Event Archives


Sauerkraut Making Class

ABG’s Sauerkraut Making Class  WHEN:  Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10 – 11 AM WHERE:  Mastick Senior Center, 1155 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda This fun, tasty class was all about making sauerkraut! We learned how to turn fresh cabbage into a crunchy, flavorful food that’s great for your body. Sauerkraut […]

Making sauerkraut

ABG at Alameda Pride 2025

ABG at Alameda Pride Festival

We’re thrilled be a part of Alameda Pride in the Park again this year! Stop by the Alameda Backyard Growers table, where we’ll be celebrating by giving away vibrant rainbow Swiss chard plants and seed packets to our community. Come and connect with fellow gardeners, take home some beautiful chard […]


10 Native Plants That Will Thrive in Your Garden

Ten California Native Plants That Will Thrive in an Urban Garden with Birgitt Evans Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm, Alameda Free Library Main Branch What if you left your nest and set out to find a new home, but you were unable to find the food, […]

Native California Plants

wreaths from workshop

Wreath Making Workshop

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 5th Annual, FUN, […]


Why Pruning Fruit Trees is Essential and Some Tips on How to Do It

Alameda Sun, Friday, September 16, 2022 by Holly Johnson Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG) held their August educational program on site at Farm2Market, the social enterprise farm division of Alameda Point Collaborative (APC). The session, part of the group’s monthly education series, gave three dozen attendees a hands-on learning experience as […]

Fruit tree pruning at Farm2Market

Bay of Plenty Hazy IPA at Almanac

Quaff Some Bay of Plenty Hazy IPA and Support Local Non Profits

Almanac Beer Co. is now brewing the fresh new Bay of Plenty Hazy IPA in support of Alameda Backyard Growers, together with Alameda Food Bank and Alameda Point Collaborative, all nonprofits that nourish our community through education, sharing, and volunteering. This beer is dry-hopped exclusively with Moutere, creating an intensely […]


Greywater, Rainwater Catchment & Groundwater Systems Workshop

with Mano Tondre Owner and Designer, DIG Cooperative Tuesday, August 17, 2021 on Zoom Water conservation and water stewardship are vital now in our second year of severe drought. It is time to look for other sources of water to keep our gardens alive. Join us and learn about harvesting […]

rainwater catchment

Guest speaker Francis Mendoza

The History of Indigenous Chochenyo Land in the East Bay

with Francis Mendoza Naturalist, interpreter and environmental educator, Francis Mendoza will talk to us about the history of the Chochenyo land that we inhabit. He will also focus on horticultural and medicinal ways Ohlone peoples use to take from and give back to the land. The Indigenous peoples of the […]


Build Healthy Soil by Sheet Mulching

Virtual Meeting: Apr 20 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Sheet mulching is an easy and efficient technique for saving water, recycling resources, suppressing weeds and building healthy soil. Please join Lori Caldwell as she discusses the steps for this process as well as her own tips and tricks for […]

Now that your Lawn is Gone

The Politics of Food and Agriculture

Please join us for a presentation on ‘The Politics of Food and Agriculture‘ with Twilight Greenaway Thursday, December 3 at 7:00 pm Register by clicking here. Please bring your questions on food systems, organics, climate and food, agricultural labor and technology, food safety and seafood. Twilight Greenaway is a writer […]


Carbon Farming at Home

Thank you to those who joined us on Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom for our presentation: Carbon Farming for Home Gardeners, with Trevor Probert of StopWaste. Trevor explained how home gardeners can make use of carbon farming practices to build healthy soil and protect the health of […]


Alameda: An Agricultural History

Eric J. Kos spoke on September 15 at 7:00 pm about Alameda: An Agricultural History. He put together a presentation for us about Alameda’s original settlers’ primary occupation: agriculture with intriguing photos, informative glimpses into our food-growing past, and an entertaining narrative. Our speaker: Eric J. Kos, owner of the […]


