Help Save Our Monarchs by Planting Milkweed and Flower Seeds!
Last Thanksgiving, only 28,429 monarchs were counted in their wintering colonies compared to a historic population of about 10 million in the Western Monarch migration. Today monarchs face several challenges, the most intractable being a lack of milkweed (Asclepias spp.), where females typically lay their eggs, as well as a lack of winter blooming nectar plants to feed them along their journey. They are also being decimated by the increased use of glyphosate in agriculture, which kills milkweed and other sources of food for these butterflies.
If you have a sunny, open 4′ x 4′ space where you could plant milkweed and butterfly flowers – you could be part of the solution!
At this special workshop we will talk about how to plant and maintain a butterfly garden, then help you plant California native milkweed (and other flower seeds) so you can create your own butterfly garden. You will leave with milkweed, winter blooming flowers and information on how to help the monarchs!
Hi Project Pick Volunteers!
I hope you’ve had a great summer break! Fall is around the corner and I’m sure we’ll be picking lots of apples and persimmons.
Meanwhile, we have one plum tree to pick this Sunday, September 8, from 2 – 3:30 (only one tree).
If you’d like to join us for this quick pick, please click here (https://forms.gle/JbBf9VcnKUZqk7818) to fill in our sign up form.
I will let you know where to meet the group.
Please bring gardening gloves (if you have them), water to drink and a hat.
Let me know if you have any questions at info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org
Thank you!
Jillian Saxty
Hi Gleaners,
After a summer pause, we have lots of fruit coming in for the fall.
The pick this Sunday, September 22 between 2-4 PM will feature apples and lemons.
Please let me know if you are available by filling out this form:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sHlMPrx31zNc5-0crH7-hoL0wHRVhkY1pcc_4E1MfhU
I will contact you about where to meet when you RSVP.
Thank you!
Jillian Saxty
Project Pick Coordinator
Hi Pickers,
There’s been quite a lull in fruit picking requests – not sure why. However, we do have one (fuyu) persimmon tree that needs picking.
Can anyone help with that on Sunday, Nov. 10 between 2 – 4 PM?
If so please fill our our volunteer form here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sHlMPrx31zNc5-0crH7-hoL0wHRVhkY1pcc_4E1MfhU
I will provide the joining location and other information with your RSVP.
Who knows? We may have more trees on our list by then. 🙂
Thank you
Jillian Saxty
ABG Project Pick Coordinator
Hi Pickers,
Yey! We finally have rain! That’s the good news!
Finding time between the showers – that’s the tricky part.
Looks like it should be (mostly) dry on Sunday, Dec. 8 between 10 am – 12 noon.
Let me know if you can make it by filling out our our volunteer form here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sHlMPrx31zNc5-0crH7-hoL0wHRVhkY1pcc_4E1MfhU
We should have lemons, apples and persimmons – the full spectrum.
I will provide the joining location and other information with your RSVP.
Thank you
Jillian Saxty
ABG Project Pick Coordinator
Hi Pickers!
What a year we had in 2019! Think we can beat 7,500 lbs in 2020? Let’s start working on that this Sunday, January 12 at 2PM.
If you can join our team in picking lemons, oranges and grapefruits, please fill in this form:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sHlMPrx31zNc5-0crH7-hoL0wHRVhkY1pcc_4E1MfhU
I will let you know where to meet up when I get your RSVP.
Please bring a hat and gardening gloves if you have them.
Thank you!
Jillian Saxty
On Monday, January 13, ABG will present a movie night at Rhythmix, 2513 Blanding Ave. in the city of Alameda , co-hosted by StopWaste! Free popcorn!
Please bring your own container for water to reduce waste.
Trevor Probert of StopWaste will lead a Carbon Farming discussion after the movie.
Our movie, ‘Symphony of the Soil‘ is an artistic exploration of the miraculous “living skin of the earth.” By understanding the elaborate relationships between soil, water, the atmosphere, plants and animals, we come to appreciate the complex and dynamic nature of this precious resource. The film examines our human relationship with soil, the use and misuse of soil in agriculture, deforestation and development, and the latest scientific research on soil’s key role in ameliorating the most challenging environmental problems of our time, including climate change. Filmed on four continents and featuring esteemed scientists and working farmers and ranchers, Symphony of the Soil is an intriguing presentation that highlights possibilities of healthy soil creating healthy plants creating healthy humans living on a healthy planet.
Trevor Probert is a Program Services Specialist at StopWaste and resident of Alameda.
Trevor Probert is a Program Services Specialist at StopWaste and resident of Alameda. He teaches StopWaste’s public workshops on composting, gardening for soil health, and carbon farming. Trevor works with urban farms and community gardens to set up on-site composting systems. He has worked as an elementary school garden teacher, classroom teacher, and landscape contractor, and has bachelor degrees in Geography and Environmental Science and a master’s degree in Education.
The City of Alameda’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan recognizes the importance of trees:
- Trees sequester carbon by breathing in carbon dioxide and storing the carbon as plant material
- Trees not only help settle airborne particles during wildfire smoke events, but also remove carbon from the atmosphere and reduce heat impacts
As part of its climate action and resiliency efforts, Alameda is updating its 2010 Street Tree Plan. A vibrant urban forest can help protect us from the impacts of climate change, sequester carbon, increase property values, and promote social equity.
Come hear the research conducted by CASA’s (Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda) Brown University winter intern Kian Kafaie on Wednesday, January 15th at 6 p.m. in the Stafford Room at the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak Street, Alameda, CA 94501.
Light refreshments will be served and there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.
Hi Pickers!
Please let us know if you can join our team in picking citrus this Sunday by fill in this form:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sHlMPrx31zNc5-0crH7-hoL0wHRVhkY1pcc_4E1MfhU
I will provide joining instructions and additional details when I receive your RSVP via this form.
Please bring a hat and gardening gloves if you have them.
Picking dates are subject to change and weather dependent. We will keep you posted if we change pick dates.
Thank you for all your help!
Jillian Saxty
Hi Pickers!
Please let us know if you can join our team in picking citrus this Sunday by fill in this form:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sHlMPrx31zNc5-0crH7-hoL0wHRVhkY1pcc_4E1MfhU
I will provide joining instructions and additional details when I receive your RSVP via this form.
Please bring a hat and gardening gloves if you have them.
Picking dates are subject to change and weather dependent. We will keep you posted if we change pick dates.
Thank you for all your help!
Jillian Saxty