Author Novella Carpenter, who wrote the book “Farm City” and sparked the theme for Alameda Free Library’s 2011 Community Reads Program, spoke last night, Thursday, March 31st, at 7 p.m at the Main Library on Oak Street.

About 50 residents and visitors attended her talk.

Carpenter’s memoir details her experiences turning a vacant lot in Oakland into a thriving farm with fruits, vegetables, farm animals, and bees. The book shares stories, tips, and a great deal of heart and humor.

In March as part of the community-reading program and theme, the library opened a seed-sharing library and garden tool-lending library, which are now available to residents.

For residents looking to learn more about urban gardening, Alameda Backyard Growers will host a talk on “What You Need to Know about Lead in Your Soil” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at High Street Station Café, 1303 High Street at Encinal Avenue.

The speaker is Steve Calanog of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.