You say "Herbs, I say "Erbs," but they all are fun and delicious!
Please join our Stanislaus County Master Gardeners Rho Yare and Terry Pellegrini online for a fun evening learning about the wonderful world of culinary herbs, including:
-Which herbs grow best in the Central Valley of California
-How to plant and care for herbs
-What herb plants need to thrive
-How to make tea
-Harvest and storage methods
-Rho and Terry's favorite tips for using herbs
-Library books you can download free from our local library!
There will be time for questions along the way, so be sure to type yours in the Q&A box. Also, get ready for some fun polls to ask about how you use herbs!
Our program is excited to present this interactive webinar. We hope to "see" you online and introduce you to the wonderful world of herbs!
When: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Where: on Zoom.
How: sign up to receive the link by email at: http://ucanr.edu/virtualherbs/2020
Please sign up to receive the link by June 30, 2020 at 4 p.m.
If you don't have Zoom or have to miss the class, watch it later on our Stanislaus County UCCE Master Gardener YouTube Channel!
- Author: Anne E Schellman
The UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden and Outdoor Classroom!
What would this look like? We envision an accessible garden everyone can visit and explore.
Garden Days
Each week, volunteers will be available for a few hours so you can stop and ask your gardening questions. Once a month, they will be around on the weekend.
Our demonstration garden will also be a place to hold fun events like tomato tastings, kids' gardening activities, health fairs, and Stanislaus County sponsored events.
Demonstration Gardens
Imagine meandering paths through colorful and inviting gardens that showcase plants and gardening methods, including a water-wise garden, California native pollinator garden, herb and vegetable garden, fruit orchard, and children's sensory garden.
Outdoor Classroom Amphitheater
Sign up for a class and sit outside and listen to a Master Gardener led class on how to install drip irrigation, prune fruit trees, or compost. Then, “get your hands dirty,” by practicing installing drip irrigation, pruning a fruit tree, or layering a compost pile.
How Can You Help?
Some generous local sponsors have offered to help with in-kind donations of irrigation materials. We need your help in raising funds to help with lawn removal, plants, path material, mulch, and other items. If you know an Eagle Scout or Girl Scout Troupe that needs a project, we are happy to speak to them about benches and gardening art as well!
Donate Now
Please make your gift for #BigDigDay, on June 5, 2020 now to help us get our garden started!
Using the drop-down menu, select “Stanislaus County.” Your donation will go directly to help us fund the garden. Stay tuned for future posts telling you when we break ground and start work!
If you know of an organization willing to donate materials, that's great too! Please contact us at ucmgstanislaus@ucanr.edu
Photos in this post to help us imagine our new garden are from our sister program, the UCCE San Joaquin Master Gardener Program, located in Stockton.
- Author: Anne E Schellman
Native Pollinator Gardening in Your Backyard was recorded on May 26, 2020. Our guest speaker, Chris Howington from Natural Resources Conservation Service, quizzed attendees on their knowledge of pollinators, described the three types of pollinator nesting, and gave examples of what types of plants pollinators prefer.
Chris also spoke about the insect apocalypse, and what is causing dwindling numbers of bees, butterflies, and many other species. He details how you can help by creating an area in your landscape for pollinators!
Here are some resources to go along with the presentation:
- Find plants that work best in your area to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators from the Xerces Society
- How to build a “bee house,” from Michigan State University
- Read the latest research on native bees from UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab
- Author: Anne E Schellman
Although we can't see you at the local Farmers Market, our Harvest Hall location, or meet with you at the Stanislaus County Fair this year, we want you to know that we have an online presence and are still offering free classes!
Spring Container Vegetable Gardening Class-available now!
Thanks to those of you who joined us for our first online class. May is here, but it's not too late to start a vegetable garden. Watch on our new Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_VH0Tcyqn2M6R8TneFa6gQ
Gardening with Pollinators
Now that many of us are sheltering-at-home, we may go outside more. You've probably seen a few pollinators buzzing about. Some of you wrote and asked if we planned to give a class on this topic. The answer is yes! Our next class will include how to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden.
Save the date of May 26, 2020. Registration information coming soon.
Growing Culinary Herbs
Normally when teaching this class, we do a “show and smell” that allows everyone to touch and breathe in the aromas of these herbs. However, since we can't do this, the next best thing is to have a presentation with lots of great photos that describe the herbs and how to use them. We have a class planned for June.
Fall Container Vegetable Gardening
Once your spring vegetable garden is done, it's time to replace it with fall vegetables! Join us to learn about the vegetables that grow well during cool weather and how to care for them. This class will happen is August.
If you don't see a class you are looking for, or are excited about one of the classes below, please comment below, or contact us on our Facebook page. You can also send us an email to ucmgstanislaus@ucanr.edu
- Author: Rho Yare
The tomato, commonly called a vegetable, is a fruit botanically, and hard to believe but the tomato was the center of a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Nix vs. Hedden. Now, this is a fascinating bit of historical trivia. In the 1800's there was a tariff that put a tax on imported vegetables. Well, a business owner in New York City named John Nix wasn't too happy about this. He sued Edward Hedden, the “Collector of the Port of NYC” (tax collector). Mr. Nix declared that since tomatoes are a fruit, he was owed back taxes.
In Stanislaus County from early July and for months afterward, you'll see tomato truck gondolas on the road 24 hours a day filled with red, ripe tomatoes rushing to processors. We have perfect tomato growing conditions.
A tomato is not too picky. That's another reason it's so popular to grow. All that is required is full sun, an area (container or ground) with some soil, a support of some type, some water, some fertilizer, and a little love.
If you are a container/patio gardener, look on the label or tag for the term “determinate,” as these plants work best in containers. Also, anything named patio or pixie. Cherry tomato varieties are indeterminate but work great in a container. Use at least a 5-gallon bucket-sized container (with holes in the bottom). Your plant will need some support, but not as much as the indeterminate varieties.
To ensure your plant is planted correctly, make your hole as wide and deep as the root ball of the plant. This is the area of soil and roots that you remove from the original container. The cool thing about tomatoes is you can plant them as deep as you need to if they are leggy.
To plant, carefully remove the root ball, and gently loosen the root mass and with gardening clippers or scissors remove lower branches. You are going to plant about 1/3 of the green plant below the soil. Gently pat the soil around the plant . Don't forget to place your support around or next to the plant now so you don't forget. Water gently and stand back and admire your gardening expertise. And imagine those delicious tomatoes gracing your salad, sandwich, or as I like to do, eat them out of my hand with a few napkins to catch the juice.
I hope you plant at least one tomato plant this season and send us pictures of your successes to ucmgstanislaus@ucanr.edu. Happy gardening and enjoy those dirty hands.
Be sure to join Rho on Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. for Spring Container Vegetable Gardening. Sign up on our class website at https://ucanr.edu/sites/stancountymg/Classes/