Cngf Aquaponics

Founded with the mission to collaborate with stakeholders to build carbon-neutral urban land use models, the California Native Garden Foundation (CNGF) has become known for its innovative approach to addressing critical global issues such as climate change, ecological degradation, soil health, and youth disconnection from nature. Over the years, CNGF has developed a range of educational programs and initiatives, including the ELSEE school gardens and the Lab for Nature-Based Urban Living, to teach citizens the skills needed for regenerative urban food systems and ecosystem protection.

CNGF employs a healthy land use model that integrates native and traditional food plants with urban farming technologies like food towers and aquaponics. Their approach is guided by four pillars of education: science standards, sustainability, eco-literacy, and food nutrition. The organization emphasizes regenerative organic agriculture (ROA) and works to build healthy soils, sequester carbon, and protect ecosystem services. Through their ELSEE gardens, they provide hands-on learning experiences that reconnect youth with nature and teach them about the relationships between native plants and animals.

CNGF offers a variety of programs and resources to the public, including classes, field trips, lectures, garden tours, and publications. They are expanding their aquaponics programs into commercial operations in collaboration with local CSAs and restaurants. The organization also runs summer nature camps, pre-K playgroups, and homeschool groups, and engages volunteers in their various garden projects. Additionally, CNGF has initiatives like the Garden for Ghana project and the CNGF Youth Corps to extend their impact globally and train the next generation of ecological stewards.