by Marla Koss, ABG Board Member
Inspiring? Check. Comprehensive? Check. Full of handy local resources? Check check check. That’s the alamedabackyardgrowers.org website, reflecting the passions and values of its volunteers. ABG’s website helps fulfill the original aim of founders Amanda MacLean Bruemmer and Janice Edwards for their fledgling non-profit to do “tangible good in the world” and “grow community one veggie at a time.” It’s also an ongoing labor of love for graphic designer and ABG webmaster Jillian Saxty.
For those who remember ABG’s earliest days, a look around the website can be something of a sentimental journey, but for all who are interested, it’s an astonishing compendium of information accrued over time that’s been well cross-referenced. A must-see video short “The Founder’s’ Story” is not only a reminder to long-time volunteers of the humble but hopeful beginnings, it’s as clear an explanation as anything how ABG has from the very start attracted dedicated volunteers and kept both its spirit of generosity and high standards. There are other fascinating videos about ABG as well, which can be found here.
Since Project Pick (also run by ABG Board Member Jillian) lies at the heart of ABG – a project that the founders envisioned would contribute tangible good in the world by sharing backyard produce with one’s neighbors – the longtime favorite feature of the website may well be Jillian’s lemon graphic (right column). It indicates the current year’s goal as well as the up-to-date weight in pounds of produce donated to the Alameda Food Bank. In 2021, Jillian has set the goal at an ambitious 10,000 pounds in honor of ABG’s 10th anniversary.
A long record of past monthly meetings can be found on the Monthly Meetings page, along with 41 gardening articles written by ABG volunteers that were published in the Alameda Sun, video recordings of ABG monthly meetings and other videos, and book reviews. Jillian has packed the Resources page with information including contact numbers for various organizations, lists of community partners, articles on specific food-growing topics listed by subject matter, and links to PDF’s for the care of specific fruit tree varieties. Check out our Blog page with its sidebar for a comprehensive list of all our gardening related posts.
Over time, many hands have helped build and maintain Alameda Backyard Growers as a valued part of the community. And thanks to Jillian maintaining the website, Birgitt Evans handling the FaceBook page and Sarah Miller keeping ABG current on Instagram, the world at large gets to know all about us.