FREE Museum Passes. Every Day Use. Discover and Go. Have fun!

The Contra Costa County Library launched a wonderful new program offering free museum passes to many Bay Area Museums. Check it out. Tickets are easily reserved and printed from your own computer.

Wednesday, we're excited to see a Magic Show at the Antioch Library. Saturday, we're visiting the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley. All free. All compliments of the Library. Great things happen at the Library. Don't miss the fun!

Visit www.ccclib.org. Click on the "search events" tab to find upcoming magic shows, puppet shows, story times and many other fun events for children. Your calendar can be full each and every day. Lots of happy children.

Do you wish to learn about gardening? FREE Education...

If you really wish to learn about gardening, order your free seed catalogs. I've made it super simple for you, just click and order from several different seed companies: Kid's Gardening, Seeds of Change, Bountiful Gardens, Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek Seeds (Rare Seeds), Territorial Seed, Burpee, Gurney's, Henry Fields, Southern Exposure and Tomato Growers Supply Company.

Seed catalogs are packed full of useful information. (Education!) Share the catalogs with your children. Plant some seeds. Delight in the color photographs. Learn the history and origins of vegetables. Organic gardening solutions. Alternate pest control methods. Beneficial insects. Predatory insects. How to grow micro greens, baby lettuces, winter veggies, cold weather, warm weather, rainy weather. Any weather's the right time for gardening!

If you need seeds - I'll donate them to you. Let's get growing!

The catalogs are free. A beautiful, wonderful world of gardening awaits you. Become inspired. Garden. Grow. Live. Learn. Eat healthy!

Happy Harvesting.

A few garden related articles I've written over the past years:

FREE - Seed Catalogs
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/04/thursday-april-23-2009-free-seed.html

Homegrown, Gourmet Salad greens for your Thanksgiving Day Feast
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/10/homegrown-gourmet-salad-greens-for-your.html

Calling All Parents, Educators, Schools, Church and Civic Groups
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/calling-all-parents-educators-schools.html

Local Foods, Local Tastes. At the Contra Costa County Library
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/09/local-foods-local-tastes-at-contra.html

40 Days, 5 Cents, Fresh On The Table
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/40-days-5-cents-fresh-on-table.html

Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/happiness-held-is-seed-happiness-shared.html

Weed Out The Hybrid Seeds
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/05/weed-out-hybrid-seeds_24.html

Nasturtiums from our garden
http://thelemonlady.blogspot.com/2009/04/nasturtiums-from-our-garden.html

One Million Lemons (and other fruit)* Collected to feed the hungry!

*Fruit harvesting for the hungry is so much more than just lemons.

There's been a lot going on in the past couple of years! This simple idea to feed the hungry began with a goal to harvest a thousand pounds of lemons in a month. Due to overwhelming community response, my first month's urban gleaning yielded 2,000 pounds of citrus fruit from my very own neighborhood. Pound after pound, hundreds of trees later...

One tree at a time, one farmers' market box of produce at a time, thousands of volunteer hours, a growing baby and a very patient husband - I've collected over a MILLION lemons, oranges, grapefruit, pomelos, tangerines, tomatoes, zucchini and other fruit. (We're not even talkin' green beens, grapes, potatoes, cherries and tons of other veggies.) The count can only be measured in tons and we've far exceeded a MILLION PIECES OF FRUIT!

With dedication and empowering others to become involved, we continue to see the fruits of our labor multiplied. ONE MILLION multiplied by how many others become inspired to collect fruit from their own trees and neighborhoods? No child should go hungry all the while healthy, tree-ripened fruit lines urban sidewalks rotting to the ground. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the many volunteers and FARMERS I've met along the way. One tree at a time. Together, we truly can make a difference bringing healthy fruit to those who need it most.

Without Community, Without Farmers, Without Love...none of this would be possible!

When you see a fruit tree...what do you do? Do nothing. Nothing will ever get done. Join the FUN!

