In The Garden:

Growing Dahlias in the East Bay

With their vibrant hues and intricate petal formations, Dahlias stand as a testament to nature's artistic prowess. These flowers, beloved by gardeners for centuries, grace gardens and bring joy with their dazzling variety of colors and shapes. Dahlias are renowned for their stunning blooms, which come in almost every color imaginable, from deep reds and purples to delicate pinks and whites. Their petals range from tightly packed spheres to spiky, star-like forms, catering to a wide range of aesthetic preferences. Whether you prefer compact pompons or large, dinner plate-sized flowers, there's a Dahlia variety to suit every garden.

Photo by Lukas

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Growing Dahlias in Your Home Garden

The East Bay's Mediterranean climate provides an ideal environment for Dahlias, offering warm, dry summers and mild winters. Here’s how you can grow Dahlias successfully:

1. Choosing the Right Location: Dahlias thrive in full sun, so select a spot in your garden or on your balcony that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Ensure the area has well-drained soil to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot.

2. Preparing the Soil: Before planting, enrich the soil with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and provide nutrients. Dahlias prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (around 6.5-7.0).

3. Planting Dahlias: In the East Bay, Dahlias can be planted from late winter to early spring after the last frost has passed. Dig a hole about 6-8 inches deep and place the tuber (or plant from a pot) with the growing tip facing upwards. Space multiple plants about 1-3 feet apart, depending on the variety's eventual size.

4. Watering and Care: Water Dahlias deeply but infrequently, ensuring the soil remains evenly moist but not waterlogged. Mulching around the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Regular deadheading (removing spent flowers) encourages continuous blooming throughout the season.

5. Supporting Dahlias: Tall Dahlia varieties may require staking to support their stems and prevent them from toppling over in strong winds or heavy rain. Use bamboo stakes or other supports and tie the stems gently with soft twine.

6. Overwintering: In the East Bay's mild climate, Dahlias can often survive winter outdoors if provided with a layer of mulch to protect the tubers from frost. Alternatively, lift the tubers after the first frost, allow them to dry for a few days, and store them in a cool, dry place until the next planting season.

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Choosing Dahlias for Your Garden

Photo by Jess Bailey Designs

Photo by Pixabay

Photo by Jeswin Thomas

When selecting Dahlia varieties for your East Bay garden, consider factors such as bloom size, color, and plant height. Some popular varieties include:

• ‘Cafe au Lait’: Known for its large, creamy blooms with hints of blush pink.

• ‘Bishop of Llandaff’: Features deep red flowers set against dark foliage.

• ‘Thomas Edison’: Boasts striking purple blooms that are perfect for adding bold color.

Whether you're aiming to create a cutting garden, a focal point in your landscape, or simply want to brighten up your balcony, Dahlias offer a versatile and rewarding choice. Their vibrant colors and diverse forms ensure they'll captivate and enchant throughout the growing season.

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Growing Dahlias in the East Bay allows gardeners to harness the region's favorable climate to cultivate these botanical treasures. With careful attention to planting and care, Dahlias can flourish, bringing bursts of color and joy to gardens and balconies alike. Embrace the beauty and diversity of Dahlias in your own outdoor space, and experience the satisfaction of nurturing these stunning flowers from tuber to bloom. Happy gardening!

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Additional resources: Almanac How to Grow Dahlias: The Complete Dahlia Flower Guide

In The Community:

Starting this Sunday, July 14th, the Planting Justice El Sobrante Farmer's Market will open at 10am and close at 2p. We hope this is more convenient for our neighbors and supporters. We've got some cute new flyers too, to help you spread the word! So whether you want some farm-picked organic fruit and veggies, an amazing lunch out, or to just sit and listen to some great live music, we invite you to become a regular at this weekly market. It's also a perfect place to hang out with neighbors and make new friends!

You can also check out the offerings at The Shed and perhaps sign up for a class. They often have a booth and/or have The Shed open during the Farmer's Market each Sunday.  For those of you who haven't been to the market recently, there are always new vendors to check out plus a variety of music groups playing everything from classical jazz to bluegrass.

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Class registration for The Shed is open!  

