Alameda Backyard Growers Monthly Meeting: "Community Gardening"

The City of Alameda recently held two community workshops to plan for the future of the City’s parks and green spaces. The workshops gave residents an opportunity to offer input and ideas regarding new community gardens and urban agriculture in Alameda. Many of us were amazed to hear there are only two community gardens in Alameda. The Bay-Eagle Community Garden has a multi-year waiting list and the Alameda Point Collaborative Community Garden Co-Op is primarily for APC residents.

What are space-challenged Alamedans to do? Come hear from ABG members who have found creative ways to garden together:

* Gladys Schwalm and Birgitt Evans met at the very first ABG meeting in March 2010 and worked out a co-gardening arrangement in Gladys' backyard which is still going strong. They will discuss what makes the arrangement work for both of them

* Wayne Coffer with Christ Episcopal Church has established community gardening plots in church members' backyards and at Ploughshares Nursery to grow food for low income Alamedans

Also, Ang Hadwin with Public Health Law & Policy's Planning for Healthy Places Program will give an update on the City of Alameda's Urban Farm & Garden Plan as part of the larger Urban Greening Plan initiative. She will also tell us about upcoming opportunities for community input and feedback.

You won’t want to miss this meeting if you’re interested in the future of community gardening in Alameda!