.Best Organic Farming Supply Shop

There’s no lack of urban farmers in Oakland, and for those passionate about organic and sustainable agriculture, there’s no better shop than Pollinate Farm and Garden. The “local general store with a twist” opened its doors in 2013 in Fruitvale and provides supplies for organic farming and gardening, small-scale livestock cultivation, food preservation, and beekeeping. The store promotes “seed-to-table” gardening and farming with a wide range of supplies, including ready-to-plant vegetable seedlings, garden soils, irrigation supplies, composting equipment, organic pest management supplies, an organic fertilizer bar, and much more. The founders — Birgitt Evans, an Alameda County Master Gardener, and Yolanda Burrell, a member of the Alameda County Beekeepers Association and Alameda Backyard Growers — are both supporters of the DIY food movement and have grown their operation into much more than just a store. Pollinate Farm and Garden hosts speaker series and hands-on DIY workshops on a wide range of topics. Those opportunities make the business a great space for amateur urban farmers to mingle with the experts — and buy the supplies they need to become pros.