Understanding Systemic Insecticides

Understanding Systemic Insecticides and Their Potential Impacts in Urban Ecosystems Topic: Understanding Systemic Insecticides and Their Potential Impacts in Urban Ecosystems Date: July 21, 2020 at 7PM Speaker: Dr. Andrew Sutherland To attend, please sign up on Eventbrite Meeting description: Systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, are commonly used to protect […]

Dr. Andrew Sullivan

Permaculture in Backyard Gardens

Our 1st Zoom Meeting Was a Great Success! Thank you to our presenters (bios below) who introduced the concept of permaculture, and how to apply permaculture principles into regenerative backyard design and local food production. We had a wonderful dialogue about these topics in the context of COVID-19 and the […]


Growing Your Own Vegetables from Seed

February 18, 2020 from 7 to 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda Join Alameda Backyard Growers speaker Birgitt Evans for an informative and hands-on seed starting workshop. About this Event Starting vegetables from seed can save money and will give you access to thousands of vegetable varieties […]


Ergonomics in the Garden

October 15, 2019, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda Did you know your head is as heavy as a bowling ball? (your poor neck!) Or that losing 1 pound means 4 pounds of weight off your knees-a 4 to 1 ratio? Come hear about how […]


Stopping Food Waste During the Holidays

November 19, 2019, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda We see the winter holidays as a time of abundance, family, and sharing. Unfortunately, when it comes to food, this season is also the most wasteful. The average American household throws out 25% of the food […]


Helping Monarchs in Alameda

Last Thanksgiving, only 28,429 monarchs were counted in their wintering colonies compared to a historic population of about 10 million in the Western Monarch Migration. Today’s monarchs face several challenges, the most intractable being a lack of Milkweed (Asclepias spp.), where females typically lay their eggs, as well as a […]


Third Annual Garden Tour

Please join us for Alameda Backyard Growers’ Third Annual Garden Tour. This year, we focus on food production. Margie Siegal has made her large yard into a mini-farm. She raises fruit trees, herbs and lots of different vegetables. Margie will show us the innovative techniques she’s used to solve some […]


Creating A Pollinator Garden

Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding, Alameda 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 […]


Fighting Climate Change in Our Backyards

Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding, Alameda 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 […]


Great Habitat Plants for Beneficial Insects and Pollinators

April 16, 2019, 7 to 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda You can not only grow food for yourself, but also support local pollinators, such as hummingbirds, bees and also other beneficial insects that help control pests. Many of the herbs and vegetables that we enjoy are […]


Succession Planting and Interplanting for Summer Veggies

May 21, 2019, 7 to 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda Meet Alameda County Master Gardeners Sam Foushee and David Blood to discuss planting your summer vegetable garden. Here in the Bay Area we can garden all year long but it requires a bit of planning. We’ll […]


Alameda Greywater System Tour

Want to see rainwater and greywater systems in real life in Alameda? ABG has organized a tour of four Alameda sites that use rainwater and/or greywater to irrigate their gardens on Saturday December 1, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Register for the tour to receive the address of the […]


Rainwater Harvesting

Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding, Alameda It’s FINALLY raining, and we’re hoping for a very rainy winter. But you never know. Even if we don’t get as much rain as we’d like, you can expand the water available for your plants by […]


Selecting a Fruit Tree for Alameda

Tuesday, October 16, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding, Alameda 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 […]


Seed Starting for Your Fall and Winter Garden

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 […]


Fruit Tree Care

with Birgitt Evans and Marla Koss of Alameda Backyard Growers May 15, 2018, 7 to 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda Please see their handout on fruit tree care here. Spring is here and now is the time to get ready to reward yourself with fruit tree […]


Integrated Pest Management for Spring Pests

with Susan Fritz of the UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County April 17, 2018, 7 to 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda Looking forward to enjoying some lovely spring crops soon? Want to prevent those spring insects from enjoying your crops first? Join Alameda County Master […]

Integrated Pest Management

Bees and Beekeeping

with Lori Slicton, Old Schoolhouse Raw Honey  February 20, 2018, 7 to 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda Join us for an introduction to the wonderful world of bees and beekeeping.  We’ll learn about the importance of bees and beekeeping and why the urban food farmer might want to […]


