About the Garden

The Saint Philip Neri Garden is tucked into the east corner of High and Van Buren streets in Alameda, CA. This magical space was once a Mobil Gas and Service station. The property was acquired by Saint Philip Neri Church in the early 80's. The service station was torn down and the lot sat empty for many years before being turned into an outdoor classroom for the school. On the current property are eight raised garden beds for vegetable gardening, fruit trees, a butterfly habitat, and many native and Mediterranean plants.

Through the Garden Science Enrichment program, the students (Preschool-5th grade) have an opportunity to learn about growing food and environmentally sustainable practices. The future of the Garden Science program includes an integration of cross-curricular and hands-on learning experiences with classroom academics and development of social-emotional regulation through nature and community service.

Photo courtesy of Alameda Museum

Click below for an article about the importance of school-based gardening featuring a photo of the

Saint Philip Neri Garden

School Gardens Help Cultivate the Next Generation of Local GardenersThe history of school gardens dates back to the late 19th century in the United States. When the U.S. entered World War I, Americans were encouraged to utilize land for the sake of food security on a community and national level. The more food that communities were able to produce, the more that would be available to ship overseas to our soldiers and allies.

Photo courtesy of Joy Goldin