Posts by Edible East Bay

Want to try your hand at harvesting on an organic farm? Happy Acre Farm, located at the Sunol Ag Park, is looking for harvest help as well as assistance in their booth at the Jack London Square and Kensington farmers’ markets, both held on Sundays. Rewards include a share of the produce. Get in touch…

Blessing of the grapes and other seasonal harvest adventures By Cheryl Angelina Koehler, editor of Edible East Bay     Each year, as the northern hemisphere tilts into fall, I like to indulge myself with a trip out to our urban fringe areas to look in on the harvest. My interest in Alameda County’s southeastern…

EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT: Sip wines from more than 40 Livermore Valley wineries as the Annual Harvest Wine Celebration moves to a new spot at Las Positas College. Take in the view of vineyards and windmills from the college sports field. Enjoy arts and crafts by local artisans, lawn games, food trucks, and three…

  Join beekeeper Mike Vigo on the rooftop of Alameda Natural Grocery as he extracts the latest batch of honey from their hives. Taste fresh-from-the-hive honeycomb and honey, visit the observation hive, and learn about bees and beekeeping from Vigo of the Bee Ranchers. Once it’s extracted, the honey is bottled, labeled, and on the shelves…

Rockridge Market Hall marks its 30th year in the community with monthly thank-you events. Many customers who were kids when Market Hall debuted are now parents sharing the joys of good food with their own children. Bring the whole family for a festive afternoon of games, cupcake decorating, coloring, prizes, homemade play dough, music, and…

Thrive Dining offers a new option for people with cognitive impairments, neuromuscular disorders, or other challenges that make it difficult to use a knife and fork. Meals are served as one-bite and two-bite hors d’oeuvres intended to be eaten by hand. This method empowers people—including those with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, or other conditions that can interfere…

California’s Healthy Soils Program is offering grants to farmers and ranchers who use farm practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and/or store carbon in soil, trees, and shrubs. Eligible practices include the addition of mulch and compost, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and the planting of windbreaks, hedgerows, riparian plantings, filter strips, silvopasture, and more. Applications…

MariLark Farms welcomes the public to its 5th annual tomato tasting. Tomatoes have been grown organically on-site and all are heirlooms from seeds saved the previous seasons. Each year the farm grows hundreds of tomato starts for the local community, creating new farms in the process and highlighting the importance of plant biodiversity, seed saving, and…

Meet local artists and enjoy live music as you stroll through the nursery. An array of artworks, plants, and garden supplies are available for purchase, as are snacks from Okkon Japanese Street Food. Artists Susan Ashley, Shari Arai DeBoer, Holly Healy, Kiyomi Koide, Helen Krayenhoff, Luz Marina Ruiz, and Celia Wedding offer watercolors, photography, pottery,…

Chefs and Managers Step Up to the Plate By Cassie Bartholomew, Program Manager at StopWaste You’ve probably heard that a staggering 40{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of all food in the United States goes to waste before it ever reaches a plate, and the problem is just as prevalent in our homes as it is in restaurants, institutional kitchens,…

What happens when you combine classic open-faced Danish sandwiches with West Coast ingredients and techniques? Join culinary nutrition expert (and regular Edible East Bay contributor) Kristen Rasmussen de Vasquez for a pop-up featuring “West Coast Nordic” smørrebrød (“buttered bread” in Danish) along with her spin on a Scandinavian red berry pudding and garden herb sun…

Try these crowd-pleasing recipes from fourth-generation family business Mi Rancho, known for its organic tortillas made from non-GMO California corn. The Berber family runs the San Leandro–based business, which started as a small Oakland bodega. Today, Mi Rancho tortillas are a favorite with local restaurants as well as grocers across the state. Mi Rancho’s corn…

    Niles Pie wants to celebrate with the community as they become a worker-owned cooperative. Come on down to learn about what it means to be a worker cooperative as you enjoy live music, promotions, and giveaways at the Niles Pie open house. Scrumptious pie, pasties, empanadas, and salads are available à la carte. Please BYOB.…