For a sample fruit tree flyer, Any Town, U.S.A.
Please contact:
AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

Fruit grows on trees. It cannot walk itself into a food pantry!

MEDIA INQUIRIES, CLICK HERE.

Fratello Marionettes. FREE Puppet Show. Monday, July 18th...

Enjoy an unforgettable Monday performance! Puppet shows are a dazzling experience sure to captivate children, and the young at heart. Ava and I have been fortunate to see several Fratello Marionettes performances at our local libraries. Shows at libraries are usually FREE sponsored by Friends of the Library Foundations.

Don't miss tomorrow. Monday, July 18, 2011, 10:30am. Walnut Creek Downtown Library, 1644 North Broadway. Walnut Creek, California. One-Year Birthday Celebration! Fratello Marionettes in Chef Pierre's Birthday Surprise.

CLICK HERE for Fratello Marionettes Schedule Details.


CLICK HERE for Contra Costa County Library Events Calendar.


CLICK HERE for VIDEOS of other Fratello Marionette Puppet Show Performances.

Hufffington Post Impact. Greatest Person Of The Day...

Huff Post Greatest Person Of The Day:
Anna Chan, the "Lemon Lady,"
Feeds The Hungry On Her Own Dime
By Lucas Kavner

CLICK HERE
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/26/huffpost-greatest-person-_n_867552.html

DONATE FRUIT and VEGETABLES to feed the hungry!
That is what this is all about. One person can make a difference.


Please contact:
AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
510.406.1625

Nationwide FOOD BANK locator. Where to deliver fresh garden produce...

Connecting Millions of Gardeners across America to food pantries and county food banks. Any Town, Every Town, USA. Where to deliver fresh garden produce:

Feeding America

Donate excess garden produce, tree-ripened homegrown fruit to any of thousands of food banks, food pantries, Salvation Army, Churches, Homeless Shelters, Soup Kitchens Nationwide. From California to the Carolinas, New York to Florida and every state in between.

CLICK HERE - ZIP CODE SEARCHING

____________________________________

ONE STOP RESOURCE - Covering the State of California
California Association of Food Banks

CLICK HERE - ZIP CODE SEARCHING

Alex Ramon, Magician. UPDATE: Walnut Creek Lesher Center SHOWS THIS WEEKEND!

UPDATE: Alex Ramon is also performing at the Dean Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, CA on Saturday, July 9th and Sunday, July 10th.

CLICK HERE to visit his website for further info.

Bay Area raised, internationally famous, award-winning Magician, Alex Ramon entertained library goers at the Berkeley Claremont Library yesterday. Ava and friends were absolutely mesmerized by the magic and fun. Alex is a genuine, charming and very talented magician. He even took time to speak to fans and parents after the show - a really nice guy!

CLICK HERE to visit Alex Ramon's website.

CLICK HERE for YouTube promo video.

From Alex's website:

Alex Ramon is the star "Magical Zingmaster" in Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey presents Zing Zang Zoom. Alex has performed for millions of people in 14 countries around the world. He toured the globe for 2 1/2 years starring in Disney LIVE! Mickey's Magic Show as a principal Illusionist. By age 18 Alex had already received National Recognition for his talents and was a recipient of the coveted Lance Burton Award. He has been named "San Francisco Bay Area's Best Stage Magician." Currently, Alex Ramon performs hundreds of shows each year in "The Greatest Show on Earth" and is the only magician to ever be the featured performer in a Ringling Bros. Circus. For more information on Alex visit... http://www.alexramonmagic.com/

Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco. FREE DAY...

The museum of science, art and human perception

FREE Museum Day is Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Exploratorium
at The Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

(415) 561-0360 - general information
(415) 561-0362 - Tactile Dome reservations

Open Tuesday—Sunday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays (except certain holidays).

FREE Musuem Day for Exploratorium is the First Wednesday of every month.

For a handy list of other FREE Museum Days, CLICK BELOW.

Contra Costa County Library Card Holders, PRINT Exploratorium and other museum tickets for FREE. Discover and Go. CLICK HERE.

