Alameda County Water District (ACWD) held an event on Oct. 16 called, “An Evening in the Garden with Pints & Plants.” The purpose of the event was to teach community members how to conserve water, as part of a national campaign called the Value of Water. “We really just wanna spread the word, because every drop counts,” said ACWD public affairs supervisor Sharene Gonzales.
The free event took place at Birdhaus Beer Garden on 3821 Smith St. in Union City from 4 to 7pm. About 35 people attended the event within the first hour. “We thought this would be a fun activity for entire families to come out. You can see, we have kids, folks ranging from all ages,” Gonzales said.
ACWD staff were serving free food from Da Good Vibes, a restaurant next to Birdhaus. It included Spam musubi, Filipino lumpia and adobo chicken wings. People had the option of purchasing a beer while attending the event.
Photos by Roelle Balan
Photos by Roelle Balan
Attendees had the chance to fill out a “plant personality” quiz about a person’s water use behaviors. Based on their answers, they received pieces of succulent plants. People were able to take a small pot, add soil and plant the succulents. Pebbles were also provided to keep the plant steady.
Results of the quiz included humorous titles like, “Casual Conservation Conspirator” and “High Maintenance Hydrator.”
Representatives from the University of California Master Gardener Program of Alameda County were also at the event to answer questions about landscaping, water use and gardening.
ACWD organizes a water conservation awareness event every October. This year was their first time partnering with Birdhaus Beer Garden. Last year they offered a tour of their water treatment plant. Tours of their treatment are generally available by request and are held Tuesday through Thursday.
