Posts by Edible East Bay

Food trucks will roll up near Emeryville’s Public Market each month beginning on Saturday afternoon, August 20. Off the Grid announces the launch of a new third Saturdays food truck event that features a wide variety of foods, curated live music, community partnerships, and children’s activities. Info: here Off the Grid: Emeryville Public Market Saturday…

Wander through the rows at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery to admire nature- and food-themed works by local artists. Pieces on view and for sale include watercolor and Chinese brush painting as well as sculpture and photography. Meet exhibiting artists Susan Ashley, Helen Krayenhoff, Keeyla Meadows, Don Melandry, Margo Rivera-Weiss, and Joan Yao, and enjoy live music…

Join in and share your DIY or DIT (do it together) skills at the family-friendly East Bay Mini Maker Faire. Interactive exhibits or those showing the process of making things are in high demand. Many crafts are welcome, including homesteader and domestic arts, textiles, arts and crafts, ceramics, glass, puppets, electronics, robotics, bicycles, and human-powered…

Join Kitchen on Fire chef Olive Said and nutrition consultant Lisa Miller for two market-related events this month. On August 18 at the North Berkeley Farmers’ Market, the duo offers demos on how to prepare local, seasonal produce. On August 20, they team up for a Farmers’ Market class at Kitchen on Fire, starting with a…

CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, seeks new volunteers to help out at farmers’ markets and with education programs and events. At an upcoming orientation, learn how to get involved at the Jack London Square market in Oakland or the Ferry Plaza market in San Francisco. Get the scoop on the history…

    Dubbed the largest street festival west of the Mississippi, this event features 600 booths selling handmade arts and crafts, a gourmet marketplace, live music, and children’s activities. Dozens of food vendors offer specialty foods ranging from marinades and chutneys to handmade pastas and desserts. Many of the food booths are run by nonprofits…

A Special Cookbook, a Special Brentwood Farm Come out to Brentwood to meet the First Generation Farmers. Their unique nonprofit community farm has a mission of facilitating food access within the local community, while also “conserving natural resources, providing public education, access to open space, and promoting beginning farmers, ranchers, and agripreneurs.” This event is centered…

  Explore the world in a cup with the new Oakland Indie Coffee Passport. Support Oakland’s indie cafés by purchasing a $13 passport valid for a drink at each of 11 participating shops. Visit cafes throughout the city like Red Bay Coffee Roasters, Enssaro Café, 1812 Coffee Company, Beulah’s Bean Truck, and more. Each stop…

  More than 100 speakers—scientists, farmers, environmentalists, elected officials, grassroots organizers, and food justice advocates—offer their expertise at this international conference. Learn about agro-ecology, biodiversity, climate justice, clean energy, and more at a variety of workshops, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities. Andrew Kimbrell, founder and executive director of Center for Food Safety, gives this year’s…

From Mark Bitterman’s Field Guide to Bitters and Amari: 500 Bitters; 50 Amari; 123 Recipes for Cocktails, Food and Homemade Bitters (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2015) Used with permission from the publisher.  Read our review by Kristina Sepetys. Makes 4 servings You shoot a bird. You light a fire. You muster some African spices. You grab…

Taste award-winning wines from Paso Robles Wine Country in an event at Oakland’s Scottish Rite Center. Meet the winemakers and owners, and learn about California’s third-largest wine-producing region. Evening admission of $45 includes wine tasting, cheese and charcuterie, and a Paso Robles Wine Country logo wine glass. Events for members of the wine buying trade…

Food First brings together an expert panel to look at how, why, and by whom food is wasted. Join Marcy Coburn of the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), Evan Hazelett of Imperfect Produce*, and Brianna McGuire of Foodfully for a dialogue on the implications of food waste, the opportunities for food justice, and…

Capay Organic Farm hosts its 9th annual Tomato Festival with tastings, tours, live music, and camping in the orchards. Sample heirloom and cherry tomato varieties and vote for your favorites. Bring a picnic or purchase farm-fresh, locally made food and drinks. The winner of the Best Guest Picnic Contest receives three complimentary deliveries of organic produce…

Kitchen witchery is afoot! Join Lila Volkas for a magical lesson on brewing healing kombucha with medicinal herbs. Learn about the history and health benefits of this beverage made from sweetened tea fermented by a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). Sample an aphrodisiac kombucha, if you feel daring, or relax with anxieTEA kombucha.…

By Katie Gatlin A Fentons Creamery tour offers plenty of retro charm. With the happy cow mascot, daily-churned ice creams (20 kinds behind a bright glass case), sunshiny families celebrating birthdays, and couples sharing high-piled sundaes, I feel like I’m on a set for Grease or The Music Man. Founded in 1894, Fentons is an…

  Bay Area chocolatiers from Barlovento Chocolates, TCHO, Poco Dolce Chocolates, and Dandelion Chocolate welcome students into their kitchens to study the art and science of chocolate making for this Food Craft Institute intensive course. Learn about the hands-on techniques that produce outstanding tastes. Explore the thriving local chocolate scene, from large-scale production to in-house confectionery. Registration…

Throughout July, the Ecology Center hosts events to inform and engage the public about reducing plastic waste and finding alternatives to household plastic use. Check out their films, discussions with experts, a shoreline cleanup at the Berkeley Marina, and special activities at the Berkeley farmers’ markets. Learn about California’s plastic bag ban, which will be on…

Celebrate Bastille Day at Rockridge Market Hall with tastings, cooking demos, and storytelling. Sample traditional French recipes, artisanal cheeses, and a memorable selection of pantry ingredients. Meet Kitty Keller, founder of KL Keller Foodways, and hear stories about her adventures in France. Keller sources and imports those harder-to-find French ingredients from farmers and producers she…

It’s true, you’ve always harbored a secret desire to participate in the encierro (running of the bulls) at the fiestas of San Fermin, which are held the second week of July each year in Pamplona, Spain. Perhaps easier to work into your busy schedule this week would be a quick trip to Walnut Creek, where purveyor…

Drake’s Brewing Company debuts a summer IPA with proceeds donated to the East Bay Regional Parks Foundation. Kick Back is a Session IPA (4.3{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} alcohol by volume) with notes of tangerine, peach, and guava. It’s available through September at the brewery and at the park district’s concerts at Crab Cove on July 8 and August…

Oakland-based Chef Caesare Assad interprets traditional Native American dishes at an intimate San Francisco pop-up dinner. Chef Assad pays tribute to her mentor, Potawatomi Chef Loretta Barrett Oden, through interpretations of recipes developed by Chef Oden. The six-course meal features Seka Hills olive oil, heirloom vegetables from Full Belly Farm, and locally sourced salmon, quail,…

East Bay folks who like to station themselves on the bay shore for Independence Day fireworks are often rewarded with a show on every horizon. “You can see them going off in Berkeley, Marin, and San Francisco from here,” says R&B Cellars winemaker Barbara Brown of the upcoming fireworks. It’s easy to see how that’s…

Small U.S. family farms can apply for a $20,000 grant from Beekman 1802, which gives away 25{94d79dd6af1e87a94e700e4c297236468333f22e27ed5757b44711974a9a4b91} of profits from its Farm Pantry products. The business was cofounded by former city slickers Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, stars of the reality TV show The Fabulous Beekman Boys as well as cookbook authors and farmers in…

Celebrate Latino culture with dance performances, a dance contest, food vendors, and a classic car show. Fruitvale First highlights the area’s Latino diversity as well as the cultural activities, restaurants, nonprofits, and community groups that enrich the neighborhood. Enjoy Aztec dancers, Afro-Cuban rumba, samba, and folklorico dance. Savor a variety of tastes from food trucks…

Spend a delicious evening in the Central Valley as farmers showcase their bounty of organic stone fruit. Thirteen farmers offer sun-sweetened peaches, plums, pluots, nectarines, apricots, and apriums, including heirloom varieties rarely found in grocery stores. Sample the fruit, take some home, and enjoy farm tours, a pie-making demo, crafts for kids, a Japanese tea…

The KPFA Summer Crafts Fair lights up the Craneway Pavilion this weekend, with more than 170 artists offering handmade jewelry, clothing, leather goods, pottery, sculpture, paintings, great gifts for Father’s Day, and much more. The fair benefits KPFA 94.1 FM public radio and also features food artisans offering samples and selling locally made products. A…

The People’s Community Market has secured a site and is holding a party to celebrate. The West Oakland grocery store will offer affordable, healthy foods as well as community resources and events. Community members can purchase shares to help fund the construction. Come see the site, meet the team behind the project, and enjoy a BBQ,…

Explore the world of insects, from the beautiful to the bizarre, on Bug Day at the UC Botanical Garden. Learn about plant-eating bugs and bug-eating plants at this family-friendly interactive event that features live insects, butterfly and bee crafts, honey tasting, and more. Entry is free with garden admission. Free shuttle service from the Lawrence…

Learn why Three Stone Hearth (TSH) believes in adding liver to ground meat dishes, nixtamalizing their polenta and cornmeal in lime, and culturing everything from milk to mushrooms. Spend the day with co-founder Jessica Prentice and explore the philosophy and practices that underlie their cooking. Come away with an understanding of traditional diets and how to…

Join CUESA for a lively stone fruit tasting, and try to name your fruits. Sample a luscious selection of the season’s best peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, pluots, and plumcots at the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market. Try new flavors, and learn to tell, perhaps, an Arctic Queen from a Diamond Pearl. Find the tasting adjacent…

Come out to support a kitchen that reduces food waste, creates nutritious meals, and provides jobs for people who were formerly homeless. Meet guest speaker Robert Egger, advisor to the project and founder of DC Central Kitchen and LA Kitchen. Enjoy tastings cooked up by Alameda Kitchen Chef Harold using cosmetically imperfect food, and sip…

Soul Food Farm welcomes visitors to its annual marketplace for antiques, vintage jewelry and furnishings, retro décor, and other unique collectables. Relax in the lavender fields, enjoy a variety of offerings by local chefs, and settle in for a picnic in the olive orchard. Farm and food vendors offer an array of items including honey, lotions,…

City Slicker Farms announces the opening of its West Oakland Farm Park, where you’ll find an outdoor play space plus community garden plots and nutrition education. The celebratory weekend starts this Saturday with a free community meal made with produce grown on site as well as tours, gardening classes, and cooking demos. Workshops and cooking demos…

California’s edible and medicinal plants have been used since prehistoric times for a variety of  nutritional and therapeutic benefits. This full-day workshop at the UC Botanical Garden covers topics ranging from an introduction to major bioregions and plant communities to harvesting guidelines and safety issues. Class includes an interactive lecture, sampling of plant preparations, and…

EDDY’s voting wraps up tomorrow, and we need your votes! As many of our readers have heard by now, three of our 2015 pieces were nominated for Edible Communities EDDY awards. One of them (Scott Peterson’s video about seed saving) is currently in first place. If Scott’s video wins the EDDY, it will help us…

Downtown Berkeley becomes a hub for writers and readers this weekend as the Bay Area Book Festival highlights 300 authors in panel discussions and interviews. For food and cooking enthusiasts, a panel on Why We Cook What We Cook includes urban farmer Novella Carpenter and chef Tanya Holland. For cooks with a scientific bent, James…

Donkey & Goat Winery welcomes summer with First Friday art, music, and wine events at its Tasting Room. This Friday, enjoy soulful music by Jessica Jarvis, meet Oakland oil painter Ian Reynold, and view his work. Donkey & Goat’s handmade natural wines are available by the glass and bottle and taste just right with treats…

Come on over to Grabishfarm for a whole-hog, farm-to-fork dinner served in the pasture. Chef Craig DiFonzo of Oakland’s Lungomare, Chef Lev Delany of Oakland’s Chop Bar, and Winemaker Curt Schalchlin of Sans Liege Wines offer a memorable snout-to-tail feast using one of the farm’s heritage Mulefoot hogs along with foods grown on the farm. Tour the farm…

Please vote to help Edible East Bay win a Readers’ Choice EDDY Award. Voting continues through June 8 for the EDDY Awards. Scott Peterson’s video about a local seed saving activist is in first place, but another video is gaining ground. Vote daily to keep us in first place! Edible East Bay is part of…

Looking for summertime inspiration for your favorite teen? Berkeley cooking school Kitchen on Fire is offering Summer Teen Culinary Camps with a focus on international cuisine. Each day is dedicated to a different part of the world, starting in Europe and wrapping up in the Middle East and North Africa. Campers of all skill levels are welcome and…

This event offers a double benefit: Delight in French-inspired dishes and premium wines while also supporting meals for homebound seniors. A Taste of France benefits Meals on Wheels of Alameda County, which delivers 530,000 meals to seniors each year. Top chefs from local restaurants such as Italian Colors, Ozumo, Bellanico Restaurant & Wine Bar , Chop Bar,…

  Dancers Nina Haft & Co. present a site-specific performance and conversation about water and climate change. Starting at the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center (HSIC), the public is invited to join the dancers and naturalists from the Center along a 2.5-mile loop of coast trail. Immerse yourself in an experience of dance, music, and nature, followed…

Join Green Tortoise Adventure Travel for a fun and memorable weekend retreat on a horse- and solar-powered biodynamic farm in Mendocino County. This is a chance for an up-close view of the spiritual, ethical, and ecological farming methods used by founders Stephen and Gloria Decatur. Guests will visit a solar energy facility and enjoy farm-fresh meals,…

Edible East Bay is part of Edible Communities, a network of more than 80 Edible magazines published in locations across North America. Each year, the EDDY Awards honor the best stories in various categories as well as best photography and digital content. Edible East Bay is thrilled to have three nominees in the running this…

  Taste Fruitvale’s Latino delicacies, find out about ingredients in Latino cooking, and pick up some cooking secrets from local bakers and cooks. Learn about the neighborhood’s rich Latino history, murals, and culture as you enjoy a walk from Peralta Hacienda to Foothill and back. Professor Alex Saragoza leads the walk and local merchants share…

The Ecology Center hosts this annual festival alongside the Saturday farmers’ market. All-ages activities include games, dancing, performances, and contests in hula hooping and skateboarding. Build a puppet, make art in the create-with-nature zone, check out the bike library, and explore family-friendly science. Free. Info: 510.548.3333 or here Annual Family Fun Festival Saturday May 28, 10am–2pm…

Learn to prepare umeboshi (sometimes also called sour plum or pickled plum), a classic Japanese pickle made from the ume fruit, which is like a sour apricot or plum. Join author Sonoko Sakai and Pollinate Farm & Garden for an in-depth, hands-on session all about making umeboshi. Considered a digestive aid, umeboshi is eaten alone or…

Oakland’s blockbuster literary event features 60 writers engaged in lively conversation and debate. The day’s panels are intriguing and far-reaching, ranging from The Uncanniness of Altruism to Revolution in the Middle East. This free gathering also welcomes young readers with book-making projects sponsored by Oakland’s Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA), readings hosted by the Oakland…

See urban and suburban farming in action at two upcoming tours offered by The Institute of Urban Homesteading. This weekend, visit a small East Oakland property and meet some of its residents: rabbits, bees, chickens, goats, ducks, quail, cats, and a pig. Pet the animals, ask their owners questions, and enjoy tastes of the cheese…

Join the Fremont Chamber of Commerce in a celebration of California’s craft breweries. Sample an impressive variety of beers, and savor the wine, burgers, sliders, and other food truck specialties. Visit art and craft vendors and local businesses at the Gourmet Marketplace and the Business Marketplace. Live music and a DJ keep the day lively…