Classes are project-based and we have more slots available for folks who want to run either a single two-hour session or a longer-term course.  

Visit our site to sign up for classes. https://theshedelsobrante.org/classes

Sundays at The Shed:
Join us at the Kids' Art Table

The Shed has a very popular Kids' Art Table 
(on bowling alley wood!) where kids can draw on a
giant roll of paper while parents shop and
participate in other creative activities.

Title: Touching Our Strength
by Rev. Dr. Melinda V. McLain
The Good Table United Church of Christ. El Cerrito, CA
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost • Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride
Text: Mark 4: 35-41
Date: June 30, 2024

In The Community:

 Is the current heatwave bumming you out or making you nervous? Sadly, no one can control when Karl the SF fog will roll through the Golden Gate to cool things down, but we can all become firewise and prepare for wildfires in our area. Check out this essential information and be ready.

Link to 8/24/22 Webinar: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ImbnX7QEhWj2VkWF60RU76wY2poF6kur/view

The NFPA National Firewise USA® recognition program provides a collaborative framework to help neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the fire resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level. Any community that meets a set of voluntary criteria on an annual basis and retains an “In Good Standing Status” may identify itself as being a Firewise site.

“Across our district, numerous communities face heightened wildfire danger due to terrain, vegetation and local evacuation route conditions,” said Lewis T. Broschard III, Fire Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “Firewise is a perfect compliment to our many safety initiatives and a powerful tool helping neighbors work together along with our Fire Prevention Bureau to better protect themselves and their communities.”

“Resident involvement is key in protecting our communities from the threat of wildfire and the Firewise program is great for helping neighbors work together to increase their community’s safety,” said Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Chris Bachman, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “We Are pleased that interest in the program is high across the District and hope to see significant improvements in fire hardiness as more communities work to achieve Firewise status.”

Becoming a Firewise recognized neighborhood is a 3 step process. 
1. Organize It  –  2. Plan It  –  3. Do It

To learn more about becoming a Firewise recognized neighborhood, copy and paste this url, into your web browser: https://www.nfpa.org/en/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa/become-a-firewise-usa-site

If you have any questions regarding the Firewise process, please email: public-eduation@cccfpd.org and we will be happy to assist you.

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Click HERE to View the Original Post!

“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.”
- Howard Thurman

Spiritual Touchstone:

Some folks, who object to recognizing Juneteenth as a national holiday, make the argument that “slavery was a long time ago and we’re past it.” And though that might feel true because our world seems to be so different today, it is closer than you might imagine.

For example, the magnificent African-American philosopher and theologian, Howard Thurman (1899-1981) was the grandson of slaves in Florida, but living in San Francisco at the time of his death. And while I didn’t get to California until 1986 and then on to San Francisco to begin seminary in 1991, I’ve had the privilege to have worked with his successors at the church he cofounded in the City in 1966, the Church for the Fellowship of All People, a congregation that has often been labeled the “first interracial interfaith congregation.” The current presiding minister of that congregation, Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake still teaches at Pacific School of Religion and was given Dr. Thurman’ robe when installed in 1994.

The distance between me and the U.S. slaveholding economy isn’t all that far either. My maternal grandfather was the grandson of proud slaveholders in Springhill, Arkansas just six miles southwest of Hope, Arkansas near the Red River. His father came to still slaveholding East Texas just after the civil war and arrived in West Texas about 1880 with a cattle drive. I was quite close to my Papa Roy whose father died in 1919.

And yet, like my Texas ancestors who willfully ignored the news that Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 until they were “officially” informed at gunpoint on June 19, 1865 by Union Troops landing in Galveston, I was woefully unaware about the contributions of Howard Thurman that have shaped my own life and ministry. But that ignorance of Thurman’s already substantial impact on my life is lessening.

Our spiritual book group, the Live Edge Readers has begun reading What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman by Lerita Coleman Brown. Brown’s book, published in 2023, invites the reader into her world as a spiritual director and academic while also providing an opportunity to learn from Thurman’s work by applying his great wisdom and mystic knowing to our current spiritual practice. Most helpful, so far, is how Thurman’s work links mysticism and spirituality to social change. Brown writes, “one reason Thurmans’ work necessitates careful study by contemporary activists is that social and political movements without a spiritual base are ultimately unsustainable.”

