About the Garden
What We Planted
The staff garden includes herbs, vegetables, native Californian plants, as well as plants used by the Ohlone.
Where is the Garden?
The staff community garden is located outside of Li Ka Shing, Mulford, Morgan and Genetics & Plant Biology.
Volunteer Schedule
We will meet from 12 to 1 pm on the following dates, generally the 4th Thursday of each month unless otherwise specified:
Spring 2025
- Thu, January 23
- Thu, February 27
- Thu, March 27
- Thu, April 24
- Thu, May 22
To stay up to date on upcoming volunteer days please add the Staff Garden Volunteer calendar to your Google calendar here.
Note: Volunteer days may potentially be rescheduled due to unfavorable weather or scheduling conflicts.
Team Building Requests
Are you looking for a fun way to connect with your colleagues? Be Well at Work can provide a fun, in-person gardening experience.
What:
- Garden maintenance (weeding, pruning, etc.)
- Optional: planting new plants (at cost and as space allows)
- Team building experience for social wellness
- Enjoy spending time outdoors
- Learn about gardening
- Be introduced to the staff garden and consider becoming a monthly volunteer (4th Thursday of each month at 12 pm)
- A total of 8-25 attendees can participate
- None of the team builder focuses on maintaining the garden.
- If you would like to plant new plants, the cost would be the cost of the plants. We can provide some gloves and tools at no cost.
- This service is available to UC Berkeley work units/departments and staff organizations (staff and faculty).
- Please fill out the Staff Garden Team Building Request Form
Edible Herbs
The garden includes rosemary, parsley, basil, oregano, and thyme. Using herbs in cooking is a great way to add a boost of flavor and beneficial polyphenols.
- Growing Herbs handouts
- Featured Cook Well Berkeley recipes
Gardening Ergonomics
- Ergonomics Tips for Gardening at Home: A quick, easy guide for safe and fun home gardening
- Mind Your Posture
- BWAW Stretching Exercises suggested for gardeners
Mindfulness
- What is Mindfulness - Greater Good Magazine
- The Healing Power of Gardening by Oliver Sacks, Neurologist and Author
Past Events
Special Volunteer Day
Thu, June 22, 2023 | 12-1 pm | Staff Garden
Our June Volunteer Day will be extra special, so it's a great opportunity to check out the garden and get involved! Stretch break, nutritious snacks, summer planting, and a raffle.
Be Well in the Garden
Tue, June 14, 2022 | 11:30 am-1:30 pm | Staff Garden
Gather in the staff garden with your colleagues to explore our community garden. Take a grounding stretch break, watch a simple cooking demo using ingredients from the garden (and taste the recipe!), and learn about ergonomics in the context of gardening. Registration is required to be entered into the raffle, but feel free to drop in without registering. Show up anytime within the 11:30 am-1:30 pm time frame, but our programming will take place between 12-1 pm. Help us go green by bringing your water bottle.
Visit the tables of our wonderful partners:
- Be Well at Work
- Berkeley Food Institute
- Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project (Formerly known as City Slicker Farms)
- Food Pantry
- Native and Indigenous Council
- UC Master Gardeners