Seed Catalogs FREE. 2010-2011. Dream. Garden. Grow Inspired...

I encourage parents, educators, schools, garden clubs, civic groups to order free seed catalogs; they're excellent teaching resources!

If I had a class of students, I would send the list of FREE SEED CATALOGS home so parents can order for rainy day reading. This is free education at it's best, in my humble opinion.

If we can inspire children (and adults) to learn about nutrition, biodiversity and self-sustaining agriculture, perhaps they will learn to make more intelligent food choices and promote healthier living. I have read many seed catalogs in their entirety. I believe and hope future generations will come to understand how wonderful growing our own organic food and saving seed truly is. My daugher Ava understood what a seed was long before her second birthday. It is never too early to give the gift of gardening to our babies.

Let us also teach our children what an heirloom vegetable is, how to save seeds, and which seeds can even be saved! Have fun. Grow something and happy harvesting!

FREE Seed Catalogs. NEW YEAR 2011

A few to get you started:

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
http://rareseeds.com/catalog
(417) 924-8917

Seeds of Change
http://www.seedsofchange.com/garden_center/catalog_request.asp
(888) 762-7333

Bountiful Gardens
http://www.bountifulgardens.org/inforequest.asp
(707) 459-6410

Botanical Interests

http://www.botanicalinterests.com/heirloom-seeds-catalogs

Seed Savers Exchange
http://www.seedsavers.org/CatalogRequest.aspx
(563) 382-5990

Territorial Seed
http://www.territorialseed.com/catalog_request
(800) 626-0866

Wild Garden Seed
http://www.wildgardenseed.com/requestcatalog.php
(541) 929-4068

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
http://www.southernexposure.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=99006&Category_Code=CAT
(540) 894-9580

Select Seeds
http://www.selectseeds.com/cgi-bin/start.cgi/mngmnt/catalog_request.htm
(800) 684-0395

National Gardening Association
http://kids.garden.org/inquiry.php
(800) 538-7476

Random Acts of Kindness. What do you believe in?

“Motherhood has completely changed me. It's just about like the most completely humbling experience that I've ever had. I think that it puts you in your place because it really forces you to address the issues that you claim to believe in and if you can't stand up to those principles when you're raising a child, forget it.” Diane Keaton
___________________

Issues I believe in:

Fruit to food banks. Random Acts of Kindness. All children deserve fresh apples, oranges, lemons at their breakfast table. Won't you please help The Lemon Lady save our world one little lemon at a time?

Random Acts of Kindness In Action:

One Lemon Lady Letter at a time. One person. One tree. It all begins somewhere. Drop a flyer at the first fruit tree you see. You don't even have to cut the fruit - simply start an awareness campaign. You can blog about it, tweet it, link it, find me on Claycord, Facebook, or Google. Please...just share some good news today! Our children need you. Citrus fruit is ripe - right now all over the Bay Area.

Email The Lemon Lady: AnnaAndAva@gmail.com. I'll send a flyer to get you going.

Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco. FREE DAYS...

The museum of science, art and human perception

FREE Museum Day is Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Exploratorium
at The Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

(415) 561-0360 - general information
(415) 561-0362 - Tactile Dome reservations

Open Tuesday—Sunday
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays (except certain holidays).

FREE Musuem Day for Exploratorium is the First Wednesday of every month.

For a handy list of other FREE Museum Days, CLICK BELOW.



Contra Costa County Library Card Holders, PRINT Exploratorium and other museum tickets for FREE. Discover and Go. CLICK HERE.

Welcome! Diablo Magazine Readers...

CLICK HERE: Meet The Lemon Lady, by Peter Crooks. Diablo Magazine January 2010

Welcome! Diablo Magazine Readers. Thank you for visiting my blog today. For fun ways to help save the world one little lemon at a time, perhaps you'll enjoy these easy ways to volunteer. Happy Harvesting, and Happy New Year!

How to Save the World One Little Lemon at a Time. - CLICK HERE.

