Gardening Topics

Fruit Trees 101: Part 2, Midwinter Chores

by Marla Koss, Alameda Backyard Growers Published in the Alameda Sun – Thursday, February 8, 2018 Here comes Valentine’s Day, that 24-hour celebration of hearts, flowers and chocolate overkill. But more than a frolic, Valentine’s Day is a handy marker on the Bay Area gardener’s calendar for midwinter chores. For instance, the mnemonic device for...Continue reading→

How to Prune Citrus Trees

When we are our picking fruit in Alameda, we notice that many backyard trees are in need of a good pruning. The ‘rule of thumb’ is that a bird should easily be able to fly through the tree. Citrus trees are, for the most part, quite resilient. You should never prune more than a third...Continue reading→

Fruit Trees 101, Part 1: Which Tree to Plant and Where

by Marla Koss of Alameda Backyard Growers Thursday, January 11, 2018 It’s bareroot fruit tree season! Many fruit trees can be successful in Alameda if planted now, but there are pitfalls when choosing both a suitable tree and the best spot to plant it. In the spirit of Alameda Backyard Growers’ (ABG) 2018 initative “A...Continue reading→

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 add them to her plot. ...Continue reading→

Five Things Vegetable Gardens Need in November

by Brigitt Evans, Alameda Backyard Growers Alameda Sun, November 9, 2017 November is a transition month in Alameda. Warm sunny days may be punctuated by rainstorms, but the nights are cooling down. Plant growth is slowing down and planting begins now for late winter or spring harvests. Here are some things Alamedans might want to...Continue reading→

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 Margie Siegal demystifies the canning...Continue reading→

12 Tips for Reducing Food Waste

Here is another great article on reducing food waste from CUESA (Cultivating a Healthy Food System): “Food is a weapon. Don’t waste it” was a popular motto during World Wars I and II, when the US made it a national priority to conserve resources by curbing food waste. Today, approximately 40 percent of food (about...Continue reading→

Asian Citris Phyllids – Inspect Your Citrus Trees Now!

The Asian citrus psyllid and huanglongbing (HLB) disease are new and frightening citrus pests. The psyllid is a tiny mottled brown insect, about the size of an aphid. It damages citrus directly by feeding on new leaf growth. More seriously, the insect spreads the bacterium associated with HLB. HLB can kill a citrus tree in...Continue reading→

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 Point Collaborative. And we’ll work...Continue reading→

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 garden’s most critical elements –...Continue reading→