The California Garden

Phase One

Earth California Education Center has been selected to be the first phase of The California Garden. It will

provide a microcosm of what will expand to become the garden. The driving force of The California Garden is

education.  It is the cornerstone upon which everything is designed and built.  Education is the engine that

empowers appreciation and stewardship for the environment and pride in the rich diversity of California.

EDUCATION

Earth California Educational Center will provide:

Sensory experiences

Presentations seminars, and workshops

Interactive children’s garden

School and Preschool programs (on and off site)

Tours, docent and self-led

Storytelling

Art

Gardens and displays

Butterfly House

Internships

One of the primary focuses of Earth California is to provide a venue for people to learn about conserving

California’s resources, sustainable practices, and resource management.  Learning about the rich diversity of

California’s plants, geography, environments, climates, and topography, enables people to understand that what

they do in one part of the state affects other parts of the state, such as how air currents move through the state

trapping pollution from coastal areas against the mountains and the quality of water sent from one area to another

affects all.  It is important that people experience firsthand the huge diversity of native California plants, especially

those which are endangered.  For how else will they be able to identify and protect them in their natural

environment?  In addition to presentations and workshops, Earth California, as well as the greater garden, will

employ the most sustainable practices  and technologies possible in order that people may observe them in

practice and see how they can be implemented in their homes and businesses.

Earth California will also provide a place where the glory of what makes California special can be celebrated. 

From its sheer size, to its geography, to its climates, to its plants, to its people, California is a unique and special

place. By learning the history of California, people can begin to take an even greater pride in all that makes

California what it is.  From the arrival of the first human to the latest immigrant, all have contributed to the shaping

of California. They brought their knowledge, customs, plants, medicine, and determination.  Their history will be

brought to life by storytellers of various heritages and representational gardens of their native countries.  A cafe to

take a break, relax and enjoy the surroundings will be provided.  An open commons area will provide a beautiful

location for celebrations of all types, including weddings, graduations, and community and organizational events.