Volunteers Needed Immediately.

Help Spread Sunshine to others. - CLICK HERE.

Calling All Parents, Educators, Schools, Church and Civic Groups. - CLICK HERE.

Food Contests. Grants. Other fun stuff. - CLICK HERE.

Mission To Feed The Hungry. Fruit Harvesting. Even toddlers can join the fun...

Ava, my little "lemon lady junior" has been helping Mommy harvest fruit for the hungry since she could barely toddle around the garden.

Become inspired. Please join us in our preschool fruit harvesting adventures. Locally, I invite anyone in the community to visit us for a day of fruit harvesting fun. Bring your children. Call anytime.

SHARE the mission with your friends, faith group, church, social clubs, school or service group. SHARE the harvest. If we do nothing, nothing will ever get done. Have you walked on by a fruit tree today?

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
Cell: 510.406.1625

Looking for Loquats! Do you know what a loquat is?...

Loquat trees are found all over the Bay Area. Loquat fruit grow in clusters and their sweet flesh can be either white or orange in color. They are sometimes called Japanese Plums. This photo is from early May 2009 and the fruit was not yet ripe then. Looks like neighborhood loquat trees are a bit behind this year. I'm guessing most will be ready for harvest mid-June to early July.

"Lemon Lady" is looking for loquats! If you have a loquat tree, please contact me ASAP to schedule a harvesting date. Food pantries are grateful for any fruit donations - including loquats! If you find a neighbor with a loquat tree, please share this message. Fruit grows on trees, yet it cannot walk itself into a food pantry.

FREE Pick up and delivery. AnnaAndAva@gmail.com or (510) 406-1625. Happy Harvesting!

To find a food pantry in Concord, California: CLICK HERE.

To find a food pantry Nationwide, zip code search: CLICK HERE.

.

How is your garden growing? FREE SEEDS, Resources, Education, Gardening, Inspiration...

Spring Planting season is here! Have you always dreamed of gardening, but never knew how to begin. We're here to help! FREE SEEDS.

If you need free seeds, please contact:

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

510.406.1625

SAVE seeds for next year's garden. That is the only way to grow a sustainable self-sufficient garden. Composting is easy too, even my 4-year old can do it! Please search around and learn exciting garden tips and advice. Plant a seed today. Thanks for stopping by!

CLICK HERE for fun CONTESTS and GRANTS awarding real scholarship and prize money.

CLICK HERE for GARDENING inspiration

CLICK HERE for updated FREE SEED CATALOGS 2011

CLICK HERE for GARDENING GRANTS

Farmers' Markets - Every Day Of The Week...

Did you know there are farmers' markets almost every day of the week, all year, rain or shine in California? We love the farmers and the markets. So much fun to be out and about! Breathe crisp morning air, listen to music, delight in the beautiful assortment of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables. Have fun. Visit a market soon!

CLICK HERE to FIND A MARKET in a city near you.

Here are a few local markets to pique your interest. You will find many more markets in cities throughout California. Simply search the California-Grown Certified Farmers' Markets website above.

Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Markets (CCCFM)

SATURDAY thru November
ORINDA, California: 9am - 1pm

Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association (PCFMA)

SATURDAY, Seasonal thru October
CLAYTON, California: 8am-noon

CCCFM

SUNDAY, OPEN YEAR ROUND
WALNUT CREEK, California: 8:00am - 1pm

Downtown on Locust Street

PCFMA

SUNDAY, Seasonal thru October
MARTINEZ, California: 10am - 2pm

PCFMA
TUESDAY, OPEN YEAR ROUND

CONCORD, California: 10am - 2pm

Todos Santos Plaza

PCFMA
THURSDAY, Seasonal thru October
CONCORD, California 4pm - 8pm
Todos Santos Plaza

CCCFM
THURSDAY, Seasonal thru October
LAFAYETTE, California 3:30pm - 7pm

Urban Farm Magazine and other Awards, Media Featuring The Lemon Lady...

