June is here and winter’s endless string of storms are finally in the rear-view mirror. And as easily distracted by this year’s greenery explosion as we are, one could be forgiven for banishing thoughts of drought.

Fava beans and artichokes are spring delights in Alameda as they are in Rome where they appear on restaurant menus by themselves, but also together, with fresh peas, often stewed with the now well-known and accepted pork belly, or bacon.

No one in Alameda should have to buy lemons in the winter. The bayside climate agrees with our most commonly found varieties of lemons, oranges, grapefruit, and mandarins. Today’s residents are the lucky heirs to a rich agricultural history wherein Alameda’s founders planted orchards and farms.

Alameda’s front and back yards contain many citrus trees. Selected lemon and mandarin orange varieties are particularly common here. Citrus trees are easy to care for, but they can be prone to insect damage on the leaves from aphids, leafminers, and thrips, which can all be managed.

During World War I, school gardens materialized as an effort to utilize idle land on urban and suburban school properties. Food was grown at schools for local community food security, to increase nutritional awareness, and to increase youth civic engagement.

Winter chill: As mild as winters can be alongside the bay — perfect for subtropicals that grow so successfully here, e.g., Feijoas, Persimmons, Figs and Citrus — locals still love to grow trees, shrubs, and bulbs that need winter chill in order to perform.

Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG) held their August educational program on site at Farm2Market, the social enterprise farm division of Alameda Point Collaborative (APC).

It’s a lovely warm summer day. The kale plants in the garden have looked lush and productive, ready for salads and sautés. The broccoli and chives have been doing well too. But suddenly — aphids!

Community organizations in other cities now have a handy tool for setting up their own food recovery or gleaning groups thanks to the new booklet produced by StopWaste and Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG).