Community Edible - Written by Elise on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 19:06 - 8 Comments

Alameda County Master Gardeners: Educating and Demonstrating in the Gardens at Lake Merritt

Master Gardeners are in The Gardens at Lake Merritt Trial Gardens to answer your gardening questions every Wednesday weather permitting, 11 AM – 1 PM.

The Alameda County Master Gardeners’ terrific new website is packed with “what you’d like to know” about East Bay gardening and the Master Gardener’s community outreach efforts. http://acmg.ucdavis.edu

Purposes of the Trials Garden:

To test varieties of vegetables to see which do best in our marine-influenced local climate.
To test and demonstrate various types of irrigation, mulching, plant support, planting containers and other techniques that might enhance growing success.
To test and demonstrate the use of summer-dry ornamental plants to beautify the garden and save water, with a focus on the plants in our brochure Outstanding Plants for Alameda County.
To demonstrate inviting butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden.
To provide a venue for garden workshops, classes and demonstrations for Master Gardeners and the general public.
To provide a venue for ongoing public outreach for answering gardening questions.

Philosophy of the Trials Garden:

Because we are in a public garden that does not allow chemicals for fertilizing or pest control, we only will practice and demonstrate organic, sustainable methods in the Trials Garden.
We are an educational garden always open to the public during Garden Center hours even when Master Gardeners are not present.

As trained agents of the University of California, through the University of California Cooperative Extension, our purpose is to extend research based knowledge and information on home gardening issues to the residents of Alameda County.

Alameda County Master Gardeners help gardeners by extending the information they have learned through a variety of programs and projects, including seminars, workshops and newspaper articles.

8 Comments

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Iadora
Nov 19, 2010 11:07

I am utterly DELIGHTED to learn that all of this is going on right here in my own backyard!!!

I’ll try to be there as much as possible!

Love, Iadora

Elise
Nov 19, 2010 15:13

Wecome Iadora! Once you’ve explored the Gardens, tell us your favorites. Don’t miss the Palmetum, adjacent to the Mediterranean Garden and behind the Bonsai Garden. There will be more than 100 people in the garden Tomorrow, Sat the 20. Family Volunteer Day. And planting herbs in the Sensory Garden — and the exotic rohdendruns are in bloom. yes, I love these gardens.

Sam Foushee
Nov 19, 2010 19:10

If you have questions or issues we might be able to help you with, come down to the Trials Garden any Wednesday, 11:00-1:00.
Best wishes,
Sam Foushee, Master Gardener

Peter Collier
Dec 2, 2010 14:20

The community garden is having a work party this Sunday, December 5th, from 11am-2pm — come and participate to learn more about the gardens and help out! These are a lot of fun, and looking forward, we’ll also be hosting volunteers on Martin Luther King Day, January 17th 2011! Please come as this will be an awesome time!!

-Peter Collier, Community Gardening Coordinator

Elise
Dec 2, 2010 17:44

There also will be some yummy treats. I’m making Keri’s recipe for persimmon whiskey bread as my hyachi persimmon tree requires harvesting. Keri has posted some great seasonal recipes on the Lake Merrit Community Garden Group page on Facebook, including the persimmon bread recipe. Special!

Peter Collier
Jan 6, 2011 11:29

MLK Volunteer Day coming to the Edible Garden on January 17th from 9am-1pm! We will be having a great time constructing a beautiful perimeter fence cut from the Stone Pine that recently fell on these very grounds. Come out and join us, and don’t forget to bring your gloves – we’ll be getting after the weeds as well!

Bayon Simmons
May 9, 2011 14:25

Hi Do you know who I could talk to about the community garden in Oakland =
on 45th street. Thanks Bayon Simmons=

Albin
May 9, 2011 16:29

Peter Collier pcollier@oaklandnet.com is Oaklands Community Gardens Coordinator. He can help you.