Archive for the ‘Bernal Heights Living Library Nature Walk’ Category

Sep '14

Radio Interview With Bonnie Ora Sherk Features A Living Library & Islais Creek Watershed !

Img 7251 ViewIntoRedwoodCircleBouldersBonnie Ora Sherk was interviewed on KPOO FM, 98.5 on Connecting the Dots by Judy Drummond on August 28, 2014.  Bonnie Ora discussed A Living Library and all the Branch Living Library & Think Parks underway in San Francisco and New York City, and multiple opportunities to develop Branches around the world.  Listen to the Broadcast here ! In the interview,  she also talked about the Living Library Nature Walk, that is underway, and is a model for the whole Islais Creek Watershed, the largest in SF that interconnects eleven neighborhoods, that could eventually link community resources like schools, parks, public housing, streets, and other open spaces through development of a new, narrative landscape, with other features, including the daylighting of Creeks where possible.
Aug '14

Another Great Salesforce Crew Volunteers To Plant Living Library Nature Walk !

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On August 14 another great group from Salesforce led by Aditya Devhar, joined forces with Life Frames Inc.'s, Bonnie Ora Sherk, and Recreation and Park Deparment Staff in Holly Park, to plant more California Natives in the Living Library Nature Walk.  On this day, their work focused on the Children's Playground in the Park.  Ceanothus, Matilja Poppies, and fragrant Salvia were planted under the existing Ceanothus Ray Hartman trees that had been planted earlier as part of the Nature Walk.

IMG_7501The Living Library Nature Walk is linking multiple parks, schools, public housing, and streets in the area through a new narrative landscape, all leading to the 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 Islais Creek Watershed, the largest in San Francisco that interconnects eleven neighborhoods in Southeast and Southwest San Francisco

Everyone had a great time on this day, and the area is greatly improved !  See for yourself !

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Aug '14

A.L.L. ECO-Stewards Learn Green Skills & Help With Planting & Plant Establishment of Living Library Nature Walk

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This summer a group of neighborhood High School youth from nearby Alemany Dwellings were paid interns who met three days a week and learned green skills by helping with the planting and plant establishment of the California natives in the Bernal Heights Living Library & Think Park Nature Walk in St. Mary's Park.  They received a monetary stipend for their work, while also making a contribution to their community.  Have a look at these young people at work !

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Aug '14

Thriving Redwood Circle in Living Library Nature Walk Lands Beautiful Boulders & Native Understory Plantings

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We are so excited that our Redwood Circle in the Bernal Heights Living Library Nature Walk at the south side of St. Mary's Park circling Alemany Farm near the currently hidden Islais Creek, is very healthy and growing ! 

John Miller from SF Recreation & Park Department (RPD), and I, found, purchased, and planted four gorgeous boulders on July 18, to help define the entrance to the Redwood Circle planted with California Native Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens).  Funds from our grant with California Strategic Growth Council were used.

This Living Library Nature Walk is a prototype, narrative, ecological landscape transformation, that could be occurring throughout the whole Islais Creek Watershed, the largest watershed in San Francisco, that interconnects eleven neighborhoods.  In Bernal Heights, this Nature Walk is connecting multiple schools, parks, public housing, streets, and other open spaces calling attention to the Watershed, the Islais Creek, and diverse native species of plants and wildlife.Lyngso Bouldersjohn&boulders Boulders PlacedTwo days later, on July 20th, we hosted two volunteer groups to plant the entrance area, and add native riparian understory plants in our Redwood Circle plant community, as well as some large Dogwood trees (Cornus nuttallii) and native shrubs on the nearby hillside.  Our plant palette included a few varieties of Dogwood, California Rose, Sword Ferns, Wild Ginger, Redwood Sorrel, Woodland Strawberries, Huckleberry, and other species. It is beautiful !

Young Adults from Jewish Community Federation began the morning planting, and the NYC  YMCA Global Teens High School Students representing every NYC Borough, participated in the PM Volunteer Group, along with Bonnie Ora Sherk, Founder & Director of A.L.L., Craig Heckman of the Alemany Farm's Native Area Group, Jasmine Woo, our Summer Nature Walk Intern, Brian from RPD, and Yiwen Gong who came from Yale University to participate ! 

Everyone had a fantastic time, and hundreds of native plants were planted.  Our Redwood Landscape is growing and becoming a more lush environment!  Have a look !

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JewishCommFedGroupAnd, then the PM Group, the NYC High School Students came to the site, and finished all the planting !  A great day and a beautiful transformation !  The Redwood Circle is so beautiful and a wonderful place for respite !!!  It is our natural cathedral in the Bernal Heights Living Library Nature Walk in St. Mary's Park

Thank you all, for your generous help and contribution to growing the Living Library Nature Walk  !!!

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Aug '14

Bonnie Ora Sherk Interviewed For New Video About A Living Library

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Bonnie Ora Sherk was interviewed in the OMI/Excelsior Living Library & Think Park Lower Garden on August 8, 2014, by Starr Sutherland, who is shooting and editing a new video on A Living Library, for Producer, Patricia  Watts, Founder & WestCoast Curator for ecoartspace. This video will be shown on the ecoartspace website as a companion piece for a prior video interview with Bonnie Ora, in which she discusses her earlier art works, linked here.

Stay tuned to see the new video !   See pics below of Starr and colleague Matt, getting ready for the video shoot:

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