So today we visited a few urban farming and sustainable living places in the East Bay
The first place we visited was the California Hotel:
This place has a long rich history including being a place for African American jazz musicians to stay during segregation when they were not allowed to stay at many of the places where they were actually performing. Here is a wikipedia link that explains a lot of Oakland's history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland,_California
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| Max runs the garden at the California hotel, which currently serves as low-income housing for about 40 people. Many of them are elderly so Max tries to build mostly raised beds so the residents can more easily harvest the produce for themselves. |
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| The beginning of an aquaponics system |
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| The hugest beet I have ever seen. Yes, it really is a beet! |
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| A mural displaying some of the California Hotel's history including the beginnings of the Black Panther movement (some of the current residents were members of that movement) and the Ohlone Native American tribe that once inhabited this area. |
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| Molly enjoying a nectarine she brought for lunch, at the next site we went to - Secret Garden of City Slicker Farms! |
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| A Pink Pearl apple at the final site we visited - Berkeley Youth Alternatives |
We also went to the Place for Sustainable living, which was started by the Sustainable Living Roadshow: http://www.sustainablelivingroadshow.org/info/new-slr-warehouse-and-sustainable-living-center-in-oakland/
http://www.facebook.com/oakleyville
It's this really cool indoor/outdoor place with a barking dog. Basically there is a group of people there that run a sort of community-based volunteer bike shop and bring in environmental professionals and artisans who also pay rent, I think. Well, there's basically a group of people living at this place that also has a garden - of course - and chickens and experiment with sustainable living methods, making clothing, foods, music, vehicles, community organizing. You really have to see it for yourself. It is a very cool place, with junk everywhere, but I think I'd go insane from all the craziness if I ever lived there.
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