Alameda Sun – Wednesday, November 23, 2022 by Kristen Smeal, Co-President of Alameda Backyard Growers During World War I, school gardens materialized as an effort to utilize idle land on urban and suburban school properties. Food was grown at schools for local community food security, to increase nutritional awareness, and […]
by Kristen Smeal, ABG Board Member These books were handpicked by five-year-old Rosemary, a lover of books and gardening. Muncha, Muncha, Muncha by Candace Fleming Young children will engage with this book, repeating the onomatopoeic phrases of hungry rabbits finding their way into Mr. McGreely’s garden. With the turn of […]
Alameda Sun – December 9, 2021 by Alison Limoges, Board member of Alameda Backyard Growers, Master Gardener There are many ways to make attractive, decorative wreaths year-round. The variety of possible shapes, sizes, backings, decorations, and attachment methods allow for great creativity. Wreath making provides excellent opportunities to recycle and […]
Alameda Sun – Wednesday, May 12, 2021 by Kristen Smeal, Board member of Alameda Backyard Growers, Master Gardener and Garden Science teacher at St. Philip Neri School in Alameda The past few weeks of Spring enthusiasm have certainly activated the sense of sight. Bright, bold, blooming flowers and trees present […]
On the one-year anniversary of our reality being impacted by the pandemic, we want to hear your stories. When shelter-in-place was ordered last March, many people turned to gardening for solace and hope. Did you start a garden for the first time since last March? Or, did you change […]
by Birgitt Evans, ABG Board member and Master Gardener February is an important time in the Alameda gardening calendar. It is a time for pruning and weeding and making compost. It is a time for building soil, ordering seeds and planning the spring and summer garden. Work done now can […]
by Kristen Smeal, ABG board member and Master Gardener A garden journal can be used for planning a garden as well as recording progress throughout the season. Children can be encouraged to play an active role in the planning process by making a personalized garden journal. Having children plant some […]
by Kristen Smeal, ABG board member and Master Gardener Frittatas are a perfect way to use up leftovers in the fridge. They can be prepared ahead for a weekend brunch or on-the-go workdays. They can be frozen or stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Here is a […]
by Sarah Miller, Master Gardener The process of worm composting (or vermiculture) can be a mutually beneficial undertaking. Your child learns about worm biology, decomposition and waste reduction, and the worms create black gold for your garden, also known as worm castings or worm poop. To get started you’ll need […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Brightly colored fruits and vegetables not only add a pop of color to the table, they also add an abundance of nutrients and fun. Summertime yields a colorful palate of vegetables and fruits: red, yellow and purple tomatoes; green and yellow cucumbers; navy blueberries and […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Gardening is the ideal outdoor learning experience. Whether growing in containers, raised beds, or the ground, the rewards of growing vegetables are plentiful. When children see the process from seed to harvest, they are more likely to taste vegetables they might not normally try. Pumpkins […]
By Kristen Smeal with planting instructions by Alison Limoges Many of the techniques used in gardening and farming today were developed by indigenous peoples of a given area. In the Bay Area, the Ohlone (Costanoan) tribes buried fish from the Bay and nearby creeks to fertilize garden crops. Growing corn […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Lavender is a drought tolerant plant that can grow in poor soil and full sun, so it grows in abundance in the Bay Area. There are 450 different varieties of lavender, all edible, but one more than the others. The most common lavender used in […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Seed tape is a biodegradable tape that helps with plant spacing in the garden. It is beneficial for planting small seeds that normally require thinning (a gardeners dreaded task) like carrots, lettuces, herbs, and greens (collards, kale, spinach). This can be especially important for children, […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Children are curious explorers, and for that reason it’s important to look at things from a child’s perspective when thinking about gardening safety. Here are some tips to keep you and your child safe during gardening and outdoor activities. 1. SUNSCREEN AND HAT As a […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener This recipe was created by Sarah Ortega of Alameda, teacher, chef, and mom of three. She created this recipe for a garden to table cooking class so the students could experience harvesting the kale, lemon, garlic, and edible flowers from the garden and incorporate them […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Tussie-Mussie vs. Nosegay A tussie-mussie is a small bunch of flowers gathered in a paper cone that can represent a message from the giver to the recipient. These floral bundles of communication were common in the Victorian era. Traditionally, red flowers meant love, pink represented […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Being in nature is a perfect way to engage the senses for all ages. Creating a garden sensory tray will help toddlers and young children make positive associations between nature and the senses. Go for a walk in your neighborhood or look around the house […]
by Kristen Smeal, Master Gardener Gardening as a family gives children the opportunity to develop new skills and take ownership of family responsibilities. Getting outside, at a safe distance from others, can help boost the spirits and productivity of children and adults alike. If it’s not possible to get outside, […]
