Alameda Backyard Growers is excited to invite you to a very special field trip Sunday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. We’ll be visiting and touring REAP, Alameda’s new Center for Regeneration, Education, Aquaculture, and Permaculture. Now about 40% complete, it’s a half-mile-long outdoor training and science center focused on biodiversity in soil. With a biomimicry-based focus, REAP’s staff and volunteers teach and demonstrate climate competence to empower the ability to grow food, practice urban forestry, and build resilience. The Center demonstrates how healthy microbes in soil enhance nutrition and carbon sequestration at scale, yielding cooler and healthier communities.
Truly a work in progress, REAP is becoming an edible park with a sculpture garden, interactive soil labs, community composting, a permaculture community garden with a free farmstand, and a maker space serving youth through Ph.D.- level curiosity. The exhibits, already underway, will provide materials and tools to green and restore the site and the region at large. REAP will also be whimsical with a Worm World, Fermentation Station, Fungi Hut, Microbe Mine, Biome Boutique, and Hydrology House. These elements, along with beehives, bioswales, and sheep will further maximize the greening of the 4.26 acres.
In its first year REAP created 200 tons of compost with vigorous green waste reclamation efforts. Additionally, the Center created or enhanced over 600 feet of bioswales, spillways, retention basins and water tanks, while managing over 1.5M gallons of water.
For more information about REAP go to: https://www.reapcenter.org/news/annual-update-2022
Tour space on June 26 is Limited, so REGISTER here NOW. REAP’s location, in Alameda, will be provided upon registration.
So many of us have citrus trees in our yards, but may not always know how to keep them at their best. Berkeley, like Alameda, is ‘Citrus Heaven’. And this is a chance to not only brush up on citrus-pruning skills (or learn the basics) in a workshop, but also tour a remarkable schoolyard orchard and garden in Berkeley.
Farm2Market Assistant Manager Sarah Miller and fellow Alameda Backyard Growers volunteer Marla Koss will demonstrate citrus pruning on two of the garden’s Meyer lemon trees and assist attendees to go hands-on with pruning. The Edible Schoolyard’s Garden Manager Jess Bloomer will supervise the tour.
For this workshop, please bring the following:
- bypass pruning shears
- gardening/work gloves
- other pruning equipment such as a pruning saw or loppers
Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes (preferably hiking or work boots). Bring a sun hat and/or sunscreen and a water bottle. Also helpful: eye protection (clear safety goggles/glasses).
This event is for adults only. Registration is required. Please be sure to register with a valid email address that you are able to check. The workshop location will be announced 48 hours prior to the event via email reminder to those who have registered. We know that interest will exceed the space available and will keep a waiting list.
If you register and are unable to attend, we need you to cancel at least 3 days in advance so that we can offer your space to someone else. Please cancel by emailing abg.grow.food@gmail.com.