Marla’s Garden of Hope
by Marla Koss, ABG Board member Last November, while researching soil improvement advice for an article slated to appear in the December 10th issue of the Alameda Sun, I interviewed Greg Dupuich, owner of Encinal Nursery, and Ploughshares Nursery’s General Manager Jeff Bridge on their recommendations. In an intriguing turn of events, both men immediately...Continue reading→
Margie’s Poem and Garden of Hope
by Margie Siegal Old plum tree bent and gnarled All at once opens one blossom, two blossoms, three, four, five blossoms, uncountable blossoms, not proud of purity, not proud of fragrance; spreading, becoming spring, blowing over grass and trees… — Dogen Zenji, 13th century Japan The world outside has gone crazy, but here in my...Continue reading→
Smidgens of Hope
by Ron Limoges, ABG Board President Although I am a Founding Board Member and, currently, President of Alameda Backyard Growers I really dislike gardening. I tried it twice: both times large furry deer and small-ish furry rodents ate every green sprout before I could get from my back door to the pea patch. They ignored...Continue reading→
Alison’s Garden of Hope
by Alison Limoges, ABG Board Member When I first thought about what has been different about my gardening this past year, not much came to mind. I still plant and harvest greens and herbs from seeds and starts on my balcony garden. For some reason there have been fewer pigeons to shoo away. Instead, a...Continue reading→
Choosing Tomato Varieties to Plant in Alameda
Alameda Sun, Thursday, February 11, 2021 by Marla Koss, ABG Board member As 2020 marked a resurgence in gardening, let 2021 be the year for upping one’s game. Now is an ideal time to think about what to plant in this year’s vegetable garden. First on the list: tomatoes! Spending a little time reading up...Continue reading→
Root Crops
by Margie Siegal Root crops are not that exciting – no one I know ever gushes about heirloom rutabagas – but they have a lot going for them. While vine ripe tomatoes are only around for two to three months out of the year, in our climate, you can grow beets, carrots and parsnips from...
Alameda’s Local CSA – Farm2Market
by Alison Limoges In case you haven’t heard, Farm2Market, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project of Alameda Point Collaborative (APC) at Alameda’s former Navy base, has a new manager. Jess Bloomer is excited to be overseeing this two acre diversified farm and social enterprise which is all about “Supporting the Community, Stewarding the Land and...Continue reading→
Epic Tomatoes by Craig LeHoullier
Book Review by Marla Koss You only have to google the title ‘Epic Tomatoes’ to see how heartily the gardening world and hordes of readers have embraced this award-winning book. Author Craig LeHoullier, tomato advisor for Seed Savers Exchange, has won the confidence of tomato-growers everywhere, charmed readers by sharing his own fascination with growing...Continue reading→
Growing Vegetables from Seed
with Birgitt Evans Starting vegetables from seed can save money and will give you access to thousands of vegetable varieties not available as transplants. And with three Free Seed Libraries in Alameda in 2021, you are going to want to know how to care for your seeds. This year’s class has – of course –...Continue reading→
Two New Seed Libraries
Girl Scout Troop 33373 of Alameda and Alameda Backyard Growers teamed up to place two new ABG Free Seed Libraries in Alameda. The Girl Scouts have finished building, painting, and installing the two boxes for gracious homeowners in the West End of Alameda and on Bay Farm Island. Project advisor and local contractor Ken Carvalho...Continue reading→