So many of us have citrus trees in our yards, but may not always know how to keep them at their best. Berkeley, like Alameda, is ‘Citrus Heaven’. And this is a chance to not only brush up on citrus-pruning skills (or learn the basics) in a workshop, but also tour a remarkable schoolyard orchard and garden in Berkeley.
Farm2Market Assistant Manager Sarah Miller and fellow Alameda Backyard Growers volunteer Marla Koss will demonstrate citrus pruning on two of the garden’s Meyer lemon trees and assist attendees to go hands-on with pruning. The Edible Schoolyard’s Garden Manager Jess Bloomer will supervise the tour.
For this workshop, please bring the following:
- bypass pruning shears
- gardening/work gloves
- other pruning equipment such as a pruning saw or loppers
Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes (preferably hiking or work boots). Bring a sun hat and/or sunscreen and a water bottle. Also helpful: eye protection (clear safety goggles/glasses).
This event is for adults only. Registration is required. Please be sure to register with a valid email address that you are able to check. The workshop location will be announced 48 hours prior to the event via email reminder to those who have registered. We know that interest will exceed the space available and will keep a waiting list.
If you register and are unable to attend, we need you to cancel at least 3 days in advance so that we can offer your space to someone else. Please cancel by emailing abg.grow.food@gmail.com.
Are you interested in learning how to prune an apple or pear tree, or in refining those skills? Join us for this hands-on workshop, as we discuss and demonstrate the best ways to shape semi-dwarfed pome fruit trees for better fruiting, summer sun penetration and access to the tree come harvest time!
NOTE: The orchard grounds where this workshop will be held are slightly uneven, and during the winter may be cold and/or damp. Attendees must be able to traverse the area on foot.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Please wear sturdy shoes, galoshes, hiking boots or work boots.
- Bypass pruning shears
- Gardening/work gloves
- Other pruning equipment such as a pruning saw and/or loppers
- Protect your eyes from errant twigs and branches by bringing clear safety goggles or safety glasses if you have them (sunglasses will also work, in a pinch).
- Even in February you can work up a thirst while pruning, so you may want to bring a water bottle.
This event is adults only, please. We know that interest will exceed the space available and will keep a waiting list. If you register and are unable to attend, we need you to cancel at least 3 days in advance so that we can offer your space to someone else. Please cancel by emailing info@alamedabackyardgrowers.org.
Farm2Market is a social enterprise that is part of Alameda Point Collaborative. APC works to end homelessness by providing housing and services to create communities where formerly homeless families and individuals can flourish.
Please NOTE: If rain is forecast for the morning of the workshop, attendees will be notified of cancellation via email the day before (Friday, February 9). The pruning workshop will be rescheduled for the next possible Saturday morning where rain is not forecast (2/17, 24 or 3/2). We will email attendees by the Thursday before the rescheduled workshop.
Hands-On Vegetable Seed Starting Workshop
Presenters: Kristen Smeal and Birgitt Evans
Saturday, March 9th, 2 – 3:30PM at the Community Room at the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak Street, Alameda
Starting vegetables from seed can save money and will give you access to thousands of vegetable varieties not available as transplants. In this hands-on workshop, we will begin with a brief discussion about seeds, reviewing which seeds are best planted directly in the ground and which should be started in containers for transplant into pots or the ground. Then we will move on to the basics of starting seeds, including the importance of cleanliness, seed starting mixes, what containers you can use, how many seeds to plant and how deeply, feeding and watering of seedlings and providing light and heat for your seedlings.
We will then break into groups for a demonstration of how to plant seeds and participants will plant up several 6-packs with seeds to take home.
No registration is necessary. However, space is limited and people will be let in on a first come, first served basis.
Kristen Smeal is a Master Gardener and Garden Science teacher at St. Philip Neri in Alameda.
Birgitt Evans has grown her own food on a large scale for the past 40 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 grows vegetables in four different Alameda County gardens and starts 90% of her plants from seed. She has been an Alameda County Master Gardener since 1999 and served on the board of Alameda Backyard Growers for 10 years.