Calendar


May
15
Tue
2018
Fruit Tree Care @ Rhythmix Cultural Works
May 15 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

with Birgitt Evans & Marla Koss

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
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.

Nov
27
Tue
2018
Rain Water Harvesting @ Rhythmix Cultural Works
Nov 27 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

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.

 

Dec
11
Tue
2018
No December Meeting
Dec 11 @ 1:44 am – 2:44 am

No ABG meeting in December.

Feb
19
Tue
2019
Creating a Pollinator Garden @ Rhythmix Cultural Works
Feb 19 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Creating a Pollinator Garden @ Rhythmix Cultural Works | Alameda | California | United States

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:

  1. The goals of the pollinator garden at Lake Merritt,
  2. The importance of native bees,
  3. Why you might wish to create a pollinator garden of your own, and
  4. 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

Mar
19
Tue
2019
Fighting Climate Change in Our Backyards @ Rhythmix Cultural Works
Mar 19 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fighting Climate Change in Our Backyards @ Rhythmix Cultural Works | Alameda | California | United States

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 .