Greetings from the Mainland!
I am gliding through the old world by train, on a long ride between Marseille and Hamburg. Fall has definitely begun here and the air is crisp and cool, following several days of rain. I have already enjoyed staying in a gorgeous renovated barn in the hills of the Black Forest and hiking on the rocky cliffs of Cassis over the bright blue Mediterranean sea. Another week and a half packed with visits to friends in Hamburg, Berlin and Freiburg, then it is back to the Bay Area and our Fall season of classes. We are offering an amazing array of classes the second half of October, starting with our popular community meet buy and butchery class, The Whole Lamb and a wonderful class on making your own Winter healthcare products with Maya Blow of SoulFlower Farm. If you have been waiting for Cheesemaking 101, Home Butchering:Fowl or our Fermentation Intensive, these are offered too! As always, full descriptions of classes and details on how to register are available on our website—check the left sidebar links to navigate.

TOP: Autumn in the Black Forest CENTER: Textures of Marseille BOTTOM: Landscapes of the Mediterranean Coast of France

Urban Farm Tours Success!
We had a fantastic day in Hayward, showing off local home scale gardens there. About 100 people gathered at our staging area on a pleasantly cool day before dispersing to our featured sites.Check out some photos here:
Photos by Fernando Munguia
Photos by Ruby Blume
For 2016 we are hoping to offer a day of home-scale farms in Berkeley and a day of community farm projects in Berkeley & Oakland. We are considering returning to Vallejo & Benecia area as well as a coop tour in the North Bay (focused on small scale poultry farming). If you are interested in seeing a tour in your area, and you know several good example of urban farming, please inquire. In the meantime keep on top of Farm Tour news, ask questions and join the conversation on our new Urban Farm Tours page

Meeting the Goats at Sunnyslope Farm in Castro Valley, participant in our 2015 Hayward Area Farm Tour

Fall Gardening Tip: Sheet Mulching
For those of you still in the planning stages of your future abundant urban garden, Fall is the time to think about SHEET MULCHING areas you have not yet broken ground or where you want to supercharge your soil. Collect your materials (cardboard, compost, mulch) in October and lay down your sheet mulch early November to catch whatever Winter rains we might get. Sheet mulching harnesses the action of the soil food web including fungi and bacteria, micro-arthropods and earthworms, all of which work best in moist decomposing organic matter. For some winter green in the garden, plant lava beans directly into your sheet mulch. For a detailed How-To go HERE

Upcoming Events
Please note that we will not be hosting our Day of the Dead Celebration in Dover Park this year. ) :
But do mark your calendars to join us at our annual Winter Open House, Tasting and Sale! December 12 & 13, 12noon-4pm each day. Straggler sales TBA. Private showings and sales available AFTER Dec 12 by appointment. We'll post more details including location in our December Newsletter.

Participate!
~ Seeking Teachers & Accepting Proposals for New Classes - Oakland and North Bay We are accepting proposals for our 2016 season from now through December 31. In the North Bay we are looking for experts in fencing for livestock and deer protection, small scale orchard installation and management and rural water systems. Other topics will also be considered. Please have a look at Teaching at IUH for details on how to make your class proposal.
~ Accepting Application for 2016 Internships ~ We are accepting applications for our annual 9 month internship program for 2016. Deadline to apply is February 15. See Volunteering at IUH.
~ Seeking Farm Care Support ~ Seeking people for weekly farm care shifts now through the end of the year at Beegrrl Gardens in North Oakland. Barter for farm fresh goodies or consultation/education. inquire by email ruby@sparkybeegirl.com
~ Accepting Proposals & Leads for 2016 Urban Farm Tours. We are considering homescale sites in Berkeley, Vallejo & Benecia, community type farms in Berkeley and Oakland and small scale poultry operations in the Santa Rosa, Sebastopol area. Please include full name & contact info, a description of the site and features and photos if possible.Inquire by email iuh@sparkybeegirl.com.

Fall Garden at Vital Sow Farm, participant in our 2015 Hayward Area Farm Tour