Sustainability – Lafayette Community Garden

May 01

Pest Control: Know More Before Making Your Choices

By LCG Community Events, Health, Pesticides, Sustainability

img_0618-2 We just enjoyed an engaging talk by Susan JunFish about pest control and learned some great alternatives that can help us regulate our environment.

She talked about The difference between acute toxicity and chronic toxicity. Acute toxicity involves high levels of adverse health effects and the response to substances of this type are more immediate. Chronic toxicity, however, involves less immediate, but still adverse effects and is generally associated with longer term exposure.

These terms are worth considering when looking at the common chemicals you use in and around your home. Studies have shown that commonly used pesticides can cause negative side effects, including issues with reproductivity.

There are plenty of least toxic alternatives. Learn more at Parents for a Safer Environment.

Apr 06

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Kids’ Event: Trash to Treasure

By LCG Kids, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, News & Events, Sustainability

Ask kids what they see in the recycling bin and most of them will see a bin of potential. The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center will be unleashing this potential at the Lafayette Library with upcyclables generously donated from Republic Services on Saturday, April 16. Bring your children to the Arts & Sciences Room from 1:00PM to 2:00PM and watch them — and help if they want you to — bring new life to…well…”trash.”

Treasures from Trash.jpg

Sep 06

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Sunday: Fall Garden and Seed Saving Workshop

By LCG Gardening Tips, News & Events, Soil, Sustainability

One of the many benefits of our climate is being able to garden year-round!! Fall/Winter is still a great time to grow edibles and improve your landscape.

Join us Sunday, September 13, 2015 from 3:00 to 4:30PM for Gardening All Year: Prepping Your Garden for Fall plus a special bonus: Beginners’ Lesson on Seed Saving.

Lori Caldwell, aka CompostGal, will go over techniques to help transitioning your garden for Fall: seed saving, crop rotation, soil amending, cool-weather edible crops, sheet mulching and planting natives.

Participants: To practice techniques of seed saving, please bring seed heads, pods, fruit, etc. to prepare and trade with others for a simple seed swap. In the interest of diversity, please bring only heirloom and/or open pollinated seed varieties.

Interested? Register here.

Aug 02

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The Lafayette Watershed, the Geography, Plants and Animals that Inhabit the Riparian Corridors

By LCG Community Events, History, Irrigation, News & Events, Sustainability, Wildlife

Ou Screen Shot 2015-07-28 at 1.09.53 PM r very own founder has been invited to speak at Lafayette Historical Society’s Speaker Series that focuses on the importance of water resources in our community!

Janet Thomas has lived in Lafayette for 31 years, a couple of blocks from Reliez Creek. She developed an environmental science course for the Acalanes Unified High School District and used the creek which borders the school and its surroundings as an outdoor classroom.

She is now involved with the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center, which is adjacent to Lafayette Creek. Her community involvement today makes use of her research and teaching experience in the Acalanes High School District as well as Mills College and the University of California at Berkeley.

Sunday, August 16, 2015 | 1:30PM
Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Community Hall
Donations: LHS Members $10, Non-Members $15
Children under 14 free with paying adult
Reservations requested.

For reservations or additional information, contact LHS:
Email: Lafayette.History@comcast.net
Phone: (925) 283-1848

Jul 28

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Backyard Composting Workshop August 8th

By LCG Community Events, Gardening Tips, Organic, Soil, Sustainability

Screen Shot 2015-07-28 at 12.29.59 PM The Lafayette Community Garden is pleased to host a composting workshop with the Central Contra Costa Waste Authority. Come to this FREE lecture-style workshop covering the basics of backyard composting, including, hot/cold composting, mulching, grasscycling and Vermicomposting (worms!), with plenty of time for Q&A and troubleshooting.

Saturday, August 8, 2015 | 3:00–4:30PM

Lafayette Community Garden and outdoor Learning Center
3942 Mount Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA

Reservations for the workshop is required! For questions, or to register by phone, call (925) 906-1801 x306.

Jul 07

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Tonight at the Library: Food Patriots

By LCG Community Events, Health, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Locavore, Sustainability

Learn a little about what community gardens like the Lafayette Community Garden do and and see how small changes in our habits help us and our environment.

Tonight, Sustainable Lafayette will be showing the documentary Food Patriots as part of its summer film series at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center. This award-winning film run from 6:30p to 8:30p in the Community Hall.

Free snacks, cookies, coffee, and refreshments will be served. $10 donation requested. $5 for students.

Questions? KimOveraa@SustainableLafayette.org

Sep 08

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Have a “CAN”-DO Attitude

By LCG Community Events, Locavore, Organic, Outdoor Learning Center, Sustainability, Winter Vegies

Penny Porter of All in a Jar will be at the garden on Sunday, September 21 from 3:30 to 5:00PM to share her knowledge of food preservation at home. Have fun learning the basics on water bath canning for high-acid foods. We will discuss the best foods for this process, the tools you need and the do’s and don’ts.

There are many tricks and techniques that make canning a unique process for extending the life of your favorite foods. Most importantly, this class will provide quintessential knowledge and skills for how to begin canning in your own home.

Join Penny Porter for some Canning Basics.

Jul 28

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A Lamorinda Camp Exclusive: Meeting Nature Through Miwok Eyes

By LCG Community Events, History, Kids, Outdoor Learning Center, Sustainability

Still looking for the perfect camp? Want to learn a little about the local history of Lamorinda? Then come and join us at the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center and immerse yourself into the abundant world of nature as experienced by the local Native American Tribe, the Saclans/Miwoks.

We will meet daily August 4 to 8, from 8:30 to 11:30am. Youth and open-hearted adults will live as tribal members adopting Native American names and cultural observances. We will use what nature has provided for tools, meals, clothing and shelter. The last morning will conclude with a tribal sharing of food and ceremony with guests.

Educator, Peggy Magilen, will lead this experience, assisted by other members of the Community Garden.

The camp is geared for children ages 8 to 12 years old.
A minimum of 6/maximum of 12 youth participants; a few additional (adult) caregivers welcome.
Cost: $50 per camper to cover materials.

Jul 15

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Best Deals in Town! Class and Plant Bargains

By LCG Outdoor Learning Center, Sustainability

Come by Wednesday from 2:00 until 6:00PM and Thursday from 9:00AM until noon to adopt a plant for your personal garden. We have tomatoes, cucumbers and various herbs at the table near the entrance for you to nurture. While you are here, feel free to stroll around and see how the former parking lot has transformed. To us, its a sanctuary. See what it can be for you.

If you have kids 10 and under, there are still three classes left in Our Secret Garden II series. Classes are from 9:00 until 10:00AM on the following days:

Thursday, July 17: Garden Math
Monday, July 21: The Worms Crawl In, The Worms Crawl Out
Thursday, July 24: Super Powers!

And at the low price of FREE, these are the best deals in Lafayette!

Jun 29

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Ssshhh…Our Secret Garden II begins Monday, June 30

By LCG Community Events, Gardening Tips, Kids, Outdoor Learning Center, Sustainability, Volunteer

Hey kids! The Lafayette Community Garden will be hosting its second Our Secret Garden series.

Beginning June 30, Eli Chan will offer children a chance to get personal about ecology. On Monday and Thursday mornings from 9am to 10am, kids (and their caregivers) will head outside and connect with nature through stories, physical activity and garden-related crafts. They will be armed with the tools to make good food and lifestyle choices. Caregivers will learn how to nurture our next generation to be enthusiastic about their bodies, the environment and our community.

Together, we will become caring human beings who are part of an interconnected natural world. Join us in the garden and get ready to dig deeper than before!