Posts Tagged ‘urban gardening’
Eric Maundu greens up Oakland at Kijani Grows
Out of a small section of warehouse space in West Oakland, Eric Maundu is growing a big dream. He wants to make it possible for almost anyone to grow food in an economical, energy efficient and water saving manner.
Read MoreA caution for Oakland’s urban gardeners: lead in the city’s soil
In neighborhoods like West and East Oakland, you can drive for miles without passing even one grocery store. To fight food scarcity, a lot of neighborhoods have started to claim vacant lots and turn them into thriving vegetable gardens. But city gardeners should be aware of a hidden danger lurking in their dirt.
Read MoreThrough FoodPool, gardeners donate excess produce to those in need
Some Oaklanders grow a bounty of fresh produce in their home gardens, while others are miles away from the nearest grocery store. One day, as he was tending his 800 square-foot backyard garden, this paradox struck Montclair resident Andrew Sigal as particularly unfair. Sigal decided that he would donate any excess food he produced, and he would try to convince his neighbors with gardens to do the same.
Read MoreNew center opens to teach sustainable living practices
What used to be a simple dirt lot in a residential neighborhood at San Pablo Avenue and 65th Street, will soon be a haven for residents who share a common interest in sustainability and preserving the environment. From classes about urban gardening and herbal salve making to monthly crafts nights, the PLACE for Sustainable Living will provide Oakland residents with resources and knowledge on how to live a greener lifestyle.
Read MoreOakland fruit enthusiasts promote neighborhood foraging
Oakland residents Kim Di Giacomo and Michele Senitzer co-founded Found Fruit as a way of connecting with other neighborhoods who have produce and foraging skills to share. Flowering trees will soon start to produce fruit such as plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots and will ripen starting in June. Foundfruit.com lists where to find wild plum trees in public areas.
Read MoreFor an Oakland school garden program, it’s harvest time
The Oakland Based Urban Gardens organization — or O.B.U.G.S. — provides healthy food options for Oakland youth ages two to fourteen in six local school gardens. Reporter Lauren Callahan joined West Oakland Middle School students as they harvested greens and learned to make kale salad.
Read MoreA garden tour raises funds for healthy food education
In the shade of large, leafy lettuce and kale and tall stalks of beans, approximately 150 Bay Area residents met Saturday at the Saint Martin de Porres Elementary School garden to show their support for the nonprofit organization that planted it to give Oakland students a chance to learn about nutrition.
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