A photo history of The Hilton Bialek Habitat: Celebrating 17 years of innovative outdoor education.
Year One: 1995-1996
- Craig Hohenberger began initial talks with Carmel Unified School District for use of property for Habitat Project
- CUSD School Board approved Habitat proposal
**50 species of birds documented on Habitat property
Year Two: 1996-1997
- Start-up funds of $350,000 received
Year Three: 1997-1998
- Master Plan/Design drawn by Bud Whisler and the Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club
- Construction of amphitheater for ornithology program
- Native grasses planted and irrigation installed
Year Four: 1998-1999
- Fort Ord building delivered
- Student Native plant restoration projects continues
Year Five: 1999-2000
- Construction of greenhouse, shade shed, bird banding lab
- Project Feederwatch initiated in the Amphitheater by Big Sur Ornithology Lab
+ 6 billion people on planet earth +
Year Six: 2000-2001
- Lower Trail work completed
- Bird boxes built and installed around grasslands
- Ellen Fondiler hired as Project Manager and Director of Development
Year Seven: 2001-2002
- Modular classroom donated by the District
- Raised beds and fencing installed for organic garden
Year Eight: 2002 -2003
- Center island native planting upgraded by Carmel Garden Club
- First property-wide intern hired
- Community Education workshops offered to the public
- Middle School Science classes use Habitat as living laboratory
- Pond built with grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Habitat dedicated to Hilton Bialek; Grand opening with Alice Waters and Julie Packard
Year Nine: 2003-2004
- Tanja Roos hired as Garden Manager & Program Coordinator
- Multi-year NOAA/B-WET grant received to support watershed education
- Woodfired pizza oven built in organic garden
- First Annual Open House Dinner for entire parent/student community in Organic Garden
- Row Crop Gardens developed
- Native Bee garden established by Pat Stadille and students
- First Annual Spring Native Plant Sale
Year Ten: 2004-2005
- Craig Hohenberger transition from classroom teacher to full time Habitat Director
- Garden and cooking program integrated into Middle School curriculum
- After school programs begun with Boys and Girls Club & RISE at CSUMB
- Carmel-by- the-Sea restoration projects begin
- All CUSD 5th grade elementary school students visit
- Carmel Middle School Renaissance Faire held at the Habitat
- Countertops built in outdoor kitchen
- First Habitat DVD filmed
- Ramada classroom built in row crop gardens
Year Eleven: 2005 -2006
- Jane Atkins hired as Habitat Restoration Coordinator and Nursery Manager
- Native Plant Restoration projects began at the Carmel River Lagoon (State Parks Partnership) and Lester Rowntree Arboretum, Carmel
- Community Outreach elementary field trips began
- Carmel High School ROP Ornamental Horticulture class established
- First Annual Solar Tour and Sustainability Fair
- Volunteer program initiated
- First Weekend Community Outreach Program: Biodiversity Camp at Hastings Natural History Reserve
- Annual Winter Outdoor Education Camp developed for 7th graders at Carmel Middle School
- Ecoliteracy Class established for all 6th grade students at Carmel Middle School
- Partnership formed with Casanova Restaurant, Carmel
Year Twelve: 2006-2007
- School Bond Measure passed providing $500,000 seed funding for the Green Building Project
- Governors Environmental & Economic Leadership Award awarded to The Hilton Bialek Habitat
- Community Outreach Program Director position established by Merrie Potter
- Federal Work Study Internship program with Monterey Institute of International Studies established
- First Summer Camp Program offered at the Habitat
Year Thirteen: 2007-2008
- MEarth 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated
Year Fourteen: 2008-2009
- MEarth Board of Directors Established
Year Fifteen: 2009-2010
- Adult Education Workshop Series Established “Sustainable Homes & Gardens”
- MEarth promo video created (filmed by Houseblend Media)
- Heirloom Fruit and Berry Orchard planted
Year Sixteen: 2010-2011
- Groundbreaking for Green Building Project
- AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Program Established
- Lettuce from the garden served in the school cafeteria (monthly pilot project)
- Internship program established through Monterey Peninsula College
+7 billion people on planet earth+
Year Seventeen: 2011-2012
- Green Building Grand Opening (Date TBA)
**185 species of birds recorded on Habitat property