Black Pine Circle School

Black Pine Circle School (BPC), an independent K-8 school in Berkeley, California, creates lifelong learners through an inquiry-based Socratic education that places equal emphasis on academics and the arts.

BPC's garden program started in 1997 with the hiring of a dedicated garden and landscape worker who expanded her role (and created the garden program) by collaborating with teachers to bring garden and environmental education to the school's students. She also supported the installation of recycling and composting infrastructure around the school. 

Nowadays, BPC's garden program allows students to foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world; practice teamwork, communication, and observation skills; and cultivate the knowledge needed to sustain a lifetime of healthy food and environmental choices. Students participate in all aspects of growing and preparing nutritious, seasonal produce through hands-on gardening and cooking activities. Students develop foundational skills such as harvesting, cultivating, propagating, and composting. In addition, the gardening program aspires to become fully integrated into the academic school day, supporting students’ interest in and understanding of science, history, and more through experiential learning outdoors. 

Currently, Lower School (K-5) students visit the garden twice a month for gardening class, while Upper School (6-8) students visit the garden once a month in their science classes. In addition, 7th graders participate in a trimester-long course that meets once a week in the garden.