Rockridge Market Hall celebrates 30 years in the community with a mini brunch at Highwire Coffee Roasters and Market Hall Bakery. This complimentary meal is a delicious thank-you to the public. Relax and enjoy coffee and juice, pear ginger scones, frittata, toasts with lemon caper cream cheese, gravlax, and fruit. This event is one of…

Meet Anya Ku and Elazar Sontag, the young authors of Flavors of Oakland: A Cookbook in 20 Stories, who interviewed and cooked with Oaklanders from many different cultures for their book. At this library event, the authors will share some of their favorite tales from the book and offer tastes of a few of the recipes. Ku…

For food, wine, and dance lovers, the Diablo Ballet Gourmet Gallop offers a fun way to sample flavorful dishes and memorable wines from an array of Walnut Creek restaurants. Participating spots include Massimo, Lark Creek Inn, Lottie’s Creamery, Sauced BBQ, and many others. All proceeds benefit Diablo Ballet and its PEEK (Performing Arts Education and…

This walking tour around Farmer Al’s famed Frog Hollow Farm features fruit trees at their peak for summer harvest. Learn about Frog Hollow’s farming practices and taste a variety of sweet peaches, plums, and nectarines, along with conserves, sun-dried fruit, heirloom tomatoes, and olive oil. The one-hour tour is followed by a 30-minute Q&A session with Farmer…

Want to up your savvy in the kitchen and garden? The Institute of Urban Homesteading offers an array of hands-on classes to help you do just that. From planning your fall garden to making your own cheese and yogurt, IUH serves up practical and fun skills you can bring to your own home. Here’s what’s coming…

Enjoy the warm breeze and waterfront sunset while savoring craft cocktails and dishes made with stone fruit, melons, berries, tomatoes, and other farmers’ market produce as CUESA brings their popular Cocktails of the Farmers’ Market from the SF Ferry Building to Oakland. It’s an all–East Bay lineup of bartenders and chefs at this Jack London…

  Edible East Bay honors farmer Nigel Walker, who passed away earlier this month. Walker founded Eatwell Farm in Solano County and was an early leader in the Bay Area’s organic food movement. Edible East Bay writer Matthew Green visited Walker at his farm in 2009 and wrote this chicken-and-egg story: here Photo: Matthew Green

Fentons Creamery welcomes the public to a double-header celebration of National Ice Cream Day and Fentons’ 123rd anniversary. To mark the event, Black & Tan Junior sundaes are just $1.23 throughout the day. Stop by for free samples, face painting, and crafts activities in the parking lot. Info: here National Ice Cream Day & Anniversary…

Come celebrate food, wine, and Livermore Valley’s unique terroir. Start with the food and wine pairing competition, in which 20 winemakers team up with Bay Area chefs to compete for honors at Casa Real. Enjoy a variety of events including cooking demos, wine seminars, vineyard tours, and exquisite meals. Cost varies with event. Tickets and…

Alden Lane Nursery welcomes the community to a family-friendly celebration of local art and music. Artists exhibit their work throughout the nursery and offer special demos of their skills. Enjoy Livermore wines, a selection of foods, hands-on art projects, and special sales in the nursery, which has hosted this event for the past 30 years.…

  Learn to support your body through high-quality nutrition and positive lifestyle choices. Two advanced nutrition consultant students from Bauman College offer a free, five-week wellness program to support renewed energy, allergy control, weight management, and sustainable eating habits. Meetings take place on the patio at Julie’s Coffee & Tea Garden, and Julie’s offers complementary…

  Fairyella ice pops are one of the treats on offer at the Capay Tomato Festival. The vegan pops, made by Benicia mom Kimberli Haris (pictured at right), are packed with organic fruits and veggies from Capay Organic. Read more about Haris and the pops: here Photo: Luke George Photography

Bring the whole family to this lively, tomato-packed event at Capay Organic Farm. Enjoy an afternoon of heirloom and cherry tomato tastings, farm tours, live music, dancing, and tractor tram rides. Bring a picnic, or purchase a meal or snack made with farm produce. Top your day off by camping in the farm orchards. Event…

Here’s a scoop for ice cream lovers who are allergic to nuts or sensitive to lactose: Take Local Food Adventures‘ newest Rockridge Ice Cream and Gelato tour, a family-friendly one-hour adventure with three delicious stops on College Avenue. Learn about the history of ice cream and enjoy nut-free flavors, sorbets, and/or soy-based ice creams (depending on…

Social enterprise Food Shift, a group that works to reduce food waste while also providing employment and job training, has just launched pop-up sales of food prepared with rescued produce. Hot entrées as well as frozen soups and pasta sauces are available and can be ordered in advance. Through a partnership with Josephine.com, Food Shift…

  Join the Ecology Center for a series of events geared toward reducing single-use plastic in daily life. Events include a film screening, shoreline clean-up, recycling tour, and workshops like plastic-free fermentation and reusable food wraps. Attend a panel discussion to learn about how plastics end up in our food. Submit your best photo to the…

Celebrate Bastille Day with French foods and festive music at Market Hall. Meet Georgeanne Brennan, author of La Vie Rustic, and hear her stories about living and traveling in France. Sample French ingredients like piment d’espelette, honey, salt, and cheese, and spin the wheel to win a prize. No charge except for purchases. On July…

Learn how to save seeds from your tomatoes, lettuce, beans, peas, squash, and more. It’s easy to do, and you’ll get hands-on experience in the class. Free, but please register: here. Seed Saving Class Wednesday July 12, 7–8:30 PM Richmond Public Library Community Room 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond Photo courtesy of Rebecca Newburn Read…

  Celebrate local foods and food makers at CUESA’s Summer Jam. Family-friendly events include a Better Burger Challenge, watermelon seed spitting, and kids’ crafts. Bakers and jam makers can submit their favorite dishes to the Cobblers, Crisps, & Crumbles and/or Summer Jam contests. Event info: here Contest info: Summer Preserves or Cobblers, Crisps, and Crumbles CUESA’s…

  Alameda social enterprise Food Shift is hiring a full-time associate to support administration, operations, and development. The organization works to reduce waste and increase access to nutritious food while developing models for job creation. The Food Shift kitchen is a job training and employment site for people with barriers to employment, which transforms surplus food…

  The Strawberry Moon is a favorite over at Super Juiced, a shop for organic smoothies and other healthy treats located in the courtyard at Swan’s Market. Read about the dynamic women who run the business in our Spring 2017 issue.  Makes 1 serving 1 banana 1 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen) 10 ounces almond milk…

  Readers of Edible East Bay’s Summer 2017 issue have been taking special notice of the art piece on the inside back cover. “At Oakland’s Ba-Bite,” a work in ink, watercolor, and collage, is by regular Edible East Bay illustrator and community artist Margo Rivera-Weiss. The piece is now being featured in a solo art…

  Rockridge Market Hall celebrates its cheese counter on June 30 as it honors 30 years of serving the Bay Area. The event showcases California artisan cheese producers and features mozzarella making and plenty of samples. Meet cheese maven (and former Oakland resident) Janet Fletcher, who will sign copies of her books Wine & Cheese…

  We’re delighted to update our current-issue story about The Conscious Kitchen, a group that’s working to improve taste and nutrition in school lunches. Conscious Kitchen recently got the go-ahead from the West Contra Costa County USD School Board for a pilot project at Peres and Madera Elementary Schools. Fundraising for the project has begun,…

Spend an evening in the kitchen at Three Stone Hearth (TSH) learning how to make your own dairy products. TSH worker-owner Linda Kallenberger discusses the art and science of making yogurt, butter, and crème fraîche in this hands-on session. You’ll also get to taste piimä cream, feta cheese, dairy kefir, and more at Linda’s Dairy…

Chef Samin Nosrat, who writes about the four elements behind successful cooking in Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, will be at Berkeley’s Local Butcher Shop offering samples made from her recipe for kefta kebabs with yogurt sauce. Pick up a signed copy of her book. Read our book review: here Book Signing with Chef Samin Nosrat Friday…

See three Bay Area chefs compete to bring food and performance art together as part of SF Design Week. Marvel at the magic as the chefs prepare culinary wonders in the kiln, throw a serving dish on the potter’s wheel, and plate food on sculpture made by potter Jered Nelson. Event includes dinner from San…

