California Native Garden Foundation (CNGF)

We are an internationally certified STEAM Education learning garden called ELSEE (Environmental Lab for Sustainability and Ecological Education) located on a half acre in central San Jose at 76 Race St.., a few blocks from Diridon station and light rail. Our companion garden, Hester Farm is 10 minutes from ELSEE. We are located in the historic Rose Garden and Shasta Hanchett neighborhoods. We have been here for 22 years. We offer many classes, events, nature camp, and partner with special needs providers. 

We have a chicken coop, aquaponics farm, native plant gardens, a plant nursery, preK classes, Big Red, a building that grows food and recycled itself, greywater systems and hundreds of species of native plants and edible plants. We offer certifications in fossil free careers with our partner, San Jose Evergreen Community College District’s Workforce Institute. 

We have specialty teachers in entomology, bee keeping, soil science, native plants, water conservation, art, mindfulness, chickens, birdwatching, and yoga for kids. We have developed over 50 outdoor lessons for PreK through 8th grade.