What do zucchini, almonds and guavas have in common? They all need pollinators.
Without pollinators, the world would be a less colorful, less tasty and less well-balanced place: all the more reason to learn how to create a garden that will naturally attract bees, butterflies and other major pollinators. Although the best-known pollinators are domesticated honey bees, there are other pollinators that are also important, including bees and other insects that are native to California.
The presenters have been working for some years to build and maintain a pollinator garden at Lake Merritt, and will share the knowledge they have. Topics to be discussed include:
- The goals of the pollinator garden at Lake Merritt,
- The importance of native bees,
- Why you might wish to create a pollinator garden of your own, and
- How to start a pollinator garden, including optimal growth conditions (sun,soil, and water needs), and plant grouping to attract the maximum number of pollinators. The presenters will also discuss site selection, plant selection, soil amendment and care for your pollinator garden.
Presenters: Sally Hughes, Alameda County Master Gardener, 2006, Co-manager of the Lake Merritt Pollinator Garden; Jennifer Cardoza, Alameda County Master Gardener, 2012, Co-manager of the Lake Merritt Pollinator Garden, Sarah Phelan, Nature Journalis
Hi Gleaners,
We’ll be having another February pick on Sunday, Feb. 24 from 2-4 PM. Holly Johnson will be your fearless leader for this one.
Please let me know if you ARE available (email info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org) and I will send meeting details.
Thanks for helping us push through the citrus tsunami!
Jillian Saxty
As long as the weather holds up, we’ll keep picking!
Please let me know if you ARE available to pick on Sunday, March 3 between 2 – 4PM by emailing info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org.
Bring gardening gloves if you have them, a hat and water.
Thank you for all your help! You are fabulous volunteers!
Jillian Saxty
ABG Project Pick Coordinator
Winter is a great time to plant a tree, and we want to help you plant one. In Project Tree, the Alameda Sun newspaper and Alameda Backyard Growers have teamed up to offer Alameda residents training on tree planting and care, together with a coupon good for $25 off the price of a tree purchased at Encinal Nursery or Ploughshares Nursery.
Coupons can be picked up at the next Project Tree workshop, on Sunday, March 3, 1:00 – 3:00 PM at Rhythmix Cultural Works. We will discuss the best trees for Alameda, and how to plant and care for them.
Coupons are valid to June 30, 2019. Proof of City of Alameda residency will be required (a recent utility bill, driver’s license, car registration, property tax receipt, posted mail or bank statement with name and address of the applicant). The supply of coupons is limited to one coupon per Alameda resident, and we only have 20 coupons left. They will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Restrictions and limitations apply as stated on the coupon. The workshop will provide information on choosing a tree, proper tree placement, planting and general care. Online tree care information will also be available for free downloading. For more information email us at info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org with “Project Tree” in the subject line.
Thank you to the Alameda Sun for helping make this possible.
Join us Sunday, March 17, from 2 – 4 PM to pick what will be left of the citrus crop, which has been amazing this year.
Email info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org if you ARE available and we’ll let you know where we’ll be meeting.
Thanks!
Jillian Saxty
ABG Project Pick Coordinator
Panel discussion with Birgitt Evans, Marla Koss and Damian Mason
The term “Carbon Sequestration” is the turning up everywhere in the fight against global warming. It may sound intimidating or difficult, something to be done by governments or on a large scale, but it’s not. Come learn how you can sequester carbon in your own garden soil by composting and mulching with the plant materials in your yard and the leaves that fall in our streets and learn about keeping carbon in your soil with no til methods of growing. In addition, we will cover the more advanced topics of Biochar and Hugelkultur to help make long term deposits of carbon to our soil. Birgitt, Marla and Damian will make the topic accessible to local gardeners .
Hi Pickers,
Spring is springing! Will it every dry out so we can get back to our gardens?
Meanwhile we have a few more lemons, oranges and other citrus to pick.
Please join us on Sunday, March 24 from 2 – 4 PM. Bring a hat, gardening gloves (if you have them) and water to drink.
I will advise our joining location when you RSVP by emailing info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org
Thank you!
Hi Pickers,
I look forward to seeing our team this Sunday, April 7 from 2 – 4 PM! If you can join us, please fill in this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sHlMPrx31zNc5-0crH7-hoL0wHRVhkY1pcc_4E1MfhU
or email me at info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org
Once you have RSVP’d, I will send information on where to meet.
Please bring gardening gloves (if you have them), a hat and water to drink.
Thank you!
Jillian Saxty
ABG Project Pick Coordinator
Hi Pickers,
We’re still trying to catch up from this year’s citrus tsunami so we’re having a ‘quick pick’ of 3 locations this Sunday, April 14 from 2 – 4 PM!
If you can join us, please fill in this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sHlMPrx31zNc5-0crH7-hoL0wHRVhkY1pcc_4E1MfhU
or email me at info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org
Once you have RSVP’d, I will send information on where to meet.
Please bring gardening gloves (if you have them), a hat and water to drink.
Thank you!
Jillian Saxty
Join us and Jeff Bridge, of Alameda’s Ploughshare Nursery, to discuss plants in your garden that can support native pollinators and survive drought conditions.