irrigation is almost up and running.

The Work of a Mighty Crew

Our workday happened to fall on the last weekend for completing the infamous science projects- which probably explains the small group. Our size did not deter us, and we accomplished an impressive amount (and ate everyone else's share of bagels).

We moved all of the supplies up from the Ottortorium. 

We started sorting them.

We planted three thorn-less artichokes.

We installed drip irrigation in 10 of the 19 beds.

We planted and protected two trees- a fuyu persimmon (in the raised concrete entrance bed) and an apple (in the picnic grove). Thanks to Berkeley Horticultural Nursery for donating the apple and compost!

We all had fun and felt grateful for this new garden and a chance to work with Farmer Ben!

Welcome Spring... and Farmer Ben!

Spring brings plenty to MES: the new garden space and a new teacher- Benjamin Goff. The beds have fresh worms, garden has a new schedule (see the calendar to the right), and Farmer Ben already has plans for us! Please give him a warm welcome when you see him. He will be on campus Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Friday afternoons. He sends this message to the school:

Hi, MES community. I am Benjamin Goff aka "Farmer Ben". I have been teaching experiential, hands-on gardening classes with students in Berkeley Unified School District since the Fall of 2000. I began as an Americorps Member with the Willard Greening Project at Willard Middle School and in the Spring of 2001 became the Garden Instructor at the LeConte Elementary School Farm and Garden Program. I have found that a garden classroom can be a great way for students to deepen their understanding of core curriculum as well as develop an understanding of themselves and the natural world around us. I look forward to working with the MES community to create a vibrant, flourishing garden program.