Visit Grabishfarm to celebrate and learn about International Heritage Breeds Day. According to the nonprofit Livestock Conservancy, modern animal agriculture has led to a tremendous loss of genetic diversity as many traditional livestock breeds have been replaced by “improved” breeds. Across the country, events like this open house are raising awareness about endangered heritage breeds…

Paper, wire, and glue are all it takes to create beautiful botanical art. In the first class in this series, make your own woodland strawberry plant. Learn to cut and mold high-quality European crepe paper to mimic the delicate blossoms, leaves, roots, and sparkling fruit of Fragaria vesca. Use artist chalks and alcohol markers to…

Our readers have long been excited about the recipes paired with beautiful photos or illustrations in our magazine and newsletter. For cooks and eaters alike, we’ve posted these recipes for soups, salads, sides, appetizers, entrees, and desserts on our Pinterest page. Dig in!

Ever wondered what makes an olive oil “extra virgin” and which brands are best? Come to the Pasta Shop to taste a variety of oils from top producers and explore different intensities and flavor profiles. Get your questions answered by experts, marinate some goat cheese or bocconcini (little balls of mozzarella), and try unusual pairings like…

The Grass Up! educational campaign run by Organic Valley welcomes the public to a gathering that’s all about creating a sustainable food future. Meet farmers, scientists, educators, and activists, and sample seasonal organic food and cocktails. At a series of learning stations, experts on soil, pastures, climate change, pollinators, and seeds are eager to discuss…

  Celebrate 20 years of edible education at the Edible Schoolyard Plant Sale, an event for the whole community. Get your garden started or give it a boost with tomatoes, vegetables, fruit trees and berries, herbs, perennials, annual flowers, and plenty of gardening advice. Enjoy locally made food, a beer garden, student-led tours, live music,…

Imagine a cross between a farmers’ market and a county fair, complete with food, music, dancing, and goods sold by local artisans, and you’ve got a good idea of what to expect at Happy Girl Kitchen’s Barn Fair. Enjoy homemade jams from Happy Girl, tarts by pastry chef Jenny Raven, coffee from Four Barrel, flower…

Congratulations to Clover Stornetta as it marks 100 years of serving up divine dairy products! The family-owned business has collaborated with Northern California farms since 1916, when the Petaluma Cooperative Creamery started to distribute Clover’s dairy items to stores and customers. The only U.S. dairy certified by the American Humane Association for its animal welfare…

This sale offers a wide selection of drought-resistant plants including many California natives. For lawn replacements, find different varieties of drought-resistant clumping grasses and plants. In addition, gardeners can delight in the exotic and unusual: rare cycads and palms, carnivorous plants, cacti and succulents, and more. The UC Botanical Garden’s expert staff and volunteers are…

  At this sale, gardeners can find perennial vegetables, rare fruits, and heirloom annual edibles, plus drought-tolerant plants, California natives, Mediterranean climate plants, and choice herbs. The impressive selection of veggies include kalettes, peppers, bumble-bee tomatoes, and “Michael Pollan” tomatoes. The plant sale takes place both days, but the food, live music, and vendors are…

Chef and fisherman Kevin Butler of Real Good Fish, a community supported fishery, joins the team at Niles Pie Co. to prepare a local seafood feast. Convivial communal tables make this four-course meal of Creamy Smoked Cod Chowder; Spring Herb Salad; Local Monterey Bay Sole Stuffed with Leeks, Mushrooms, and Goat Cheese; and Roasted Rhubarb…

In this porcine-themed culinary competition, five renowned local chefs create dishes prepared from whole, locally raised heritage breed pigs. This is an all-you-can-eat (and drink) event, as you cheer on the winner, who competes at the Grand Cochon event held in Aspen in June. Proceeds benefit the heritage pig charity Piggy Bank, a farm of…

