I.P.M. is a multi-faceted approach to managing pests and disease which was developed to improve economic outcomes for farmers but has rapidly been assimilated into organic farming practices and is recommended by environmentalists to mitigate species loss and to promote healthy ecologies. Certain aspects of I.P.M. translate well into our backyard gardening culture. I.P.M. for…
Gardening at a Glance, our St Mary’s Intern BLOG
Gardening at a Glance: Hi everyone, I’m Lydia Borrego. To give you some background about me, I’m a rising senior at Saint Mary’s College and am participating in the MICAH Fellowship. This internship involves interning at a nonprofit organization over the summer called Alameda Point Collaborative. I am working in the Ploughshares Nursery and am…
Ploughshares Now Open Seven Days a Week
New hours! Open seven days a week 10am – 5pm Yay!
WORKSHOP: Mediterranean Climate Plants for Pollinators
Mediterranean Plants for Pollinators FREE WORKSHOP May 18th 12-1:00 pm For pollinator populations in crisis our debate over ‘native vs non-native’ might resolve itself too late or end in paralysis. At noon on May 18th we will discuss which non-native plants benefit pollinator species such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds
WORKSHOP: Native Plants for Pollinators
WORKSHOP: Native Plants for Pollinators FREE WORKSHOP May 11th 12-1:00 pm Join us May 11th from 12-1pm for a discussion and tour of native plants which benefit pollinator populations . This is a free workshop at 2701 Main St. Alameda CA. Ploughshares Nursery.
Pollinator Plants Sale May 25th
Pollinator Plant Sale May 25th 10am-5pm Over fifty species will be on SALE 20% off regular price to benefit pollinator populations. Poppies, Lilac, Kangaroo Paws, Rosemary, Dill, Anise, Native Sages, African Sages, South American Sages, Aloe, Sedum and many, many more. Fill your garden with plants friendly to bees, butterflies and birds.
New to Edible Gardening?
Check out Alameda Backyard Growers! Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG) is a network of gardeners in Alameda, California who are interested in growing food and donating extra fruit and vegetables to the Alameda Food Bank. Our goal is to reach out to the community to provide information about, and increase involvement in, urban food growing. In…
Need Help in the Garden?
We recommend Edible Ecology and Breaking Ground if you are looking for help in the edible or ornamental garden.
Grafted Tomatoes Available
Grafted tomatoes just arrived from Sweetwater Organic Nursery. Grafted tomatoes are simply varieties of tomato attached to a supporting related root system resulting in a more disease tolerant, more productive and more cold tolerant tomato. Somebody attached these tomatoes to rootstock so yes… they are more expensive. But when you consider the less than ideal…
Small Space Food Garden FREE WORKSHOP
Small Space Food Garden FREE WORKSHOP March 5, 2019 12-2pm Learn how to get the most from your small-space food garden. Drawing on her many years of Bay Area gardening experience, Pam Peirce will share information on year-round garden planning, choosing the best crops and varieties for a small garden, growing edible flowers, planting flowers…
Edible Starts Available Now
….and more coming soon!
Seed Starting Kits Available Now
Now is a good time to sow seeds in these inexpensive seed start kits. Buy a seed packet and for an additional $10.99 you get a flat of six packs with soil and grow dome to get your seed off to a good start. Each kit grows out 36 plants or more.
Alameda Backyard Growers has it Going On in February
Without pollinators, the world would be a less colorful, less tasty and less well-balanced place: all the more reason to learn how to create a garden that will naturally attract bees, butterflies and other major pollinators. Although the best-known pollinators are domesticated honey bees, there are other pollinators that are also important, including bees and…
Seeking Donations to Help Monarchs
West Coast Monarch populations declined 86% last year and this vital insect may disappear entirely from California soon. Unfortunately the preferred plant favored by Monarchs in California is the ugliest and hardest to come by milkweed: Asclepias californica. We can’t afford the rare and expensive seed to propagate this plant in mass at Ploughshares…
What is Project Tree?
Project Tree is about helping restore the City of Alameda’s treescape. Learn more here, ..and here. Attend the January 26th Project Tree meeting with Alameda Backyard Growers at Rythmix Cultural Center and drive over to Ploughshares afterwards for a workshop about pruning with the excellent Jeremy Watts of Edible Ecology!
Free Pruning Workshop
Fruit Tree Pruning and Care with Jeremy Watts January 26th 12-1:30 We can increase the production, appearance, and overall health of our fruit trees with dormant-season pruning. Learn how and when to cut back your trees for optimum production, as well as the basics of planting, pest management, tool maintenance, and grafting for diversity and…
Wild Birds of Alameda Presentation
Wild Birds of Alameda FREE PRESENTATION Saturday January 19, 12-1:30pm Wondering why there are so many birds on the bay shore now? And what are all those birds with the long legs? What’s that bird with the yellow rump that wasn’t here last month? Learn the answers to these questions and many more. Join Linda…