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.
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.
Enjoy a Saturday morning walk in the park and see what’s new!
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.
A chance to come and share your garden successes, ask gardening questions, and catch up on the latest goings-on at ABG!
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.
On October 17th (5:30-8:30pm), please join CASA for our 2018 Annual Fundraiser focused on the very important topic of Reducing Food Waste in our homes, our businesses and throughout our lives.
This year’s event will feature “Just Eat It”, an award-winning documentary film that looks at our systemic obsession with expiration dates, perfect produce and portion sizes, and reveals the core of this seemingly insignificant issue that is having devastating consequences around the globe.
The film will be preceded by a book signing + reception, and followed by a panel discussion featuring:
- Dana Gunders: Former NRDC staff scientist and a leading national expert on food waste reduction, the author of the NRDC issue paper “Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill” and the how-to book “Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook: A Guide to Eating Well and Saving Money By Wasting Less Food” (she is also in the film!!)
- Nick Balla: San Francisco star chef of Bar Tartine and Duna fame, and passionate food waste warrior
- Tara Duggan: James Beard award–winning journalist, food waste educator and author of “Root-to-Stalk Cooking: The Art of Using the Whole Vegetable”
5:30 pm – Reception & Book Signing
6:30 pm – Feature Film
7:45 pm – Speaker Panel & Discussion
100% of proceeds will support local non-profit (501-c3) Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA); All donations are tax-deductible.
Tickets:
$25 – Adults
FREE – All Students & Teachers
For student volunteering & community service hours OR for student scholarships, please email: info@casa-alameda.org
For more info OR if you would like to sponsor the event, please contact: info@casa-alameda.org
With Natalie Kilmer of the mini-farm consulting business The Little Acre. Natalie leads hands-on workshops with Greywater Action.
Note: This meeting is one week later than our normal meeting schedule.
No ABG meeting in December.