Urban Farm Magazine Summer 2010 - Nationwide, on newsstands
http://www.urbanfarmonline.com/sustainable-living/urban-community-building/lemon-lady.aspx

In a few short years: Over 200+ TONS of produce collected valued at over $500,000, tens of thousands of needy individuals served fresh fruits and vegetables through the grassroots efforts of "the lemon lady" hunger mission, Community Gardens, Food Bank Awareness, engaging the community and influencing others nationwide to join the hunger cause.

Thank you to the Media, Members of Rotary, Garden Clubs, Neighbors, Food Banks, Food Pantries, Contra Costa Certified Farmers Markets, Pacific Coast Farmers' Markets and all the dedicated volunteers I've met along the way! A special thanks to the generous Farmers who showed their faith and trust in me by donating food to feed the poor. Farmers grow the food to feed the world!

CLICK HERE for AWARDS and OTHER MEDIA.

For volunteer opportunities, please email me:
AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

(510) 406-1625

(925) 672-1988

CLICK HERE for CONCORD, CALIFORNIA Food Pantries

CLICK HERE for NATIONWIDE FOOD BANK search by zip code

Edible East Bay Magazine and Farmers' Markets...

Lemons are such a cheery color. I just had to find out what the article was all about. Edible East Bay Magazine is a little known perk at the local farmers' markets. A fun magazine I do enjoy. It is available free at our local farmers' markets and other fine merchants.

Over the years, I've been delighted to see many of my favorite farmers and artisan friends featured throughout the pages of this truly fine (local) publication. Pick up a copy on Sunday at the Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Market in Walnut Creek or on Tuesday at the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market in Concord's Todos Santos Plaza.

To find a copy of Edible East Bay Magazine, visit a local farmers' market.

Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Market schedules, CLICK HERE.

Pacific Coast Farmers' Market schedules, CLICK HERE.

Farmers' Markets throughout California, CLICK HERE.

L is for Lemonade - DONATE FRUIT...

I thought this vintage lemonade stand was so darling. The family wasn't out yet so I knocked on their door to introduce myself. This would have been so cute to take Ava and visit with the neighborhood kids. Maybe next time.

Donate lemons and other fruits to local food pantries.

FREE Pick-up and delivery! Happy Harvesting.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

KQED Women's History Hero 2010

Anna Chan is an amazing Mother on a mission to save the world, one little lemon at a time. With a passion that all children deserve fresh fruit at their table, it shocked Anna to find neighborhood fruit rotting to the ground all the while families in her very own community are going hungry. In her grassroots efforts, Anna has spent countless hours knocking on fruit tree owners' doors, distributing flyers, asking them to share with the poor. She harvests the fruit herself and delivers to local food pantries. She also networks with farmers for leftover market donations. In the first year, Anna's efforts yielded $100,000 worth of fresh produce to local hunger relief organizations. She soon realized this forgotten urban harvest spans across America. She is hoping to inspire others that one person can truly make a difference to those less fortunate. It all begins somewhere. One Person. One tree at a time.
Anna furthers her outreach by public speaking, community gardening, and publishing www.thelemonlady.blogspot.com, which has become a respected Community Resource, emphasizing Food Education, the value of whole, fresh foods, gardening, the needs of our community food banks and the population they serve. Readers will find inspiring ways to reward volunteers in their own community, step-by-step instructions and sample flyers to promote the cause, or start your own fruit collecting adventures, Any Town, USA. Anna hopes to partner with other service organizations to further the cause "flyers on fruit trees, fruit to food banks." If we see a tree with fruit rotting to the ground and do nothing, then nothing will ever get done. Publicity is the only way to reach others far away.

For outstanding volunteer service and selfless commitment to the hunger cause, Anna, "The Lemon Lady" has been recognized in dozens of media, honored with a special Commendation from California Garden Clubs, Inc., a prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service and KQED Public Broadcasting Women's History Hero 2010.

FOR MEDIA, AWARDS, REFERENCES, CLICK HERE.

