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ELSEE GARDENS

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A partner with the ELSEE project, Middlebrook Gardens eyes the benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices set forth by the Sustainable Sites Initiativeā„¢

The California Native Garden Foundation, co-founded in 2004 by Alrie Middlebrook is a non-profit that provides support for home gardeners and schools interested in implementing California native gardens on their property.

CNGF launched the ELSEE (Environmental Laboratory for Sustainability and Ecological Education) project in 2010. ELSEE extends into the community, and serves as a replicable model for teaching practical skills in food production and ecological technology. Currently, volunteers with ELSEE teach elementary students one day a week as part of their science curriculum.

A unique feature of the ELSEE Project is that it has been chosen as one of only 17 pilot programs in California for the Sustainable SITESā„¢ Initiative: currently a voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices administered by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden. The ELSEE Project represents a unique model for environmental stewardship on four platforms: Education, collaboration, innovation, and food production. All proceeds from workshops and events benefit the ongoing projects of CNGF, such as school garden grants and ELSEE.

To find out more go to the ELSEE website.

Click on the following links to view photos

Stacked Container Classroom and Dorm              Greenhouse             Subterranean Visitor Center

Outdoor Kitchen                                                   Vertical Farm           Fab Tree Hab