Sunday, March 29, 2015

Seed Catalogs FREE. New Year, 2015. Awesome List! 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 daughter 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 2015
A few to get you started:

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

Seeds of Change
http://www.seedsofchange.com/catalog_request.aspx#.US6yk6WIyiY
(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/request-a-catalog-c-215.html?zenid=bl488ci1kvi7dctcvu8hjasdi3
(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

Saturday, March 28, 2015

San Francisco Bay Area Museums - FREE Admission Tickets April 2015 . . .


First Full Weekend of the Month is upon us!

Chilly Outdoors? Find us indoors at a cozy museum! Often, there is a FREE MUSEUM DAY in April 2015, located in a town near you. (Nationwide.) San Francisco, Oakland, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Portland, Boston and beyond.

First Weekend of the month has the most FREE Admission opportunities. Have fun. Be inspired. Below is a partial list. CLICK other Links for additional dates and venues.

CLICK HERE to find more FREE MUSEUM DAYS in a city near you.


San Francisco Bay Area Museums & Gardens:

Saturday, April 4, 2015 and Sunday, April 5, 2015

Contemporary Jewish Museum w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, April 4, 2015 and Sunday, April 5, 2015

de Young Fine Arts Museum of SF w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, April 4, 2015 and Sunday, April 5, 2015

Legion of Honor w/BofA card FREE First weekend
Saturday, April 4, 2015 and Sunday, April 5, 2015

San Jose Museum of Art w/BofA Card FREE First weekend
Saturday, April 4, 2015 and Sunday, April 5, 2015

Tech Museum w/BofA Card FREE First weekend
Saturday, April 4, 2015 and Sunday, April 5, 2015

Bay Area Discovery Museum - FREE First Wednesday, general public
Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Napa Valley Museum - FREE Family Fun Days, 2nd Saturday of the Month.
Saturday, April 11, 2015

Pier 39 San Francisco - FREE Parking Printable Coupons and Buy One Get One Free Restaurant and Attractions. Ongoing thru May and June 2015

Lawrence Hall of Science - Buy Adult Admission, Get a FREE Child Admission PRINT in advance.

UC Berkeley Cal Day - FREE Admission to All Museums, Gardens, Special Activities
Saturday, April 18, 2015

As an added bonus, there are special FREE days at gardens, Regional Parks, Swimming Pools, Museums not normally advertised:

San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (located at Golden Gate Park) - FREE Admission SECOND Tuesday of the month, general public
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

John Muir National Historic Site - FREE Admission seven days a week. Tour the historic fruit orchards and former home of Naturalist, John Muir.

Amazing Selection of DAILY FREE Passes through your local Library

CLICK HERE: DISCOVER and GO - Find your County. Entire list of Participating Counties.

CLICK HERE: Contra Costa County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

CLICK HERE: Alameda County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

Friday, March 27, 2015

UC Berkeley Cal Day: FREE Admission to UC Berkeley Museums, Saturday April 18, 2015 . . .


UC Berkeley Cal Day
Entire campus and museums FREE Admission on this special day.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

A quick tip on a fantastic opportunity to visit some of our area's most intriguing museums, gardens, exhibits and activities. All for FREE on this special day. If I remember from years past, parking may also be free, but please inquire on that little detail.

CLICK HERE to visit UC Berkeley Cal Day website.

CLICK HERE for a list of some of the "Kids & Families" activities throughout the day.

CLICK HERE to visit UC Berkeley Botanic Garden.

CLICK HERE to visit Lawrence Hall of Science Museum.


FREE Family admission to any of these awesome museums and so much more! Have a great weekend.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

San Pablo Reservoir. 2015 Season Now Open - Boat Rentals, Beauty On the Lake...






San Pablo Reservoir

The Bay Area is such a beautiful place with easy access to reservoirs and boat rides, simple enough for an afternoon adventure. This scenic park and reservoir is located only a few miles outside of the quaint town of Orinda, California.

Have you ever visited San Pablo Reservoir?

CLICK HERE for EBMUD info on San Pablo Reservoir.

Boat Rental info is on a separate website:

CLICK HERE for boat rental info.

CLICK HERE for directions. We were pleasantly thrilled to find such a spectacular place, only minutes from home. A relaxing boat ride is a peaceful, perfect way to introduce little ones to the wonders of nature.

According to the park brochure, Seniors, POWs, and Disabled receive 50% off boat rental fee Monday thru Friday. A great incentive to take Grandma and Grandpa out for a boat ride with the little ones!

On the EBMUD website: SPECIAL: Rent a boat six times and receive a free 1/2 day weekday rental. Awesome!

This is a fantastic after school or weekday adventure! The San Pablo Reservoir is open February thru October. Don't look for us under any lemon trees, because we'll be making memories, boating, picnicking and having fun.

We also enjoy that San Pablo Dam Reservoir has a Cafe on premises. Even if only to buy a refreshing ice-cream, sandwich, or cup of coffee on a whim! Cafe is closed on Mondays and closes early before the facility closes, so be sure to make note of the times.

San Pablo Reservoir
7301 San Pablo Dam Rd.
El Sobrante, Ca. 94803
(510) 223-1661

Boat Rentals Managed by Rocky Mountain Recreation


CLICK HERE: YELP Reviews, mostly 5 stars. No surprise!







