7/24/09 early Friday morning.
We were reminded by a former volunteer that has returned to Turkey to post photographs not only of projects and processes but to also show the beauty in the garden so that she could be reminded of the time that she had worked here. Garden volunteer Peter did a walkabout and photographed in the many beautiful parts of the garden.
Tesekkür ederim, Hulya!
Blake Garden has been keeping rainfall records since 1965. In the short video posted below garden manager Lauri Twitchell measures and records rainfall using the simple rain gauge installed at the garden.
Another point to keep in mind is that from 1965-2009 the Bay Area population has doubled from 3.6 million to 7.3 million. This population growth has been accompanied by tremendous residential and industrial development that has added further demands on water usage and consumption.
At Blake Garden efforts are being made to conserve water and reduce consumption. These efforts include: rainwater collection, greywater reuse, mulching and composting, cistern collection from on-site seeps and creeks, native drought-tolerant plantings, lawn reduction and irrigation redesign.
BLAKE RAINFALL CHARTS & PDS INDEX MAP:
LINKS:
Blake Garden Rainfall Chart 1965-2009 pdf file
Bay Area Population Census
Long Term Palmer Drought Severity Index for July 2009
Students, Justin, Alvin, Robyn, Jayvon, & Jullian,along with their instructor Mr. B and education assistants, Karla & Amy from La Cheim School came to the garden to volunteer and help us with the creek project. We worked very hard all day eradicating and chopping down the invasive blackberries and ivy that have covered the upper part of Cerrito Creek.
