Ploughshares Nursery
2701 Main Street, Alameda
Gardening experience: Total 1 year at this location
Garden size: 1 acre (3 more acres are under construction)
Showcase feature: Swords to ploughshares is a concept in which military weapons or technologies are converted for peaceful civilian applications. The Ploughshares nursery, located on an abandoned Navy base, is an example of this transformation. The nursery, a job training facility, employs formerly homeless youth and adults who grow a variety of organic local native plants, vegetables, and culinary herbs; rare and unusual edibles (such as Egyptian Walking Onions); and bamboos that can be used as construction materials.
Other garden attractions:
- Extensive native plant demonstration garden is under construction.
- Note the bamboo shade structure. (Ask about Ploughshares' "Building with bamboo" workshops.)
- A 12" deep layer of wood chips (on the entire 4 acre lot!) keeps weeds under control and will improve the soil.
- For more information visit www.ploughsharesnursery.com.
Gardening for Wildlife: The nursery is home to a birds of various hues, including blue herons, black phoebes, red-winged blackbirds, and red-tail hawks. In addition, Canada geese, hummingbirds, rabbits, anise swallowtail butterflies, garter snakes, and lizards enjoy this bountiful and peaceful bit of open space.
Plants sold or given away: Available for sale will be about 25 species of native plants and a variety of organic edibles and drought-tolerant plants. Proceeds benefit the Alameda Point Collaborative, which provides services for homeless families.
Directions: Traveling on 880 South, exit at Broadway/Alameda. Turn right at the first light and proceed down 5th Street to Broadway. Enter the Webster Tube to Alameda and stay in right lane. *
From the South Bay, take Hwy 880 North and exit at Broadway (Downtown Oakland). Turn right at Broadway, and right again at 7th St. Turn right at Webster. Enter Webster Tube to Alameda and stay in the right lane.*
*Turn right at Atlantic Avenue (first light) and proceed miles to Main Street. Turn right at Main Street. The entrance to the nursery is on the left side of the street, after Midway Ave.