Canning 101

with Margie Siegal Tuesday, October 17, 2017, 7:00 – 8:00 PM Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave, Alameda Have too many tomatoes?  Can’t manage to eat all those apples fast enough?  Join us to learn about canning food.  People have been preserving their harvests for thousands of years.  Join us as […]


Farm Tour and Volunteer Work Party

Yes, there is a farm in Alameda! Join us to learn about the farm and its CSA and lend a hand on a project improving the farm’s productivity. We’ll tour the farm for an hour, learning what it produces, how you can purchase its products, and its place at Alameda […]


Make Better Soil

Soil – What It Is and How to Make It Better with Dolores Morrison, Alameda County Master Gardener Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 7:00 – 8:00 PM Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave, Alameda It’s time to be starting that spring/summer vegetable garden. So join us for a session on one of your […]


black paper mulch

Starting Your Gardening Year off Right

with Cynthia LaCroix and Linda Carloni  Tuesday, January 17, 2017, 7:00 – 8:00 PM Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave, Alameda Join us for an interactive session on planning your 2017 food garden and what steps to take in January and February. We’ll talk about when and how to do soil […]


Seed Saving

with Irene Beebe, Alameda County Master Gardener Not so long ago, seed saving was part of every garden. From ancient times until our grandparents’ day (or great-grandparents’, depending on your age!),  favorite strains of vegetables and flowers were renewed from year to year and generation to generation, sometimes travelling long […]


Join us in the 4th of July Parade!

If you wish to join ABG’s entry into the 2016 Alameda 4th of July Parade, please read on. We will be dressed as pollinators and riding bikes (bring helmets and water): 1) ABG’s Number this year: 91 (out of 156). For those who didn’t know or don’t remember, we’ve been […]


Introduction to Integrated Pest Management

June 13, 2016, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2512 Blanding Ave., Alameda Come and learn about Integrated Pest Management with Birgitt Evans, Alameda County Master Gardener and co-owner of Pollinate Farm & Garden in Oakland. Using the Precautionary Principal, learn how to reduce pest damage starting with the […]


Spring Fruit Tree Care

with Jasmine Tokuda and Marla Koss April 11, 2016, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2512 Blanding Ave., Alameda Having had a nice drink of water, are those fruit trees in your yard now blossoming?  Are you wondering what you need to do so they’ll produce for you this […]


Permaculture Principles

Monday, October 12, 2015 (6:30 – 7:30PM) Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave, Alameda Damian Mason discussed Permaculture principles. To download a Word document of the presentation, click here. To download a PDF of the slide presentation, click here.


Water Conservation Workshop

Sponsored by Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan Learn about: The state of the drought in California How to save water in-and-around your home And how to turn your lawn into a drought tolerant yard When: Saturday, Sep. 12, 2015 11AM – 1PM Where: Alameda High School RSVP: Call (510) 278-0367 […]


Fruit Tree Grafting

Learn about the fascinating world of fruit tree grafting with tree expert John Valenzuela.


Alameda: An Agricultural History

with Eric Kos, Co-Founder and Co-Publisher, Alameda Sun  Monday,  December 8, 2014 (6:30 – 7:30 PM) Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave, Alameda Alameda Sun publisher and local historian Eric J. Kos will present an earthy history of Alameda in a slide presentation titled Alameda: An Agricultural History.  Compiling information […]


Selecting and Planting Fruit Trees on the Island of Alameda

with Eve Holguin, Irene Rakochy and Linda Carloni Monday, November 10, 2014 (6:30 – 7:30 PM) Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave, Alameda, Join us for a lively discussion about selecting and planting fruit trees in our Island City. The fruit trees planted throughout our city are a tremendous legacy […]


IPM Principles and Practices for Pests of the Fall Garden

with Dr. Andrew Sutherland, UC Cooperative Extension Monday, September 8, 2014 (6:30 – 7:30 PM), Rhythmix Cultural Works This interactive presentation will provide an overview of the central tenets of integrated pest management (IPM) as illustrated by several IPM programs for specific pests of Bay Area urban garden systems. Speaker: Dr. […]