Phone: 510-486-9350Benjamin Goff, Program Supervisor
benjamingoff@berkeley.netThe Berkeley Public School Gardening and Cooking Program is woven into student life District-wide to ensure the academic, physical, emotional, and social development of all students from preschool through high school. We engage all learners with hands-on instruction as they cultivate positive relationships with the world around them and their peers.
Our goal is to enable and inspire our diverse student body to achieve academic excellence and make positive contributions to our world!
Program Curriculum
We’ve developed a Garden-Based Learning Curriculum, © Berkeley Unified School District, that directly supports learning and teaching goals. Each lesson is designed to be an interactive teaching tool, co-taught with classroom teachers and garden instructors as leads. These hands-on lessons 1) connect academics to real-world experiences; 2) include all learners; 3) invite curiosity; and 4) provide opportunities for reflection.
Download Specific Lessons:
Click through the live hyperlinked scope and sequence to download or print out only the lessons that you are looking for.
Printer-friendly versions are black & white and do not include posters, diagrams, or cards in the Resources section. Please check out the cover page of each link to learn more about the curriculum, including the intention, design, and user guides.
– Classroom Teacher
– Garden Coordinator, Ukiah Unified School District.
– Seeds of Hope, Wilson, NC
– Middle School Student
Career Technical Education in Public Health
Students at Berkeley High School and Berkeley Technology Academy are offered courses in Career Technical Education (CTE) in Public Health; and students at Willard and Longfellow Middle School are offered CTE in gardening and cooking and Growing Leaders electives This year-long course focuses on career and learning opportunities for better understanding diet-related disease and local policy intended to curtail health inequities. Students practice communication and collaboration skills, while building confidence as problem-solvers.
– High School Student
Food Pantries are Available Free to the Public
Program staff and students studying Public and Community Health manage the high school food pantries in partnership with Berkeley Food Network and Growing Leaders. Together, we are able to provide fresh produce, ready-made meals, and pantry items for free to our school and City community. Students get real-world experience working with the community on healthy food access and are paid hourly as part of their Career Technical Education internship.
The Berkeley Technology Academy (BTA) food pantry is in service every second and fourth Tuesday of September, 2024 from 2:00-3:30 pm. Beginning in October, 2024, the pantry will run on the second and fourth Wednesday, also from 2:00 – 3:30. This pantry is held at the main entrance of BTA on the corner of MLK and Derby.
The Berkeley High School (BHS) food pantry will return in October, 2024. This pantry will operate on the first and third Wednesday of the month, from 4:00 – 5:00pm. This pantry is held near the large BHS gate on MLK at Bancroft Way.
Funding
These projects are funded through a grant with matching dollars from General Fund, from California Department of Education (CDE), from The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO), in partnership with the CDE, and California Department of Food and Agriculture . Supporting projects are funded through generous grants from our community and with donations from our community.
Donate Now
Your financial gift will support our work serving students in the Garden and Kitchen classrooms. Your tax deductible contributions can be sent to: Attn: Benjamin Goff, Garden & Cooking Program, 1005 Parker St. Berkeley, CA 94710. Checks should be made payable to Berkeley Unified School District and in the memo section please add “Garden & Cooking Program”. We are grateful for your generosity and support!
Volunteer With Us
Volunteers are an important part of our work. Whether it is garden maintenance, instructional support, or event assistance, please consider volunteering your time by visiting the to fill out the form for volunteering and specify that you’d like to volunteer with us.