SAVE THE DATE!
When it comes to wreaths, do you prefer homemade to store-bought? If you like the DIY method, then please join us to create a beautiful, decorative holiday wreath — for your home or for a gift. You may even use your own harvested greens, herbs or dried fruit!
ABG’s third-annual, FUN, outdoor, in-Alameda Wreath-Making workshop will be held Sunday, December 3, from 2 to 4 pm. We will use gathered and purchased items to craft wreaths for your table, wall or door. ABG will provide instruction, wreath backings, floral wire, glue, some boughs and trimmings and light refreshments.
ABG will provide instruction, wreath backings, floral wire, glue, some boughs and trimmings and light refreshments.
We ask attendees to bring some natural supplies of your choice like: pine boughs, pine cones, grape or other vines, Eucalyptus branches, olive branches, magnolia leaves, gingko leaves, seed pods, shells, feathers, grasses, fresh herbs, dried fruit, ribbons, bows and trinkets. Feel free to bring your own clippers as well.
The workshop fee is $30. Registration is required and we can only accommodate 25 adults. Please let us know at least 2 days in advance if you need to cancel, so we can let someone else take your place.
The workshop’s location will be revealed after you have registered. Register here.
NOTE: It may be chilly so please wear layers.
2023 was another big year for ABG’s five Free Seed Libraries. With your help, we packed and gave out about 15,000 packets of seeds to gardeners all across the island. From the feedback we received, many people had fun and learned from growing the seeds.
For 2024, in addition to the varieties we have distributed in the past, we have purchased some exciting new seeds, including Rosso Sicilian stuffing tomato, Chadwick Cherry tomato, Champion II tomato, a mini red bell pepper, Thai basil, Spacemaster container cucumber, Costata Romanesco and Emperor’s Jade zucchini and a new Red Kuri squash. We are excited to plant these varieties…and to taste them!
As we gear up for spring planting, we need your help packing up seeds to go in the libraries. We will be hosting our next Seed Packing Party on February 11th from 1PM – 3PM at an indoor space (with a rollup door for air circulation). Seed Packing Parties give ABG volunteers the opportunity to socialize while doing something meaningful for a finite amount of time. This party will let us stock the libraries through April. Volunteers are welcome to take seeds to plant at the end of the party. We will have hot beverages and light snacks and will wind up before the Super Bowl kick-off!
Please join us to keep the Alameda Free Seed Libraries going through the spring of 2023. Email abg.grow.food@gmail.com to let us know if you will be able to attend.
Hands-On Vegetable Seed Starting Workshop
Presenters: Kristen Smeal and Birgitt Evans
Saturday, March 9th, 2 – 3:30PM at the Community Room at the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak Street, Alameda
Starting vegetables from seed can save money and will give you access to thousands of vegetable varieties not available as transplants. In this hands-on workshop, we will begin with a brief discussion about seeds, reviewing which seeds are best planted directly in the ground and which should be started in containers for transplant into pots or the ground. Then we will move on to the basics of starting seeds, including the importance of cleanliness, seed starting mixes, what containers you can use, how many seeds to plant and how deeply, feeding and watering of seedlings and providing light and heat for your seedlings.
We will then break into groups for a demonstration of how to plant seeds and participants will plant up several 6-packs with seeds to take home.
No registration is necessary. However, space is limited and people will be let in on a first come, first served basis.
Kristen Smeal is a Master Gardener and Garden Science teacher at St. Philip Neri in Alameda.
Birgitt Evans has grown her own food on a large scale for the past 40 years and created a successful garden and nursery business. She is passionate about growing and raising food and seeks to encourage and educate others so they can also share the benefits of fresh, healthy, homegrown food. She grows vegetables in four different Alameda County gardens and starts 90% of her plants from seed. She has been an Alameda County Master Gardener since 1999 and served on the board of Alameda Backyard Growers for 10 years.