- Author: Anne E Schellman
If you've always wanted to grow vegetables, but don't have the space, this class will help you get started. You'll learn which vegetable plants grow best in containers, which size container to choose, and how to plant, care for, and harvest warm season vegetable crops. This is a great class for beginning gardeners. Attendees will receive free seeds.
To sign up for the class, please see information below. Do not post to this blog. These classes are taught by our Master Gardener Program volunteers.
- Author: Anne E Schellman
Wow! Its been a busy, productive year. The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Stanislaus County Master Gardener Program started it's first training class in January of 2019. Twenty-three Master Gardeners graduated in June and have been volunteering in the community ever since.
Before you read a synopsis of what we've been up to, I'd like to ask you to support our programs. #GivingTuesday is TODAY! Help us continue on our mission by visiting http://bit.ly/MGStanislaus to give directly to our program. If you give early, ANR will MATCH your donation!
Here are just a few of the events and classes we've held so far:
July 2019 - Stanislaus County Fair
We were excited to have a booth in front of the horticulture building to announce the start of our program! We connected with over 350 people in just a few days! This was a great way to recruit volunteers for our 2020 class.
July to present - Modesto and Oakdale Farmers Markets
Volunteers were present every week at the Oakdale Farmers Market, and at the Modesto Farmers Market on various Thursdays and Saturdays. We gave out free vegetable seeds and instructions on how to grow your own healthy produce.
October 23, 2019 - Imagine a Day Without Water
Volunteers created a poster board to show best practices for conserving water, as well as handed out a low-water-use plant list. If you'd like to have this list, email us at ucmgstanislaus@ucanr.edu to request a copy.
November 9, 2019 Salmon Festival, Knights Ferry
Although a small town, Knights Ferry is a part of Stanislaus County too! Volunteers connected with many community members and enjoyed participating in the Eco-Quiz that taught attendees about wise water use.
November 14, 2019 - Vermicomposting Basics Class
This is one of the first classes the Master Gardeners taught on their own! Five volunteers learned everything you need to know to start a worm bin, why worms eat our garbage, and how they can help reduce adding waste to the landfill.
Wednesdays, August 2019 through December 11 – Master Gardener Help Line
Master Gardeners are available at our office to answer gardening and pest management questions! Since we started in August, we've had pest management questions about ants, cockroaches, powdery mildew, fireblight, and giant whitefly, just to name a few. We had a lot of gardening questions regarding shade trees and fruit trees, as well as vegetables. Our favorite question was “what are the best tasting tomatoes to grow for our area?”
If you have a question for our helpline, you can submit it online at the email address above or leave us a message at (209) 525-6802. Or stop by and see us at the Agricultural Center. Our office is in the Stanislaus Building, Suite A at 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, 95358. We are here Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon each week.
- Author: Anne E Schellman
Still a few spaces left for our hands-on workshop for Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Learn all about various types of succulents, how to propagate them (make more) and succulent care. You'll also put together a gorgeous succulent box to take home.
We will have coffee and a few goodies on hand. Sign up and bring a friend! Register and pay on our Classes and Workshops page.
Curious to learn more about succulents? In this fun, hands-on workshop, you'll learn about different types of succulents, their care, and how to propagate them. Last, we'll help you create an attractive design with succulent cuttings in a small, hand-crafted wooden box (made by one of our Master Gardeners). You'll also go home with an assortment of extra cuttings for your landscape.
Where: Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Harvest Hall Rooms D&E 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, 95358.
When: Saturday, October 26, 2019 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Cost: $25 (only 30 spaces available)
Questions? (209) 525-6862
Instructors: UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners Roxanne Campbell, Terre Gouveia, and Rho Yare.
Register for Gardening with Succulents
- Author: Anne E Schellman
This past week, the UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners held a class about pollinators and the plants they prefer. Speakers from Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Xerces Society helped the audience “meet” many local pollinators found in our county.
Everyone knows about honey bees, but many might not realize there are over 4,000 native bees in California nor be able to recognize them.
Pop Quiz
At the beginning of the class, one speaker showed the image above and asked the audience, “How many bees are in this photo?” Participants shouted out several numbers, but most didn't know the answer. Take a moment to view each insect and count the bees. How many did you find? The answer and insect identities are at the very bottom of the page.
Conservation
Education about pollinators is important so people can learn how to recognize bees and incorporate sustainable gardening practices that help protect them.
Our program plans to create a pollinator collection to have on display at events to help people learn how to recognize these helpful insects. We also plan to have more classes about pollinators throughout the county. In the meantime, you can consult the following pollinator resources.
Native bees and other pollinators
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab
Best plants for native bees and pollinators
Visit these sites for lists and information about plants native bees and butterflies prefer that provide pollen and nectar. Many local nurseries and garden centers also carry these plants.
California Native Plant Society
Plant California
Visit a Local Garden!
You can see a local pollinator garden by visiting the La Loma Native Garden located near downtown Modesto.
Answer
Six of the insects are bees!
- Fly
- Bumble bee
- Butterfly
- Sweat bee
- Grasshopper
- Mining bee
- Mason bee
- Honey bee
- Velvet ant (actually a wasp)
- Metallic green sweat bee
Special thanks to the Natural Resources Conservation Council and the Xerces Society for making this class possible. The first photo in this article is based on a study written in Frontiers in Ecology called Public support of bee conservation.