Thurman was a spiritual advisor and mentor to many of the notables of the Civil Rights movement including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who it is said carried a copy of Thurmans’ book “Jesus and the Disinherited” in his pocket every time he marched.

After the first chapter, Brown asks, “what feeds your spiritual hunger?” And for me, right now, some of what satisfy’s my activist soul’s spiritual hunger is to metaphorically take a walk with Howard Thurman.

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Live Edge Readers meets via zoom each Wednesday, 2:30-4p. Reply to this blog if you’d like to join us.

Celebrating Father's Day in the East Bay: Local Activities & Gift Ideas

 In The Community:

If you find yourself a bit behind on your Father's Day plans this year, fret not! The East Bay area offers plenty of options for celebrating dad, from exciting local activities to unique gifts that support our community. Whether you're looking to spend quality time together or seeking a thoughtful present that can be shipped in time, there are numerous ways to show appreciation for dear old dad.

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 Local Activities to Enjoy

Outdoor Adventures: Take advantage of the Bay Area's natural beauty by planning a hike in one of the many scenic parks such as Tilden Park or Redwood Regional Park. Alternatively, consider a bike ride along the Bay Trail, offering stunning views of the water and city skyline.

Brewery Tours: Treat dad to a tour of local breweries in Berkeley or Oakland. Many offer tastings and behind-the-scenes insights into the brewing process. It's a great way to sample some of the area's finest craft beers while spending quality time together.

Golfing Getaway: If your dad enjoys golf, book a tee time at one of the East Bay's beautiful golf courses. Places like Tilden Park Golf Course or Metropolitan Golf Links provide excellent facilities and picturesque surroundings for a relaxing day on the greens.

Local Dining Experience: Reserve a table at one of the East Bay's renowned restaurants offering Father's Day specials. From gourmet brunch spots to cozy bistros, there's something to satisfy every palate.

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 Thoughtful Gifts from Local Artisans

Handcrafted Goods: Browse local shops and boutiques for handcrafted items such as leather wallets, custom artwork, or handmade jewelry. These unique gifts not only showcase local talent but also demonstrate thoughtfulness and care.

Gourmet Treats: Delight dad's taste buds with locally made gourmet treats like artisanal chocolates, small-batch roasted coffee, or specialty sauces and spices. Many of these can be ordered online and shipped directly to his doorstep.

East Bay Merchandise: Show hometown pride with East Bay-themed merchandise such as apparel, mugs, or prints featuring iconic landmarks. These items serve as lasting reminders of home and make for meaningful gifts.

Subscription Boxes: Consider subscribing dad to a monthly subscription box featuring products sourced from East Bay businesses. Whether it's gourmet snacks, craft beers, or grooming essentials, he'll enjoy discovering new favorites each month.

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Supporting Local Businesses

By choosing locally made gifts and participating in East Bay activities, you're not only celebrating Father's Day in a memorable way but also supporting the vibrant community of artisans and small businesses that make our region unique. Whether you opt for an outdoor adventure, a delicious meal, or a carefully chosen gift, your efforts contribute to the local economy and enrich the cultural fabric of our community.

This Father's Day, make it a point to celebrate with the charm and character of the East Bay. With so many options for activities and locally sourced gifts, you're sure to create lasting memories and show dad just how much he means to you.

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Reading this article on Sunday Morning? Why not treat your dad to local vendors and music at the Planting Justice, El Sobrante Farmer’s Market from 12-4PM!

Triangle Works (TW) is a group of local residents bringing community, “Placemaking” and creative pursuits to  El Sobrante.  Our evolving mission is to create, enhance and vitalize the Sobrante Triangle area (the Triangle created by Appian Way, Valley View and Sobrante Ave). We are working to develop and engage an innovative, diverse and forward-thinking community, foster local talents, foster education and expression in creative work, and steer development and investment towards community-centric and community relevant businesses and services.

