Events
All events are free and open to the community.
Upcoming events
Pipevine Rescue and Potting
At 1pm we meet on the UC Berkeley campus at Strawberry Creek just south of Stephens Hall (map pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FPQdzw9KuCTHAnvNA) to rescue more California pipevine (Aristolochia californica) for this winter's plantings, then from 2 to 4pm we pot it up at the Gill Tract, inside the farm's own open volunteer hours. Join for the rescue, the potting, or both. Pipevine is the only plant the pipevine swallowtail can lay its eggs on, so every vine saved is future butterfly habitat, and these go into the ground with creek groups around the Bay in November and December. No experience needed, everything is taught on the spot. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you do not mind getting muddy. Friends and kids welcome. The farm is at 1050 San Pablo Ave in Albany: by car, take the Buchanan St exit off 580, turn right onto Jackson St and the entrance is on your left. AC Transit 52 and 18 both stop nearby.
Pipevine Planting: Friends of Alhambra Creek & Claremont Canyon
One morning, two plantings of rescued California pipevine. In Claremont Canyon we plant with the Claremont Canyon Conservancy (claremontcanyon.org, volunteer days at claremontcanyon.org/volunteer), meeting at 9:30am at the top of Norfolk Rd where it meets Marlborough Terrace in the Oakland hills; about 30 UC Berkeley students are joining us there. In Martinez we plant with the Friends of Alhambra Creek and the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (ccrcd.org), meeting at 9:45am at the John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Ave, then carpooling to the grave site on Alhambra Creek and coming back to plant along Franklin Creek. Pick whichever site suits you. These are cuttings from the California pipevine (Aristolochia californica) dug up at Strawberry Creek on the UC Berkeley campus, rooted and potted at the Gill Tract, and this is where they go into the ground. The cool wet months are the only time pipevine reliably survives a move, and it is the only plant the pipevine swallowtail can lay its eggs on, so every vine planted is breeding habitat back. The Gill Tract is closed on Saturdays, so the vines are picked up during farm open hours the day before, Thursday Nov 12 (11am to 1:30pm) or Friday Nov 13 (3 to 6pm). No experience needed. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you do not mind getting muddy, bring gloves if you have them, and bring water.
Pipevine Planting: Lafayette Creeks Committee & Friends of Orinda Creeks
From 9am to 1pm, planting rescued pipevine along Las Trampas Creek at Leigh Creekside Park with the Lafayette Creeks Committee, as part of their creekside restoration. In the afternoon, from 1 to 3pm, we carry on to San Pablo Creek in Orinda for the Friends of Orinda Creeks creek day (friends.orindacreeks.org), planting pipevine with their volunteers. Join the morning, the afternoon, or both. These are cuttings from the California pipevine (Aristolochia californica) dug up at Strawberry Creek on the UC Berkeley campus, rooted and potted at the Gill Tract, and this is where they go into the ground. The cool wet months are the only time pipevine reliably survives a move, and it is the only plant the pipevine swallowtail can lay its eggs on, so every vine planted is breeding habitat back. The park is on Moraga Blvd (not Moraga Rd) at 4th St, with plenty of street parking on Moraga Blvd and the side streets. Parts of the creek bank are steep with difficult footing, and there are easier tasks for anyone who would rather stay off it. Bring gloves, and a shovel or a pair of heavy scissors if you have them, for cutting planting holes through the erosion control fabric. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you do not mind getting muddy, and bring water. Our hosts are the City of Lafayette Creeks Committee (lovelafayette.org/city-hall/commissions-committees/creeks-committee), with the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (ccrcd.org).
Pipevine Propagation at the Gill Tract
A Sunday of propagation. At noon we go onto the UC Berkeley campus to collect fresh California pipevine (Aristolochia californica) cuttings, then from 1 to 4pm we propagate them at the Gill Tract, inside the farm's own open volunteer hours. Join for the cutting run, the propagation, or both. Pipevine is the only plant the pipevine swallowtail can lay its eggs on, so every cutting that roots is future butterfly habitat. No experience needed, everything is taught on the spot, and you can come for part of the afternoon. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you do not mind getting soil on. Friends and kids welcome. The farm is at 1050 San Pablo Ave in Albany: by car, take the Buchanan St exit off 580, turn right onto Jackson St and the entrance is on your left. AC Transit 52 and 18 both stop nearby, and it is a short ride up the Ohlone Greenway from North Berkeley BART.