Donate Books! Or, Buy Books at Concord Library Spring Book Sale in April...

Do you have any old books just gathering dust around the house? This is a perfect opportunity to make a real difference in our Concord Community. DONATE TO THE LIBRARY. The Friends of the Concord Library accept book donations from your home collection. In turn, they are sold at Library Book Sales to raise funds for special programs at the Concord Library. The library book sales are an awesome time to purchase gently used books at incredible prices, most books $.50-$1.00, children's books $.25.

Have you visited the Library lately? SEARCH EVENTS to find magic shows, puppet shows, arts and crafts events, special guest speakers and dozens of other exciting programs for children and adults. Free use of computers and internet. Open a book. Visit the Library. There's a great big world out there.

DONATE BOOKS, please. If you have books to donate, you may bring them directly to the Concord Library year round, or I'd be happy to pick up and deliver for you. Your donation is tax deductible. CLICK HERE for more information, or to join the Concord Friends of the Library Foundation.

SPRING BOOK SALE IS APRIL 28th - 30th, Concord Library 2900 Salvio Street, Concord, California. CLICK HERE for times/details.

In the meantime, DONATE BOOKS. Recycle your old books.

The Concord Community needs our support. Thank you.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
(510) 406-1625

Find a Food Pantry. Donate Fruits and Veggies. Free Pick-up and Delivery...

Contra Costa County: Concord, Clayton, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, Lafayette, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, Mt. Diablo Country.

The beautiful summer growing season brings abundant harvests for many backyard gardeners.

Are you a gardener or urban farmer with too much of a good thing? A ton of tomatoes, a zillion zukes or cukes, beans coming out of your ears? One tomato, two tomato, three? Apples, oranges, lemons and more. Did you know that food banks, pantries, shelters and soup kitchens NEED your fresh fruit and produce? Food pantries accept homegrown fruit and produce. Easy as pie!

Call the Lemon Lady for immediate pick-up and delivery.

I deliver homegrown produce to local food pantries who feed the hungry. Chances are I have pick-ups and helpers in your neighborhood too. If you need boxes, I can even donate boxes.

Grow it. Glean it. Box it. Porchside pickup seven days a week! "Lettuce" feed those less fortunate throughout our community.

Daily pick up and delivery to food pantries throughout Contra Costa County. Call today!

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
(510) 406-1625

P.S.

I also create FREE websites to help food pantries increase outreach and donations. CLICK HERE for information on FREE non-profit websites.

Find a Food Bank or Food Pantry, Nationwide: CLICK HERE.

Find a Food Pantry in Concord, California: CLICK HERE.

Food Pantries in Contra Costa County. Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Food Banks in California through the California Association of Food Banks. Food Pantries Nationwide through Feeding America.

Got Fruit? Donate Fruit. Share the harvest...

Call...

Anna, The Lemon Lady
Cell: (510) 406-1625
Office: (925) 672-1988
AnnaAndAva@gmail.com

Let's feed the hungry. Spread the word. Share the harvest.
Tell a friend! www.thelemonlady.blogspot.com


Concord, California: Find a local food pantry, CLICK HERE.

Concord-Diablo Rotary Gleaning Efforts surpass One Ton of fruit...

Photo courtesy of Edi Birsan.
Karen Mahshi and Edi Birsan gleaning for the Concord-Diablo Rotary Service Project.

I can't get all the fruit out there. Believe me, I've tried! ;)

We need more people scouting for fruit trees, more fruit tree donors, and more people to help harvest.

I'm so glad to see others actively helping to harvest fruit in our community. In 2009, I had the pleasure of speaking before Edi Birsan's Concord-Diablo Rotary Group - trying to inspire others, one little lemon at a time. Edi has done an excellent job of mobilizing a fruit harvesting crew. They have their fruit-picking poles ready and are looking for more trees to harvest.

Congratulations, Edi and friends on surpassing ONE TON of fruit gleaned from local trees. One tree at a time...each of us can help bring healthy, fresh fruit to those who are poor.

