Students from the Bernal Heights Branch Living Library & Think Park based at Junipero Serra Elementary School and Junipero Serra Child Development Center joined Life Frames, Inc., Bonnie Ora Sherk, and the SF Recreation & Park Department in Holly Park to plant California native understory plants at the Appleton Entrance and Entrance across from Junipero Serra Elementary School, as part of the Bernal Heights Living Library & Think Park Nature Walk. The students learned a lot and created beautiful entrances to Holly Park, helping the Nature Walk grow !
The Bernal Heights Living Library & Think Park Nature Walk is linking multiple schools, parks, public housing, streets and other open spaces leading to currently hidden Islais Creek at the south side of St. Mary's Park. This Nature Walk is a prototype for what could be happening throughout the whole Islais Creek Watershed, the largest in San Francisco that links eleven neighborhoods in Southeast and Southwest San Francisco. Already thousands of native trees and understory plants have been planted and the whole neighborhood is being improved by this new, narrative landscape.
The students planted drought tolerant California Natives including: Mimulus (Sticky Monkey), Romnya coulteri (Matilija Poppy), Penstemon, Douglas Iris, Yarrow, Aesclepius to attract Monarch Butterflys (native Milkweed), Lupin, Erigonum grand rubescens (Buckwheat), Ceanothus (California Lilac), Lavatera (Mallow), and other colorful natives !
It really looks fantastic now !!! Please come and see for yourself !
Students learned how to plant from expert, John Miller, Park Supervisor from RPD, and about the Islais Creek Watershed, the largest in San Francisco, that interlinks eleven neighborhoods: Noe Valley, Mission, Bernal Heights, Potrero Hill, Bayview, Portola, Crocker-Amazon, Excelsior, OMI, Sunnyside, Glen Park.
Design and Funding for the project, led by Bonnie Ora Sherk and Life Frames, Inc., which developed the Community Master Plan beginning in 2002, has come from Mayor's Office of Community Development, SF Foundation, California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, and more recently from California Strategic Growth Council.
6th Grade Science Students from James Denman Middle School learn about solar energy and solar cooking from new A.L.L. Teacher, Brennan Blazer Bird at the OMI/Excelsior Living Library & Think Park. Students harvested tasty, fresh vegetables and flowers from the Living Library Gardens, and prepared Mexican-style Nachos that baked in the Solar Oven, while they learned more about science, energy concepts and appropriate technology.
Students decorated their Nachos with edible flowers to create Food As Art ! They enjoyed all !!!
