Come to one of our work parties on the second Saturday of every month at 7250 Portola Drive, El Cerrito (former Portola Middle School site).
UC Master Gardeners and Pacific Oaks Community Garden are creating a Water Conservation Garden and Educational Center for the home gardener. We are experimenting with new and old technologies to collect and save water while at the same time supporting thriving in-ground and raised-bed gardens.
This garden features sustainability in the form of no piped in water nor electricity. Come see how we collect and use water for our gardens on this site.
Join Us at Our Open House!
Saturday, June 14 from 10 AM to 1 PM
Stop by and let us share our plans and successes with you.
What questions do you have about conserving water in your garden?
ADDRESS
7250 Portola Drive, El Cerrito
(former Portola Middle School)
Come up Moeser from San Pablo Avenue
Turn left at Navellier.
Turn left at Portola.
Summer Speaker Series
4th Saturday of the month - 11 AM to 12 PM
June 28 - Water in Your Garden / Magic of Mulch
What if we told you that mulch could cut your water use by at least a third and build soil that resists both drought and deluge? Join us as we share simple, water-conserving actions you can take to ensure thriving and bountiful gardens, no matter how little or how much water shows up.
Whether you garden in pots, in-ground beds, or raised beds, you'll learn how to leverage our greatest benefit, the water that nature provides us freely and abundantly from the sky.
July 26 - Firewise Gardening
Although wildfires have beneficial impacts on ecological resources, they have also been catastrophic for many fire-prone communities in California. The threat to life and property is real and it is worthwhile to get prepared for. Join us to learn strategies on how you can reduce your risks by protecting your home and creating firewise landscapes.
August 23 - Gardening with CA Natives / Pollinator Gardens
Are you inspired to plant California natives in your garden but overwhelmed by all the choices? Do you want to embrace native landscaping and want a neat and clean look? In this talk, we will present practical steps to select and arrange native plants for different growing conditions including various soil types, the amount of sun exposure, and planting in small spaces or containers. Whether you’re planning a native garden from scratch, incorporating new natives into an existing landscape or putting in a corner habitat garden, this talk will empower you to choose plants suited to your landscape.
September 27 - Seed Saving
This hands-on class focuses on saving seeds from food crops and is designed to build local resilience. By learning to save and share seeds adapted to our region, you're not just gardening—you’re building a living legacy and helping grow a community-based seed shed for future generations. Join us and learn the ancient and essential skill of saving seeds.
*Note: the garden is covered in deep mulch, the terrain is uneven; the nearest toilet facility is at the El Cerrito Community Center, about a block away.
Have Questions?
Contact us at:
Pacific Oaks Community Garden
pacificoakscg@gmail.com