Make friends with a neighbor today. Find a fruit tree. It really is that easy!

Email: "Anna, the lemon lady" or Email: Edi Birsan at the Concord-Diablo Rotary. There is so much surplus fruit and so many people who are hungry. The community truly needs your help!

Do you know of a fruit tree that needs harvesting?
Please Contact:

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
(510) 406-1625
or
EdiBirsan@astound.net
(510) 812-8180

Navlet's $15.00 Coupon...

It's nice to find a sweet deal at a favorite garden center. Save $15.00 (when it's raining) at Navlet's Garden Centers.

CLICK HERE to find a store location near you. Concord, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, and Danville.

CLICK HERE to sign up for Navlet's Special Offers and Coupons. That's how I received this $15.00 coupon - in my email.

Happy Gardening. Happy Harvesting.

Museums or Fruit Harvesting for the Hungry? March 2011 FREE Dates to Remember...

We need YOUR help!
Please, tell ten people. Fruit matters.
Explore the world and pick fruit too.
Free museums and free fruit.

California Academy of Sciences FREE Admission
Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Two great resources:
Free Admission to many museums all month long.

Contra Costa County Library, Discover and Go.
Print FREE passes from your home computer.

Free Museum Day. If you know when to go, there is a FREE museum day almost every day of the month.

Museums on Rainy Days. Fruit picking on Sunny Days!

Donate Fruit to feed the hungry. Have you picked any fruit lately? Have you made friends with a neighbor? March is bursting full of sweet, tree-ripened oranges, tangerines, pomelos, grapefruit, lemons, limes, and so much more. Have you looked to see what is growing on your neighbor's tree? It only takes a minute. Tell ten people today! Fruit matters.

I'll help with a flier requesting fresh fruit donations to feed the hungry. Join the fun! Call for free pick-up and delivery to a nearby food pantry. Call for harvesting help.

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
510.406.1625

Winnemucca, Nevada. Thank you United States Post Office, Postmaster Marlo...

From one small town to another. Clayton, California 94517 to Winnemucca, Nevada 89445: A special thank you to the Winnemucca, United States Post Office, Postmaster Marlo and Staff.

Often, seemingly small, everyday acts of kindness go unnoticed. I'd like to recognize Marlo for answering a telephone call of distress. I mailed two care packages to Ava's Grandma on Saturday. By Monday the packages would normally have reached their destination to the 89445 zip code.

Wednesday, I called Grandma to find out if the packages had been delivered. To my sadness, neither had arrived. After a few minutes of talking to Grandma, it occurred to me that I may have written the address incorrectly. Yes! It was all my error.

I had mailed the two packages with erroneous addresses. (Not just one, both!) With my mixed up mind, visions of sugar plum trees and too many lemons, I had written some other address, but with Grandma's city. Silly me!

Lucky for Grandma and I, the packages had not yet been routed back to sender. If I had not phoned the post office and reached an exceptional person who cared enough to take the time to help - the packages certainly would have just been another box tossed onto a delivery truck. I found this out by calling the local post office and had the good fortune to speak with Marlo, the Postmaster at Winnemucca's local branch.

The stars were all aligned in our favor as it was still early in the day. Otherwise, the route carriers would have been long gone driving through the snow in a one horse open sleigh delivering the day's packages. :) Less than 30 minutes later, Marlo had located the two packages, spoken with the Postal Carrier of Grandma's street and re-routed the two packages to the correct address. No sooner was I back on the phone with Grandma, Grandma looked out her frosty window to see the Postal Carrier tucking the packages neatly into the lock-boxes for resident pick up.

I love the sweet lemonade kind of stories.

Thank you again, Marlo and Staff! It is individuals who make a difference in our world. You have helped in a big way and brought joy to another today. Now, Grandma has all sorts of goodies to enjoy for the next snowy winter day - and some cute pictures of her only granddaughter who lives 370 miles away!


