Temescal Farm Gardens
4575 San Pablo Avenue (at the Armstrong Building), Emeryville
Years gardened at this location: 4.5 years
Lot size: 1,000 square feet (0.02 acre)
Showcase feature: The landscaping around this green building contains more than 30 species of plants native to the Temescal Creek watershed. The garden, which surrounds a commercial building parking lot, shows how a business can provide habitat for wildlife and education for its customers. Josh Carmichael, of Carmichael Environmental, designed and installed the garden, along with Armstrong’s staff.
Other garden attractions:
- This green building contains solar panels, high efficiency fluorescent lighting, recycled wool carpets, and low-toxic paints.
- Water from the parking lot and roof drain into the garden beds and bioswale, which was designed to remove pollution from surface runoff.
- Bring your children! Natural paints made from plant material will be available for kids (and children at heart) to paint with.
Gardening for Wildlife: Flowers bloom year-round and plants are allowed to go to seed before they are pruned in order to provide habitat and food for wildlife. Wildflowers, ferns, bulbs, berries, vines, trees, and shrubs attract birds, butterflies, ladybugs, and insects.
Garden Talks: 1:15 and 2:45 “Green Materials from Roofing to Painting: A Tour of Armstrong Paints’ Green Building” by Mitch Fine of Armstrong Painting, Roofing, and Windows
Directions: Take the Powell Street exit from I-80 and turn east, toward the hills. Continue about one mile to San Pablo Avenue and turn right. Continue about a half-mile; the building is on the right, the first driveway past 47th street, just before the Kentucky Fried Chicken. Look for the "Armstrong" sign on the roof.