Bring the whole family to the historic Wagner Ranch Nature Area for a free festival in honor of Earth Day. The event features Native American singers and drummers, nature crafts and games, frontier chemistry, docent tours through the ranch property, food, music, and the chance to test drive an electric BMWi3. The 134-year-old ranch serves…

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore wine country. In 2010, Wente Vineyards received the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing designation, and it’s one of the only wineries to certify every aspect of its business. Join fourth-generation winegrower Carolyn Wente for a festive anniversary dinner featuring a four-course meal paired with the…

  Get adventurous as you explore the art of pickling and fermenting fish with Kirk Lombard of Sea Forager, Willow Blish of Slow Food, and Andrew Renard, Three Stone Hearth’s Fermentation and Preservation Lead. Learn about fish seasonality and explore pickling lesser-known species. Try your hand at ojingeojeot (a Korean salted and fermented squid) plus Thai…

Market Hall Pastry Chef Neucimar Dias Da Silva grew up in Brazil, where coconut is plentiful. Here is his unique recipe for coconut macaroons, a Passover favorite. “[In Brazil], we have some kind of macaroons made with fresh coconut that contains no flour or egg whites. Instead of sugar, it is made with condensed milk.…

  The New Mediterranean Jewish Table: Old World Recipes for the Modern Home by Joyce Goldstein (University of California Press, 2016) Joyce Goldstein, former Chez Panisse chef and owner of Square One in San Francisco, has produced an extensive and authoritative guide to Jewish home cooking from North Africa, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and…

Local author Sarah Henry and photographer Erin Scott have collaborated on a delightful new book about California farms and the people who grow and harvest our food. Farmsteads of the California Coast: With Recipes from the Harvest by Sarah Henry, with photos by Erin Scott. (Yellow Pear Press, 2016). Award-winning journalist Sarah Henry, one of…

Lace up your sneakers and come out to Capay Valley for a 5K run with farmer Thaddeus Barsotti and his family. Runners and walkers of all abilities are welcome. After the run, enjoy a farm talk with Thaddeus, tractor-tram rides, a petting zoo, arts & crafts, a harvest activity, and farm tours between 11am and…

Emeryville caterer Paulding & Company hosts a pop-up fundraiser to support their summer camp scholarship fund. Paulding & Co’s COOK! programs teach basic cooking skills, specialized cuisines, and kitchen science for kids ages 9–18. The COOK! fundraiser showcases the talents of teen chefs, who will gather earlier in the day to whip up a feast for lucky…

A group of esteemed experts talk about the U.S. food system and the health impacts of food insecurity. The lively debate will focus on creating communities where nutritious food is accessible and affordable. Speakers include Doria Robinson of Urban Tilth, Dr. Hilary Seligman of the Center for Vulnerable Populations at San Francisco General Hospital, and…

Building a robust Northern California grain economy is the ultimate goal as farmers, bakers, scientists, policy experts, and educators gather at the 2016 Community Grains Conference. Geologist and author David Montgomery starts us off as keynote speaker, and conference topics include seed supply, the meaning of “good farming,” soil health, and the nutritional value of…

  The energetic staff over at The Town Kitchen has been busy turning out scrumptious salads and sandwiches while building community ties throughout the East Bay. This time last year, the Oakland business that hires and trains low-income youth had delivered just 1,000 lunches: this month they delivered boxed lunch # 20,000. Known for building partnerships…

Does white-water rafting plus gourmet wine and food sound just about perfect? If so, join Michael Dashe of Dashe Cellars for his annual rafting and wine tasting trip down Oregon’s Rogue River. Experienced river guides lead the journey and take care of all the cooking and clean-up so you can enjoy the adventure and savor…

Delight in the work of Berkeley artist David Lance Goines, creator of memorable posters for Chez Panisse, Acme Bread, Mr. Espresso, and numerous other local businesses. Goines attended UC Berkeley and founded Berkeley’s Saint Hieronymus Press in 1968, where he still designs his work and prints it by letterpress and photo-offset lithography. Along with the…