It’s a bit of a trek to Clovis, but this event may well be worth the effort. You’ll be joining the Ecological Farming Association for a sweet evening in a historic “natural farming” setting, tasting more than 60 varieties of peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, and pluots from California organic growers. Enjoy fresh fruit pies, take…

  Sculpture and gardens go so well together, as you’ll certainly appreciate while wandering the paths among the beautiful succulent and drought-tolerant plants at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Meet the artists as you enjoy live music by The Retroz Band, food from Roderick’s BBQ, and drinks from Calicraft Brewing Co. Member admission: $20. General admission: $25. Info…

Join the staff of Edible East Bay at the O2 Artisans’ Aggregate, an experimental network of artisans and businesses in a West Oakland collective community workspace. This open studio event showcases goods from member artists and other community crafters with live music from local favorite Rupa & the April Fishes. Enjoy performance art, demos of…

Join Chef Laura Stec of Innovative Cuisine for cooking classes at the Diablo Valley Farmers’ Market. Private group classes begin with a walk through the market with Chef Laura, who discusses how to select the best seasonal produce. Participants then prepare dishes with the chef, who shares culinary tips and tricks along the way. Upcoming classes…

Due to record rainfall over the winter, nearly half of the fields at Happy Boy Farms were flooded for weeks. Executive chefs Craig DiFonzo of Lungomare and Lev Delany of Chop Bar, who have been serving the farm’s organic produce for years, decided to roll up their sleeves and host a benefit dinner for the…

Rosalie Fanshel, a past Edible East Bay cover artist, welcomes the public to a reception for her exhibit featuring a six-foot tall drawing and her collection of woodblock prints called The Feminist Vegetable Cookbook. The show is up through July 31, with individual prints and the drawing for sale. Rosalie also designed the Berkeley Farmers’ Market logo art…

Stroll through the Ferry Building as you sample fine food and drink from local restaurants, bars, and wineries. Taste dishes and beverages from more than 60 spots, including the East Bay favorites AlaMar, Cosecha, Reem’s, and St. George Spirits. This walk-around feast features local farmers’ market produce and benefits CUESA’s kids cooking classes and its youth entrepreneurship…

Step back in time for a day at an old-fashioned country market. More than 25 antique dealers offer a variety of treasures, and you’ll also find plants, lavender products, flowers, and goods made at local farms. Stroll under old oaks surrounded by lavender fields and olive trees; bring a picnic or purchase foods from local…

Join the East Bay Beer Runners and Cleophus Quealy Beer Company to help prisoners gain skills and insight through gardening. After five miles or 5K at any pace you choose, quench your thirst at Cleophus Quealy. Canasta Kitchen will serve a full menu of tasty Mexican food, and spring brews will be on tap. This event…

  Here’s a good opportunity this summer for an in-depth study of permaculture, leading to a Permaculture Design Certificate. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome to this series of 16 classes offered by the Urban Permaculture Institute (UPI). Classes take place at Impact Hub Oakland, Alameda Point Collaborative, and various field trip sites. UPI offers a…

To honor its 30th year in the Bay Area, Market Hall is hosting special monthly events (on or around the 30th) as a thank you to the community. Different Market Hall merchants are featured each month. This month it’s a cookout with Hapuku Fish Shop and Marin Sun Farms. Come enjoy free tastes of grass-fed meats, grilled…

  This year’s Family Fun Fest features hands-on activities for all ages: games, contests, family Zumba, a petting zoo, free bike repair, and a bounce house. Join in on a Strawberry Walk, kids cooking contest, and puppet-making with found materials. The Fest is right next to the Saturday farmers’ market, where you can shop for…

UC urban agriculture experts and local partners share their extensive knowledge in two upcoming workshops. One session covers food safety basics for urban farmers; the second focuses on marketing and business management skills, including planning and labor laws. Take one or both workshops. Cost: $20 includes lunch and refreshments. Info and registration: here 2017 UC…

