Calendar


May
19
Sat
2018
The Urban Farm Table @ Alameda Point Collaborative
May 19 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

This 19th of May, APC invites you to eat, celebrate, and advocate for a great cause at the Alameda Point Collaborative Farm. Give extra meaning to words strength, home, and growth.

APC will be hosting its annual fundraiser on May 19th from 1pm to 3pm. This farm to table experience will happen in the center of APCs 2 acre urban farm and, will include a completely organic and sustainable meal prepared with produce sourced directly from the farm.

Alameda Point Collaborative hosts this unique and elevated fundraiser ever year to raise funds for its residents living within its supportive housing community on the decommissioned Naval Base at Alameda Point. With every dollar raised, APC is given more support in its mission against fighting homelessness and poverty.

So, we ask that you join us for a beautiful meal on the farm and open your hearts to the beautiful community that is APC. May 21st, give the gift of strength, home and kindness at Alameda Point Collaboratives Urban Farm to Table Luncheon.

May
30
Wed
2018
Straws – Free Film Showing @ Alameda Free Library
May 30 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

The City of Alameda is now a leader in reducing plastic pollution!

Join us May 30th (6-8 pm) for the award-winning documentary STRAWS, and meet the woman who inspired Alameda’s local student movement to eliminate plastic straws (and now all plastic food ware) in Alameda.

DETAILS:

Jackie Nunez, founder of The Last Plastic Straw, will present an award to the City. Jackie will show a special presentation of the 30-minute film “Straws” (narrated by Tim Robbins) which highlights impacts of plastic pollution and how communities across the nation, like Alameda, are making a difference. ReThink Disposable Youth Ambassadors (local high school students) will present new findings.

Alameda is an island impacted on all sides by marine litter, mostly single- use plastic food packaging. Last year, Clean Water Action’s ReThink Disposable program selected Alameda for its groundbreaking community-wide project, Unpackaging Alameda, where over 100 restaurants throughout the city are being recruited to reduce disposable food ware in favor of reusables.

On May 30th, The ReThink Disposable Youth Ambassadors will present their findings, celebrate the ReThink Disposable restaurants in Alameda (over 40 already signed-up!), and inspire us as we make our transformation toward a plastic-free Alameda.

Sponsored by CASA, Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund, and City of Alameda’s waste reduction initiatives. This is a FREE event. All attendees will receive their very own reusable, metal straw!

Jun
9
Sat
2018
The Art of Pruning
Jun 9 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Take the mystery out of tree pruning with this hands-on workshop! Learn the basics and leave with skills you can start using immediately.
Topics covered include:

  • How trees grow
  • Why pruning keeps trees healthier
  • How trees react to pruning
  • Seasonal pruning
  • How to prune properly
  • Common pruning mistakes
  • Identifying a properly pruned true
    and more!

The workshop will also include a show-and-tell of different types of wood, branches, branch collars, compartmentalization of decay in trees. Bring your questions and come prepared for a fun interactive learning experience.
Tony Wolcott is a Certified Landscape Horticulturalist, Certified Irrigation Designer, Board Certified Master Arborist, Master Composter, and Bay Friendly Designer. His work experience includes being the urban forester at the Cities of Albany and San Francisco, non-profit work with Friends of the Urban Forest, Our City Forest, and arborist representative with Bartlett Tree Experts. Currently he is professor of Arboriculture within the Horticulture division of the Biology Department at Diablo Valley College.

Jun
21
Thu
2018
Alameda Garden Visit – FULL
Jun 21 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Join us for Alameda Backyard Growers’ Second Annual Garden Tour. This year, Mary Sotelo is opening her beautiful garden, which showcases her love of color and edibles. Much is packed into a small backyard. Fruit trees are kept small to maximize space. Large containers are also used. In addition to fruit trees, berries and veggies, the garden includes chickens (who enjoy a chandelier in their coop), compost bins, and a garden wall of Talavera Mexican pottery. The garden is an important part of the curriculum of Mary’s preschool, allowing children to learn about gardening and where our food comes from.

About the gardener: Mary got her love of gardening from her grandmother at an early age. The last few years, she converted some of her flower beds into veggie beds, so she could have fresh, organic veggies right outside her door. For now, the garden is her perfect mix of art, flowers, and edibles.

This event is now full.

Jul
21
Sat
2018
Winter Seed Starting Talk & Demo @ Alameda Free Library
Jul 21 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

with David Blood, Master Gardener of Alameda County 
July 21, 2018, 2 to 3:30 pm
Alameda Main Library, 1550 Oak Street, Alameda

Yes, summer gardening may be starting to wind down.  But in the Bay Area, we can grow food three, or maybe even four, seasons of the year.  In the fall, some crops actually do better than in the summer, because pest problems may be fewer.  David Blood, long-time Alameda County Master Gardener, will speak on how to approach the fall and winter garden: what crops work and what to avoid, how to start seeds for the fall/winter garden, and other issues to consider.  David’s presentation will be followed by a seed starting workshop, featuring seeds suitable for the fall and winter garden.  Take home a six-pack of planted seeds and try out a fall/winter garden!

About our Speaker:  David Blood became an Alameda County Master Gardener in 2001, and has many years of experience growing food.  He co-leads the ACMG Lake Merritt Trials Garden, which conducts tests of which varieties do best in our moderate western Alameda County climate, provides presentations on growing food each summer, and showcases the plants named Outstanding Plants of Alameda County.

Aug
4
Sat
2018
Jean Sweeney Park Public Tour @ Entrance to Jean Sweeney Park on Sherman
Aug 4 @ 9:30 am – 10:30 am

Enjoy a Saturday morning walk in the park and see what’s new!

Join the tour and see how the construction is progressing toward an October or November opening day.  Amy Wooldridge will be leading the tour and will be available to point out the features of the new park.

Aug
9
Thu
2018
Jean Sweeney Park Public Tour @ Entrance to Jean Sweeney Park on Sherman
Aug 9 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Enjoy an evening walk in the park. Be sure to wear sweaters. It can be cool in the evening.
Join the tour and see how the construction is progressing toward an October or November opening day.
Amy Wooldridge will be leading the tour and will be available to point out the features of the new park
Aug
11
Sat
2018
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop @ Farm2Market
Aug 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop @ Farm2Market | Alameda | California | United States

August 11 Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop, 10 am, Farm2Market, Alameda Point.

Birgitt Evans and Marla Koss will discuss how to prune deciduous fruit trees, and participants will have a chance to practice those skills.  Please wear garden gloves and bring pruners if you have them.

Sep
18
Tue
2018
Gardening Talk and Potluck @ Rhythmix Cultural Works
Sep 18 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

A chance to come and share your garden successes, ask gardening questions, and catch up on the latest goings-on at ABG!

Oct
16
Tue
2018
Fruit Tree Selection @ Rhythmix Cultural Works
Oct 16 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Many fruit trees grow well in Alameda, and winter is a great time to plant a new fruit tree.  Join us as Marla Koss and Birgitt Evans share their extensive knowledge and experience in raising fruit trees in Alameda.  They’ll demystify which trees work well here, which don’t, and why; why root stock is important; size considerations; and how to understand and work with chill hour requirements; and more. 

About our Speakers:  
Birgitt Evans has grown her own food on a large scale for the past 25 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 is an Alameda County Master Gardener and is presently the Alameda Backyard Growers president.  
Marla Koss has thirty-plus years of backyard mistakes and triumphs in Alameda and deep knowledge of fruit tree growing in Alameda.  In 2016 Marla helped design and implement Project Tree in partnership with The Alameda Sun, and continues to help shape its mission to plant more trees in Alameda.