We would like to highlight some of Triangle Works projects:

The Shed 

• Classes have started at The Shed.

• The Shed is a Maker’s Market and Workshop. This former shed of Adachi Nursery & Florist is being transformed into a creative community space that will offer classes for up to 12 people.  Classes have started! Classes are currently being planned for this summer and fall.  The Shed is designed to foster education and expression in creative work. Come learn wood working, sewing, painting and even mushroom propagation and many other creative topics. Classes will focus on personal and community development and will be offered for both children and adults.  Classes are project-based, so come learn how to create something new and take it home with you.  As we build this community, we're looking for both students and teachers. 

• The Shed is open every Sunday during Planting Justice's Farmers Market.  Pop in, say hello, ask about upcoming classes and see samples of creative works from the classes and workshops. 

• Retail opportunities in The Shed will be coming soon. 

• For more information on The Shed and classes Visit Our Website.

Kid’s Art table

• Bringing creative interests to all. Invite your kids to partake in a supervised Kids’ Art Table open Sunday’s during the hours of Planting Justice's Farmers Market.

Mural and Art Committee

• Last year’s mural, which covers half a block at Appian and Fran, was a great success.

• We are developing our second community mural; we have an artist and a tentative site! 

Triangle Works “Foundation”
We are slowly but surely growing our roots in the community and building our vision, structure and work plans as our core membership expands.  We are looking for people interested in seriously committing to helping TW grow into a force, alongside Good Table, Planting Justice, including their Farmers Market, to make our Triangle not a “Sobrante” (“leftover”) but a Place we want to be.   We’re expanding community participation in all TW planning and activities. Triangle works is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, A Community Center for El Sobrante (ACCES).

 Email Triangworks@gmail.com if you are interested in joining our Mural and Arts Committee or helping with further development of our base.

Click HERE to view the entire Newsletter!

Spiritual Touchstone:

There is a necessary wisdom in the give-and-take of nature – its quiet agreements and search for balance. There is an extraordinary generosity. – Suzanne Simard in Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest

Former GTUCC Associate Pastor, the Rev. Tom Emanuel, takes a walk in Muir Woods.

Even among the best tree-huggers living in Northern California, there is so much more to be learned about healthy forests and natural communities. And even more to be learned about how healthy human communities mirror their natural counterparts and in fact, are ALSO part of those communities.

What happens to the trees, happens to us. And what happens to us, happens to the trees. Separation between humans and the natural world is a product of human imagination and hubris. 

If you're truly willing to immerse yourself in Suzanne Simard's marvelous book, "Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest," it will transform your thinking about who you are and the place we occupy in the scheme of things. It also offers peer-reviewed, hardcore science that debunks some of the myths humans have created about trees, the natural world, and perhaps even human community.

Trees do not simply compete with each other for sunshine and resources, they are also collaborative and have complex communication systems using intermediaries, such as fungi, that help them to thrive. Like humans, they need each other and live best in a healthy diverse community in balance. 

Last week was Mother’s Day, a joyous holiday, but also complicated for many others. One of Simard’s best discoveries is that there are “mother trees”. These old growth trees perform the best functions of “mothering” by helping their “seedling kin” resist disease and by providing water and nutrients with the help of friendly fungi. And even more importantly, when mother trees are healthy, the forest is “wired for wisdom, sentience, and healing” as central hubs in networks that look very much like our own neural networks.

There are at least three principles to be learned from the wisdom of trees that might help us be healthier human communities. 

First, we cannot go it alone. A single redwood tree, no matter how large, is dangerously unstable. Part of how these massive trees reach their great size is because their roots underground wind around one another to create a stable grove. Folks in the U.S. are grappling with an epidemic of loneliness that can only be healed by nurturing healthy communities and social infrastructure to bring us back together.

Second, diversity is essential. Science has proven over and over again that  monoculture farming degrades soil and makes trees more vulnerable to disease in addition to destroying habitats and additional carbon emissions. Human communities also need the gifts of differing perspectives, skills, and generations to be healthy. 