Author Events and Book Signings Might Become Harder to Find By Kristina Sepetys   That new cookbook you were hoping to get signed by the author at a bookstore event? Sorry, but a newly passed law could make getting your book autographed difficult or impossible.   AB 1570, a law passed by the California Legislature…

Among the many author appearances at this year’s Bay Area Book Festival will be Chef Samin Nosrat and illustrator Wendy MacNaughton talking with Davia Nelson of NPR’s Kitchen Sisters. The theme of Nosrat and MacNaughton’s new book is salt, fat, acid, and heat: the four elements needed to make meals truly delicious. It’s open seating at…

VISIT LOCAL FARMS ONLINE We’re delighted to share a profile from Digital Dirt, a media and storytelling project created by Marianna Zavala, who does education and community outreach for the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association. Marianna has been visiting farms and ranches to collect stories and photos to offer a behind-the-scenes look at all that…

In this 12-class series, experienced herbalists explore erogenous zone care and plant-based medicines that some consider taboo. Learn about psychedelic plants, topical remedies, holistic breast care, culinary herbs, clinical uses of cannabis, and more. In case you’re wondering, host Five Flavors Herbs does not sell psychedelics, cannabis, or related extracts. Series cost: $240 until May 31, $300…

Spend a memorable evening with the Vau de Vire Society as they present The Soiled Dove, a circus-infused dinner theater spectacular. You’ll find yourself in San Francisco’s Barbary Coast red light district living an evening of delicious decadence and danger. Indulge in a four-course experiential culinary event created by green catering company Work of Art.…

The Oakland Veg Fest celebrates the health and sustainability boosts of a plant-based diet. Sample a variety of vegan foods, and hear speakers and educators talk about different aspects of veganism. This animal-friendly event also features a cute dog contest. Come enjoy this free, open-air gathering beside Lake Merritt. Speakers include Kristie Middleton, author of…

Local Teen Builds Beehive, Family Awaits Sweet Returns   My gardening partner (and 15-year-old son) William Peale got a bee in his bonnet to build a Langstroth hive for our back garden. I fully supported him in his vision, because what gardener wouldn’t want a robust population of honeybees to help out with pollinating? After…

What happens when national policy prioritizes organic farming and remediating hunger? Find out on a tour of Cuba with Food First. Starting in and around Havana and traveling east, you’ll learn directly from Cuban farmers, educators, and government representatives about the country’s struggle to take control of its food system. Food First partners with Altruvistas and Fernando…

  Celebrate community, food, and gardens at the Edible Schoolyard’s annual plant sale. Stock up on veggies, tomatoes, fruit trees, herbs, flowers, and more. Get your gardening questions answered by experts, and bring an appetite for locally made food including wood-fired pizza and a variety of beers. Enjoy live music, and take a student-led tour of…

Curious about what makes extra virgin olive oil special? Here’s a great opportunity to learn from the expert olive oil tasters at Market Hall Foods. They’ll discuss what distinguishes different types and how to evaluate quality as they lead you through sampling a variety of oils from California, Italy, and Spain, all made in a…

  If you’re starting a coffee business, or seriously considering it, this four-day course at the Food Craft Institute (FCI) is just what you need to get launched. Learn about the culture and business of coffee, and explore methods for sourcing, roasting, cupping, selling, and serving. Course instructors who are successful roasters, wholesalers, retailers, and…

Real Food Real Stories unites people around food and storytelling. The group hosts intimate, friendly events where farmers, chefs, and other food changemakers talk about their lives while guests enjoy the food and conversation. At an upcoming gathering, Efren Avalos, owner and founder of Avalos Organic Farm, shares his personal story as a fifth-generation farmer.…

Meet the worker-owners behind local co-ops and collectives during an evening hosted by Slow Food East Bay and Port Kitchens. Join representatives from The Cheese Board Collective, Three Stone Hearth, Arizmendi, Alchemy Café, Mandela Marketplace, Sustainable Economies Law Center, and Project Equity to learn about their work and how you can support them. Relax with some popcorn…

Indulge in an afternoon of wine tasting on the waterfront as the new Oakland Urban Wine Festival comes to Jack London Square. Thirty Northern California wineries provide tastings, and guests can also enjoy small bites, craft beer, music, and exhibitor booths. Tasting ticket: $45, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting a local charity. Info and…

Enjoy every bite of a dim sum luncheon in Oakland’s Chinatown as you support women food journalists. The San Francisco chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier awards an annual fellowship (no strings attached) to a promising female Bay Area food journalist who is not a member of the organization. Author and illustrator Carolyn Phillips, whose books include…

This popular plant sale offers an extensive selection including perennial vegetables, rare fruits, heirloom annual edibles, herbs, California natives, and Mediterranean climate plants. Students in the horticulture club along with faculty, staff, and volunteers provide the labor for growing 80–90{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of the plants in the collection. Parking at the horticulture department is limited, so please…

Even with all the recent rain, it still makes sense to be water-wise in the Bay Area. Choose from a wide selection of drought-resistant plants, including plenty of California natives, at this annual sale. Gardeners in search of more exotic and unusual options can peruse a selection that features rare cycads and palms, carnivorous plants,…

Meet acclaimed cookbook author and New York Times columnist Melissa Clark and taste recipes and ingredients from her latest book, Dinner: Changing the Game. Sample three of the innovative recipes from the book: Cumin Chicken Meatballs with Green Chili Sauce, Zucchini and Cornmeal Cakes with Mint Chutney and Yogurt, and Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Almonds.…

Bay Area restaurants are stepping up to support ZeroFoodprint in the effort to help chefs and restaurants reduce their carbon footprint or “foodprint.” Participating restaurants donate $1 per diner on Earth Day, April 22, to fully offset carbon emissions from that day and support ZeroFoodprint’s work with other restaurants worldwide. The list of East Bay restaurants…

Home brewers and beer enthusiasts can mix and mingle at an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) Rally at 21st Amendment Brewery. Guests are invited to take a VIP tour of the San Leandro brewery, sample various beers, meet the 21st Amendment brewers and staff, and bring home prizes. Cost: Free to current AHA members. Join the AHA: here…

Bring the whole family to the garden and classroom at Alameda Natural Grocery, where kids get a tree planted in their name, seed bombs to plant, and a re-usable shopping bag to decorate. Enjoy healthy snacks at this event co-sponsored by Genuine Health, One Tree Planted, and Alameda Natural Grocery.   Also at the grocery this…

Treat yourself to a memorable Earth Day at a historic ranch and nature preserve. Don’t miss this rare chance to tour the meadows and woodland and to see the red-legged frogs and resident pond turtle. Guests can visit goats and parrots in the garden and take part in DIY gardening projects, nature arts and crafts,…

Spring Planting Tips The days are warming, and soon the soil will begin to dry out after the ongoing deluge of this very wet winter. Here are some tips to help you get great productivity from your spring plantings and set things up for an abundant summer season. Start by cultivating your space. As you…

Enjoy a rare chance to see the kitchen staff in action at Three Stone Hearth (TSH), a new model to the nation for community-supported kitchens. Find out why TSH was ahead of the curve with trends like bone broth and kombucha, and how pasture-raised chickens are connected to resilient communities. Chef Maeila Long teaches knife…

Join Edible East Bay staff at the UC Gill Tract Community Farm for a community celebration of Earth Day. In the morning, get your hands dirty by planting, harvesting, and prepping beds. Stay for a soup and salad lunch prepared from the farm’s harvest. Afternoon panel discussions cover a range of topics, from mugwort to movement…

We’re looking through our Instagram feed for the best photos of East Bay outdoor dining and summer foods to include in our Summer ’17 Issue. If you follow us on Instagram and post your best pix with #edibleeastbaysummer, you may get your work in print! Here are three recent favorites from our Instagram feed:   cityslickerfarms We’re…

Charoset, a mixture of fruit, nuts, and sweet Passover wine, is an integral part of the Passover seder, but recipes vary depending on country of origin and the ingredients available in that region at this time of year. Learn about these regional differences in offerings from Sandy Sonnenfelt, the prepared foods and pasta program director…