Winnemucca, Nevada, United States Post Office
850 Hanson Street - (775) 623-2456

$10,000 for Volunteers...Anyone out there fruit harvesting for the hungry and other service projects?

Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program.
Entry Deadline March 15, 2011

Along with my fruit harvesting for the hungry adventures, I often find exciting CONTESTS and GRANTS for volunteers in our community. Hauling fruit to food pantries is an excellent way to make a difference to those in need. The Lemon Lady can always use the help. Can you or a child you know use $10,000 for college? Kohl's Store Gift Cards? Plus, many other cool prizes?

My little "Lemon Lady Jr." is only four years old. When she turns six, Grandma and Grandpa will submit her nomination for a young community helper.

What are you waiting for?

CLICK HERE for last year's post about this wonderful opportunity to make a difference and score money for college.

CLICK HERE for other posts titled "CONTESTS and GRANTS"

Current Kohl's Cares For Kids contest entry deadline is March 15, 2011.

Happy Harvesting!

AnnaAndAva@gmail.com
Cell: 510.406.1625

Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay, CA...a child's dream for pony rides and farm-filled fun!

CLICK HERE to visit Lemos Farm Website

UPDATE: Lemos Farm is open President's Day Weekend! Saturday, Sunday and Monday, February 19, 20, 21, 2011.

Weather is Sunny on Sunday, February 21st.

Ava - trying to take the sweet baby goat home with us.
Afterall, they're twins, so there's two of them.
That's her 3 1/2 year old reasoning with her Mommy. :)

Lemos Farm, Half Moon Bay, California


This is the most darling little farm! Ava is only 3 1/2 years old and we have visited at least five times since June. She absolutely loves the pony rides, the dig zone dump truck, the goats, the hay ride, especially the ghost town train ride, and just hanging out eating ice-cream and popcorn.

During our visit, I chatted with Mr. Lemos and he says they have 20 baby goats a year on the farm. The cute little goats in these photos are only five weeks old. They're so soft, gentle and adorable. We wish we could take them home with us! How did we live all this time without knowing such a wonderful, quaint family farm is only an hour from home? We sure look forward to visiting in time for Harvest Season and Pumpkin Patches. The sunflowers are beautiful and corn is growing tall. If you stay till closing, you'll even see cotton tailed bunnies hopping along the trails.

CLICK HERE to visit Lemos Farm website.

Lemos Farm
12320 San Mateo Road (Hwy 92)
Half Moon Bay CA 94019
650-726-2342

Alphabet Rockers. FREE Show for Children. Wednesday, February 23rd...

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
4pm

Alphabet Rockers
Public Show
Ygnacio Valley Library
2661 Oak Grove Road
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

The public libraries never cease to amaze me. Friends of the library foundations sponsor incredible, top-rate entertainment all month long. We've gathered friends and in only a few month's time, we've seen a dozen exciting magic shows, puppet shows, juggling magicians, musicals, science experiments, arts and crafts events - all FREE - all at the public library.

When was the last time you treated your family and children to an evening out? (Bring a neighbor friend too!) Skip the movies. Save your cash. Admission is free. Delight and educate the little children.

Visit Contra Costa County Library website to SEARCH EVENTS for a great show this week near you!

Visit Alameda County Library website to SEARCH EVENTS for a great show this week near you!

Visit Berkeley Public Library website to SEARCH EVENTS for a great show this week near you!

Lindsay Wildlife Museum - Open Today! Monday, January 17th...

From Lindsay Wildlife Museum website:

Open House

Want to explore some of the fun classes we have to offer? Join us for an open house!

Come sample our preschool and children’s classes. Visit our classrooms and meet some of our teachers. Mini-classes run every 15 minutes. Enjoy one, two or several mini-classes! Parents are encouraged to stay while kids enjoy crafts and hands-on investigations. Our amazing animal ambassadors will join us too!

Have fun, meet new friends and learn about our educational opportunities. See you there!

Monday January 17, 2011
11am – 12:30pm

Free with museum admission.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum

1931 First Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Telephone: 925-935-1978