Third, we must preserve and protect time-tested wisdom and wise leaders. When Simard’s family first homesteaded in Canada, they left the large old growth trees in place. She later learned that through clear-cutting and destroying the old growth mother trees, the long-term health of the forest became precarious. We live in a human culture that denigrates the gifts of older people and opportunities for intergenerational learning outside of a particular family are increasingly rare. We’re quickly moving to an information economy that has lost touch with the past and the well-reasoned paths of wisdom. Misinformation, disinformation, and toxic rhetoric clutter our information networks making it hard for wise and reasoned voices to be heard, much less heeded.

Finally, it might turn out to be true that if we can save the trees, the trees will save us.

In The Community:

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the special women in our lives than with thoughtful gifts from local small businesses and farmer's markets? There's an abundance of charming shops and markets offering unique treats that your mom will love. Whether you're planning ahead or looking for last-minute ideas, here are some delightful options to consider:

Free use picture from Pexels by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA

1. Artisanal Chocolates: Treat your mom to a decadent assortment of artisanal chocolates crafted by local chocolatiers. Visit specialty chocolate shops in the area or head to the farmer's market where you can find handcrafted truffles, caramels, and chocolate-covered fruits. Not only are these treats delicious, but they also support local artisans.

2. Handmade Soaps and Skincare Products: Pamper your mom with luxurious handmade soaps and skincare products from local artisans. Look for vendors at the farmer's market offering natural, small-batch skincare items made with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, essential oils, and botanical extracts. These thoughtful gifts will help your mom indulge in some well-deserved self-care.

3. Fresh Flowers and Bouquets: Brighten up your mom's day with a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers from a local florist or flower stand at the farmer's market. Choose her favorite blooms or opt for a seasonal arrangement bursting with color and fragrance. You can also find potted plants and succulents for a gift that will keep on growing.

4. Handcrafted Jewelry: Show your mom how much she means to you with a piece of handcrafted jewelry from a local artisan. Explore boutique shops and artisan markets in East Bay California to discover unique earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings that reflect your mom's personal style. Choose a one-of-a-kind piece that she'll treasure for years to come.

5. Gourmet Treats and Specialty Foods: Treat your mom to a delicious assortment of gourmet treats and specialty foods sourced from local producers. Visit specialty food stores or artisanal markets where you can find artisan cheeses, freshly baked bread, gourmet olive oils, and other culinary delights. Create a customized gift basket filled with her favorite goodies for a tasty surprise.

6. Local Wine or Craft Beer: Raise a glass to mom with a bottle of locally produced wine or craft beer. Explore wineries and breweries in the East Bay area to discover unique varietals and brews that showcase the region's terroir and craftsmanship. Pair the wine or beer with some artisanal cheeses or gourmet snacks for a delightful tasting experience.

7. Cooking Classes or Culinary Experiences: Treat your mom to a culinary adventure with a cooking class or culinary experience hosted by local chefs and food artisans. Look for cooking schools or culinary workshops in the area offering classes on everything from pasta-making to pastry baking. It's a fun and interactive way to spend quality time together while learning new skills.

8. Handmade Crafts and Artwork: Surprise your mom with a piece of handmade crafts or artwork created by local artisans. Explore art galleries, craft fairs, and artisan markets to find unique paintings, ceramics, textiles, and other handmade treasures. Choose a piece that resonates with your mom's interests or home decor style for a meaningful gift.

9. Farm-to-Table Dining Experience: Treat your mom to a farm-to-table dining experience at a local restaurant that celebrates seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Make a reservation at a cozy bistro or farm-to-fork eatery where you can savor delicious dishes made with fresh produce, meats, and dairy products from nearby farms. It's a culinary journey that supports local farmers and producers.

10. Virtual Experiences and Gift Cards: If you're short on time or unable to visit in person, consider giving your mom a virtual experience or gift card from a local small business. Many shops, restaurants, and artisans offer online shopping options and virtual services such as virtual cooking classes, wine tastings, and personalized consultations. It's a convenient way to show your love and support for local businesses from afar.

No matter what you choose, the most important thing is to celebrate your mom and show her how much she means to you. With these local small business and farmer's market gift ideas, you can create memorable moments and support your community at the same time. Happy Mother's Day!