We are very pleased to announce that, once again, Alameda Backyard Growers will march in Alameda’s July 4th Parade, and you are invited to walk, bicycle, scooter, rollerskate, or skateboard with us! Feel free to dress up in a costume, or not! We will provide signs to carry, if you wish. We will drive ABG’s Project Pick van in the parade – to offer water and a walking break, should you need it. We will march near the Alameda Food Bank in this historic, and famously long, parade.
The Parade begins at 10:00 a.m., but marchers should join us no later than 9:00 am. We will provide some tailgate refreshments. Bring some water, wear comfortable clothes, shoes, a hat and sunscreen.
Sign up here NOW, so we know who is coming! On July 3 we will email all registrants info about ABG’s numbered place in line.
Here in the SF Bay Area, annual pruning of Apricot and Cherry trees is carried out in July or August rather than in the winter. This protects these varieties from a specific fungal infection that may occur if pruning cuts are made in cold, wet weather. August is also an excellent time to prune back excess, leggy growth on Plum and Pluot trees. Refresh your pruning skills or learn the fundamentals of Summer Stone Fruit Tree pruning. Marla Koss, our pruning teacher extraordinaire, will lead another great, FREE, hands-on, how-to pruning session in Alameda.
Thank you to everyone who attended!
When it comes to wreaths, do you prefer homemade to store-bought? Do you like to add your own touch and flare? If you like the DIY method, then please join us to create a beautiful, decorative Holiday Wreath — for your home or for a gift.
ABG’s 4th Annual, FUN, outdoor, in-Alameda Wreath-Making Workshop will be held Sunday, December 8, 1:00 to 3:00 pm, rain or shine! We will use gathered and purchased items to craft unique wreaths for the table, wall or door.
ABG will provide instruction, wreath forms, floral wire, glue, boughs, some natural gatherings, trimmings and light refreshments.
We ask attendees to bring some supplies of your choice such as: boughs, pine cones, grape or other vines, Eucalyptus branches, olive branches, magnolia leaves, ginkgo 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 $35. Registration on EventBrite is required and we can only accommodate 25 adults. Children 10 years old and up may attend with an adult for an additional fee of $10 to be collected at the event.
Please let us know at least 2 days in advance if you need to cancel, so we can let someone else take your place.
NOTES:
- The workshop’s location will be sent to registrants
- There is a restroom and ample parking.
- It may be chilly so please wear layers.
Photo: Eve Holguin
Join Master Gardener Guy Duran to learn how to turn your kitchen scraps into Black Gold! Vermiculture is the process of maintaining composting worms to create your own worm castings. Worm castings are pricey to purchase, but actually cheap to make. A small initial investment can return a payoff for years. Free at Farm2Market at Alameda Point (2600 Barber’s Point Road, Alameda, CA 94501).
After discussing the basics of vermiculture, there will be a ‘gather round’ presentation where Guy will bring his ‘4 stage’ active worm bin to demonstrate the stage by stage progression of worm activity. We will also fabricate a similar worm farm as the one being demonstrated.
- Rain or shine (pop up tents available).
- Families are welcome.
- Porta Potty available.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- Bring water, sunscreen and a hat.
Save the Date for a family friendly seed planting workshop at the Alameda Free Library! This is a free, family-friendly, hands-on workshop.
Join Marcus Carini, founder of Newfound Foodscapes and board member of Alameda Backyard Growers, for a hands-on Family Seed starting Workshop designed to empower families to grow their own food and cultivate a lifelong connection with nature. This interactive session will demystify the seed-starting process, providing practical tips and techniques for creating thriving gardens, even in small spaces. Participants will learn the basics of seed selection, proper soil preparation, planting depth, watering techniques, and how to nurture seedlings until they are ready for the garden or patio. Participants will leave with tips and tricks for seed starting and will prepare their own seed trays to take home and watch grow.
This workshop is perfect for families of all experience levels who want to enjoy the benefits of fresh, homegrown food and a deeper connection to the natural world. All materials will be provided; bring your excitement!
What You’ll Learn & Do:
- Get hands-on experience in seed starting.
- Start your own seeds during the workshop to take home and grow in your own garden or patio.
- Learn tips and tricks to grow healthy, thriving plants throughout every season.
- All materials will be provided; bring your excitement!
- Recommended for ages 7 and up
WHERE: Stafford Meeting Room, Alameda Main Library, 1550 Oak St., Alameda CA
REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/afl-abg-mar25
Alameda Backyard Growers will once again have a table with our our Spring Plant Sale at this fun community event! ABG volunteers have worked hard and had fun preparing for weeks to be able to offer you a selection of organic tomato, veggie, flower and herb starts!
As always, we grow tomato starts that we know from our own experience do well in Alameda. This year, we took some hints from our February Tomato Poll and selected what you told us you would love to grow. We’re also growing starts of cucumbers, zucchini, squash, peppers, and herbs. Due to last year’s popular demand, we’ve increased our offering of flower starts. Attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators to your garden, secure in the knowledge that our flower starts have been grown from organic seed, and are free of neonicotinoids.
We’ll also have activities for kids, and information on all the programs and projects ABG does around growing and sharing food in our community.
Join us, rain or shine, along with a field full of vendors, bouncy houses and other activities at the Alameda Point Gym & Field and get there early before supplies run out! Let’s celebrate spring and gardening – for ourselves and our families, for the sake of Mother Earth, or just for the sheer pleasure of it all!
Learn the basics of composting and how to turn your food scraps into rich soil for your garden – because compost happens! Lori Caldwell of StopWaste will be doing a hands-on demonstration at Ploughshares Nursery.
Learn:
- How easy it is to transform yard and food waste into gardener’s gold
- The benefits of composting
- How to make, harvest and use composted soil
- Hot and cold composting, Hugelkultur and worm composting.
Join us and have fun!