Join Lori Caldwell, the Compost Gal, for a talk on adding annual or perennial edibles to your garden. Learn about techniques for building healthy soil to increase yields, minimize pests and diseases, and use less water. Participants receive a handy reader for reference. Lori is a Master Composter, Stopwaste Educator, and owner of CompostGal: Consulting,…

When you enjoy a meal at Gather, Cancun, Elmwood Café, Ippuku, or any number of other participating restaurants on Thursday April 20, you’ll also be supporting Berkeley’s school gardens. Participating eateries donate at least 15{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of the day’s proceeds to the Berkeley Public School Gardening & Cooking Program. Students in preschool through high school benefit from…

Rodgers Ranch offers a day of urban farm adventures along with an impressive plant sale. Thousands of organic vegetable seedlings, succulents, herbs, and native plants are available. Guests can tour the garden and soak up new ideas at classes on soil health, grey water, herbs, and olive oils. Bring the whole family and have a grand…

If you’re looking to start or continue a culinary career, you may be eligible for a James Beard Foundation scholarship. Since 1991, the Foundation has awarded over $7 million in financial aid to more than 1,850 recipients attending culinary schools, colleges, and universities. Working culinary professionals may apply for grants to fund experiential learning at farms,…

Feeling inspired by all the great food-themed art featured in Edible East Bay? Try creating some of your own! April 8 is a good time to go check out the art supplies at FLAX in Oakland as they hold their one-year anniversary in their new Oakland location. Roll up your sleeves and try arts and…

Magic and medicine surround us, if you know where to look. Take a WITCHES* Walking Tour of Oakland halfway around Lake Merritt, co-hosted with Rooted in Resilience. Along the way, you’ll see 22 medicinal herbs and plants. Learn about plant propagation, smudge wands, and how to use medicinal herbs and plants in your home. Light…

  They’re on a mission to end hunger: The Starfish Throwers, heroes of an award-winning documentary film, are three individuals who each find a way to feed thousands. A chef in India, a twelve-year-old gardener in South Carolina, and a retired schoolteacher in Minnesota reach out and make a significant difference for hungry people in…

  Farms to Grow, a nonprofit helping under-represented farmers create and maintain sustainable farms, is offering monthly community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes this spring for $10 and $25. Participating farmers may be Black, Native American, Hispanic, or members of other minority groups; women; or farmers facing physical challenges. Find Farms to Grow and many other local CSA programs…

  Join three local olive oil experts—Roberta Klugman, Nancy Ash, and Kathryn Tomajan—for an interactive workshop and tasting. Sample five oils paired with foods that enhance and highlight various flavors. Learn about methods for growing and production, and hear recommendations on the selection, use, and storage of oils. Workshop leaders will dive into the important…

  Want to create or expand your backyard urban farm? BioFuel Oasis hosts its annual Urban Farm Day with free demos and workshops on gardening, backyard beehives, veggie fermentation, and kombucha making. A highlight is the chance to meet Stefani Bittner, co-author of Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants. She will discuss ways to use…

If you’re a fan of the farmers’ market, go one step further and become a volunteer. CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, is looking for people to help out at the Jack London Square market and with education programs and events. Get an insider’s view of the market, learn about CUESA and…

For those interested in starting a butchery business or expanding a restaurant’s whole-animal program, Food Craft Institute serves up an intensive four-day course for meat professionals, chefs, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Develop your understanding of how to succeed in the meat industry, from sourcing and whole-animal butchery to running a charcuterie program, managing inventory, and setting…

Farm Fresh to You, an organic farm and CSA delivery program, kicks off a season of farm-based events with their Spring Equinox Farm Tour. Ride the tractor tram around the farm and learn about sustainable agriculture from chief farmer Thaddeus Barsotti. Taste products from surrounding farms and pick out fresh organic produce from the produce…

New tastes are in store during Livermore Valley’s annual wine country celebration. The event, formerly known as Barrel Tasting Weekend, has expanded and now also features craft brews and artisan spirits. Amateurs and experts alike are invited to experience the region’s wine, beer, and spirits, all made with outstanding attention and care. Cost: $45 in…