Saturday, March 14, 2015

Micro Greens, Homegrown Fresh and Edible in Ten Days...


The Lemon Lady's Homegrown salad greens

Garden project for today: Scatter seeds. Reap tasty rewards in time for Spring. There's no time like the present - to grow a delightful array of homegrown greens.

Remember too, that children LOVE gardening. Visit your local library and find dozens of great books to inspire you. CLICK HERE: FREE SEED CATALOGS and spend the winter learning, dreaming about gardening. YOU are your child's first teacher.

CLICK HERE: Library Subject Search: "Children Gardening."


Seed companies provide excellent assortments of lettuce and green seed mixes. Just scatter seeds, sun and rain, in no time at all, you're a Master Gardener! Baskets full of gourmet greens. You'll be the envy at the Spring Picnics. Try planting FRENCH BREAKFAST RADISHES. Pink and white icicles of brillant color will match the candycane decor just so perfectly.

If you're down to the wire on time, Got 10 days? - Grow micro greens. Great if patience isn't your virtue. Well worth the power packed nutrition punch! Sunset Magazine wrote the perfect article CLICK HERE: "Easy-grow micro greens." Ten days. Seriously. Super cool!

CLICK HERE: Easy-grow micro greens, by Sunset Magazine.

So, power down the computer. Walk, skip, hop or jog to your nearest garden store. Grab some seeds and Let's Get Growing!

Thursday, March 12, 2015

The Exploratorium Museum - FREE Admission, General Public on March 14, 2015 . . .



General Public: 
Pi Day - Free Day! 3.14 FREE Day is coming soon: Saturday, March 14th, 2015. Mark your calendars! CLICK HERE

The Exploratorium is an awesome Bay Area museum, worth visiting at least once in your children's school-aged years. Enjoy!

Exploratorium the museum of science, art, and human perception
Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green St)
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 528-4444

For other Bay Area Museum Free days or Pier 39 Free Parking this month, CLICK HERE

For other FREE Days on The Exploratorium Calendar, CLICK HERE.

Next FREE Public Day is Mother's Day, May 10th 2015.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Community Hero. Congratulations, My Friend...

REPOSTING from 2010

CRISSY FIELD CENTER










After learning of Kathy Gleason's years of selfless service and dedication on the Concord Naval Weapons Station Neighborhood Alliance (CNWSNA), it seemed only fitting I should nominate her for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Community Hero Awards. With honor and friendship, I am proud to report Kathy Gleason of CNWSNA is a 2010 Winner of this prestigious Bay Area Community Heroes Award.

https://www.parksconservancy.org/news/honoring-our-community-heroes-crissy-field-center-now-its-10th-year

Congratulations Kathy and the CNWSNA!

To learn more about this award, CLICK HERE.


To learn more about the CNWSNA, CLICK HERE.

To watch the VIDEO of Kathy Gleason and the CNWSNA, CLICK HERE.

Monday, March 2, 2015

FREE Museum, Zoo, Garden Tickets March 2015 - San Francisco Bay Area's Fantastic Museums - For FREE!



First Full Weekend of the Month is upon us!

Chilly Outdoors? Find us indoors at a cozy museum! Often, there is a FREE MUSEUM DAY in March 2015, located in a town near you. (Nationwide.) San Francisco, Oakland, Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Portland, Boston and beyond.

First Weekend of the month has the most FREE Admission opportunities. Have fun. Be inspired.

CLICK HERE to find other FREE MUSEUM DAYS in a city near you.


San Francisco Bay Area Museums & Gardens:

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Oakland Museum is Free FIRST Sunday to the general public.
Sunday, March 1, 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015 and Sunday, March 8, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015 and Sunday, March 8, 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015 and Sunday, March 8, 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015 and Sunday, March 8, 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015 and Sunday, March 8, 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015 and Sunday, March 8, 2015

Napa Valley Museum - FREE Family Fun Days, 2nd Saturday of the Month.
Saturday, March 14, 2015

Pier 39 San Francisco - FREE Parking Printable Coupons and Buy One Get One Free Restaurant and Attractions. Ongoing thru May and June 2015

Lawrence Hall of Science - Buy Adult Admission, Get a FREE Child Admission PRINT in advance.

Saturdays Without Reservations.

Access to the site is by National Park Shuttle only.

The park is closed to visitors Monday through Thursday. Guided tours are only available on Fridays and Sundays at 10 AM & 2 PM. Reservations are required for guided tours of the site. Self-guided tours are offered on "Saturdays Without Reservations" at 10:15 AM, 12:15 PM and 2:15 PM.


As an added bonus, there are special FREE days at gardens, Regional Parks, Swimming Pools, Museums not normally advertised:

San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum (located at Golden Gate Park) - FREE Admission SECOND Tuesday of the month, general public
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

John Muir National Historic Site - FREE Admission seven days a week. Tour the historic fruit orchards and former home of Naturalist, John Muir.

Amazing Selection of DAILY FREE Passes through your local Library

CLICK HERE: DISCOVER and GO - Find your County. Entire list of Participating Counties.

CLICK HERE: Contra Costa County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.

CLICK HERE: Alameda County Library Discover & Go Partners and Offers.