Pipevine Planting with Mill Valley StreamKeepers
Planting rescued pipevine along the creek at Old Mill Park with the Mill Valley StreamKeepers. These are cuttings from the California pipevine (Aristolochia californica) dug up at Strawberry Creek on the UC Berkeley campus, rooted and potted at the Gill Tract, and this is where they go into the ground. The cool wet months are the only time pipevine reliably survives a move, and it is the only plant the pipevine swallowtail can lay its eggs on, so every vine planted is breeding habitat back. No experience needed. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you do not mind getting muddy, bring gloves if you have them, and bring water. Our hosts are the Mill Valley StreamKeepers (millvalleystreamkeepers.org), who run volunteer creek workdays through the year: millvalleystreamkeepers.org/events.
Pipevine Planting at the Yerba Buena EcoPatch
Planting rescued pipevine at the EcoPatch, the California Native Plant Society Yerba Buena chapter's native garden in San Francisco. These are cuttings from the California pipevine (Aristolochia californica) dug up at Strawberry Creek on the UC Berkeley campus, rooted and potted at the Gill Tract, and this is where they go into the ground. The cool wet months are the only time pipevine reliably survives a move, and it is the only plant the pipevine swallowtail can lay its eggs on, so every vine planted is breeding habitat back. No experience needed. Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you do not mind getting muddy, bring gloves if you have them, and bring water. Our hosts are the California Native Plant Society Yerba Buena chapter (cnps-yerbabuena.org), who run volunteer restoration parties around San Francisco: cnps-yerbabuena.org/calendar/restoration-parties.
Past events
Pipevine Potting at the Gill Tract
A Sunday afternoon session, 1 to 4pm, inside the farm's own open volunteer hours. The work is potting rooted cuttings of…
Pipevine Potting at the Gill Tract
A Sunday afternoon session, 1 to 4pm, inside the farm's own open volunteer hours. The work is potting rooted cuttings of…
Pipevine Potting at the Gill Tract
A Tuesday afternoon again, 2 to 5pm, inside the farm's own open volunteer hours. The work is potting rooted cuttings of …
Pipevine Potting at the Gill Tract
An afternoon session this time, 2 to 5pm, which lands inside the farm's own open volunteer hours. The work is potting ro…
Pipevine Potting at the Gill Tract
Our first proper potting evening at the new home. The whole pipevine nursery moved to the Gill Tract Community Farm on S…
Moving Day: the Pipevine Nursery Goes to the Gill Tract
This week is a move, not a normal potting evening. We are relocating the whole pipevine nursery to the Gill Tract Commun…
Pipevine Planting
Come help us plant California pipevine (Aristolochia californica), the only plant the California pipevine swallowtail ca…
Pipevine Potting & Propagation (Weekly)
Every week we pot and propagate California pipevine (Aristolochia californica), the only plant the California pipevine s…
Pipevine Potting & Propagation (Weekly)
Every week we pot and propagate California pipevine (Aristolochia californica), the only plant the California pipevine s…
Pipevine Potting & Propagation (Weekly)
Every week we pot and propagate California pipevine (Aristolochia californica), the only plant the California pipevine s…
Pipevine Potting & Propagation (Weekly)
Every week we pot and propagate California pipevine (Aristolochia californica), the only plant the California pipevine s…
Pipevine Potting & Propagation (Weekly)
Every week we pot and propagate California pipevine (Aristolochia californica), the only plant the California pipevine s…
Pipevine Rescue & Replant
The California pipevine along Strawberry Creek is being dug up, and with it the one place on the UC Berkeley campus wher…
Pipevine Restoration (Weekly)
Join us for our weekly pipevine habitat restoration session at UC Berkeley. We'll be planting California pipevine (Arist…
Chrysalis Rescue: A Scavenger Hunt
This week we're focused on the pipevine swallowtail chrysalises that have formed on the construction fencing and scaffol…