Join the founders of KW Botanicals and Five Flavors Herbs on March 17–19 for an educational excursion to the Southern California desert. Enjoy the flower bloom at its peak and learn about harvesting, preparation, and application of over 20 native medicinal plants. (California acupuncturists can log 10 hours class time/10 CEUs pending.) Practitioner Cost: $175; General public and…

Gardeners, landscapers, urban farmers, and other garden enthusiasts can donate or bring home plants, tools, and equipment at this free event. Yard art, mulch, goldfish, books, compost bins, and lawn furniture are also part of this lively exchange. The event features a live band, food trucks, gardening demos, and advice from the Alameda County Master…

Celebrate the many pleasures of artisanal cheesemaking at this annual weekend event. Guests enjoy farm and creamery tours, tastings, seminars, and (new this year) cheesemaker dinners. At the Ultimate Best Bite Competition, teams of cheesemakers, cheesemongers, and chefs compete and guests vote for their favorite bites. Meet Food Network stars The Cheese Twins, hosts of…

If you’re overdue for a culinary treat, head out to Garré Vineyard & Winery in Livermore Valley Wine Country. Winemaker Kyle Kekic and Chef Abe of Café Garré have pulled out all the stops to offer a special five-course meal paired with the vineyard’s handcrafted wines. Cost: $110. Info and reservations: garre@garrewinery.com or 925.371.8200 Dinner Menu Salmon…

Art Classes and Gratitude from our Cover Artist     Many of our readers are already huge fans of this issue’s cover artist Margo Rivera-Weiss. Margo’s whimsical, captivating images frequently appear in the magazine, and Margo also shares their* artistry through teaching. Serious heath issues in recent months have prevented Margo from teaching, but they’re…

Exchange home-grown garden seeds, meet local gardeners, and hear the latest legal news about seed sharing at the Annual Bay Area Seed Exchange presented by BASIL, a project of the Ecology Center. You can also enjoy a potluck supper and live music by Mud Fence at this lively event, which is co-sponsored by Transition Berkeley, Sustainable Economies…

Heavens, it’s raining again! You’re looking at all the flood news footage and thinking you may need to rent a canoe for that Napa Valley wine-tasting adventure you had planned. Well, no need for that. You’ll soon be able to set up in front of the big screen at home, open one of those prized…

  Celebrate the release of seven new wines and taste them with a variety of foods. Meet Donkey & Goat owners and winemakers, and savor the results of their natural winemaking process as you sample these new offerings: Isabel’s Cuvee (Rose), Eliza, The Bear, Perli Chardonnay, Skin Ferment Grenache Blanc, Untended Chardonnay, and Old Vine Carignane.…

  Take a leisurely walk through Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto while sampling local wines, craft beers, and mead. Try sweet and savory bites from neighborhood shops along the way: Enjoy chocolates, gelato, honey, soups, cheeses, pizza, and more. Bring family and friends for a chance to sip, stroll, and shop. Event proceeds benefit Martin Luther King Jr.…

  Meet Viktor Sinzig and Natalie Flechsig, whose new mobile app, Halfy Hour, just launched in the Bay Area. It alerts consumers about restaurant and bakery food available for half price. Food businesses often discard items that aren’t sold by the end of the day, even though the food is still good. Using Halfy Hour, business…

Come hear Brandi Campbell Wood, chief of staff to Mayor Jesse Arreguin, discuss proposed new legislation in support of urban agriculture that could increase the amount of food grown locally. Get the details on creating gardens in unoccupied residential lots, commercial zones, or hillside spaces, and hear about rooftop gardens and the process for starting…

  Enjoy an evening of film, including the documentary Homecoming and several shorts about the legacy of Black farming in the United States, United Kingdom, and Kenya. Cost: $5–$25 sliding scale, but no one turned away for lack of funds. Light refreshments served. Presented by Pollinate Farm & Garden and Farms to Grow, Inc., a group…

Marvel at the beauty and complexity of seeds and seed vessels at this exhibit by the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists on display at the UC Botanical Garden. Also at the garden this month: a tour showing how plants travel. Learn all about botanical fruit and seed adaptations, like slingshots, parachutes, hitchhikers, helicopters, and other clever…