Imagine the excitment of watching 80 highly trained dogs and their handlers demonstrate their skills for livestock work. Plan on an entertaining day as the dogs move sheep around a large course and vie for a place at the National Sheepdog Finals in September. Bring binoculars and a blanket or folding chairs. (Please leave Rufus…

In the first of several spring workshops organized by Slow Food East Bay, you can share the kitchen with chef Kevin Butler of Real Good Fish. The session includes instruction in various ways to dry, cure, and smoke fish to preserve it for future eating. Get hands-on experience with salmon (or black cod, depending on…

Taste some of the flavorful new wines being developed in Livermore Valley, where 35 wineries take part in the 8th Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend. Part of the booming Tri-Valley region, Livermore Valley has become a noteworthy wine region of California. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet winemakers and taste an assortment of wines right…

Meet California’s top artisan cheese makers, authors, chefs, winemakers, and brewers. This Sonoma County weekend offers an array of cheese-related learning and tasting experiences: seminars, pairings, tastings, farm tours, cheese-making classes, expert panels, and demos by top chefs. Highlights include the Cheesemongers’ Duel, California Cheesin’, the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace, and more. Rain or…

Join the Alameda County Master Gardeners for monthly conversations in their earth-friendly demonstration garden. Talks cover seasonal topics and include gardening advice and guided tours. The topic for March is the pros and cons of different types of mulch; April’s session is on hydrozoning and efficient watering. Gatherings are outdoors and may be cancelled due…

Dig in for an intensive permaculture workshop with a focus on creating regenerative systems that serve both nature and humans. Learn to integrate agriculture, biology, ecology, and design principles and to think in a holistic way. Spend two weeks connected to the earth and explore topics including permaculture ethics and principles, food forests, climate strategies,…

Sip a cocktail in support of Latina immigrants at farm-to-table Mexican restaurant Nido. Together with Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) Nido has launched a new cocktail menu for March in honor of Women’s History Month. Nido will donate $1 of each cocktail purchased to the grassroots organization MUA, which empowers Latinas through workforce development, counseling, domestic…

Calling local gardeners and garden enthusiasts! All are welcome to come attend the West County DIGS Annual Supply Giveaway in support of public school gardens. Twenty-five district schools receive seeds, trowels, watering cans, mulch, and other supplies. Community members are invited to share in the joyful spirit of the event, meet school gardeners and district…

Explore the world of natural fibers and dyes and the connection they create between culture and nature. This exhibit examines traditional uses as well as trends in eco-fashion and creative textiles. Throughout the month, choose among workshops and demos on naturally dyed cosmetics, plant-based printmaking inks, papermaking with plants, naturally dyed eggs, and more. Workshop…

How green is your clothing? Join Fibershed founder Rebecca Burgess for a Real Food Real Stories event and learn how she’s creating a local textile economy that promotes sustainability and builds community. Enjoy the peace and beauty of the UC Botanical Garden Redwood Grove and learn about how our choice of clothing is connected to our food system. Feast…

Brush up on your urban farming know-how at a free Biofuel Oasis workshop or demo. The annual Urban Farm Day lineup includes sessions on edible flowers, rainwater harvesting, raising baby chicks, and backyard beehives. Members of the Phat Beetz Youth Pickle Company teach the art of fermenting veggies and making kraut, and Nishanga Bliss offers…

Join Wendy Renz, owner of Walrus– a charming Temescal Alley shop where vintage and pre-owned items are repurposed, upcycled, and given new life– to make your own knife rack from reclaimed lumber. You’ll do some basic woodworking, painting, and staining, with all tools and materials provided. No previous woodworking experience is required. Enjoy light refreshments too, and…

Kudos to the Wine Soul Train, winner of the Taste Award for Outstanding Culinary Travel Experience! Organized by the Oakland Food Policy Council, the bus tour of Northern California wineries owned by people of color brought national attention to successful Black- and Brown-owned wineries. The tour was prompted by a shameful episode on the Napa…