o you want to help residents of San Bernardino County garden and landscape more sustainably; grow food in home, school, and community gardens; and improve the health of our communities? Becoming a University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener volunteer may just be for you!
To become a Master Gardener volunteer, you must complete a 50-hour online training course taught by UC and other subject-matter experts.
Important Dates: December 15, 2021: Deadine to complete online application Continuous (through January 7, 2022): Rolling acceptance of applicants on an individual basis.
January 31, 2022: $150 class fee paid online, Master Gardener handbook purchased (not included in tuition: $28-$40), and background check completed (not included in tuition: $25-$40)
April 30, 2021. Final date to complete on-line course requirements (view and complete quizzes for all modules, complete a midterm and final exam, and a class presentation online or in-person.
June 30, 2023: Final date to complete your required 50 volunteer hours. MG program graduation requirements include viewing and completing quizzes on all classes, passing an open book midterm and final exam, and co-presenting
UCCE will ensure the health and safety of accepted applicants and the public served through the program by requiring physical distancing and other precautions as necessitated by COVID-19 throughout the training and volunteer period, including returning to all on-line formats if necessary.
In addition to completing and submitting the online application found here: https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=36040, you must attend (via Zoom) an information/Q and A sessions about the program. Saturday, November 20, 2021 (2-4 PM) Tuesday, November 30, 2021 (7-9 PM) Wednesday, December 1, 2021 (7-9 PM) Saturday, December 4, 2021 (3-5 PM) Saturday, December 11, 2021 (9-11 AM).
- Author: Rho Yare
And then, one day cities began reading those water meters and charging the nice, water loving citizens by the units of water used each month. You could almost tell the day the bills arrived. Neighbors discussed them at the mailbox with anger, frustration, even fear. “How can I afford this every month?” Or “How can I reduce my monthly bill?” And that was the birth (or at least the beginning) of serious discussions about how to be “water wise” or how to conserve water to lower the units of water consumption that consequently will lower the monthly bill.
During this last drought, many people just stopped watering their lawn. This helped reduce their water bill but does little else. In many cases it killed street trees as well.
Not watering grass in our climate guarantees that the grass will die. In its place, however will be weeds. Weeds can live and multiply in harsh, waterless conditions. And all those weeds are spreading seeds that land in your neighbor's lawns. And eventually even the weeds die from normal life cycle or lack of water. Then the wind blows the precious topsoil from your yard. This topsoil mixes with the other air in our valley and adds to air pollution.
What if I want to keep my lawn?
There are a few things you can do if you do not want to give up your lawn completely. Think about reducing the amount of lawn in your yard, which can help you save water and money. Having a beautiful yard without green grass does not mean just rocks, cactus, or artificial turf. Begin by removing a small section of the grass. Check with the Stanislaus Master Gardeners and local nurseries for plant suggestions to replace that green grass with other green, or gray, or yellow plants. Think beyond bark, boulders, and bare ground. The possibilities are endless. This time of the year is a perfect time to begin making plans for that winter yard renovation!
What are some easy tips to save water?
Now, if you are not ready to commit to a grassless or partially grassless yard there are some changes that can help in reducing water consumption. First, examine your current watering system. If you have a sprinkler system, do not assume that it is working properly. Checking weekly during the warm weather is a must, especially after the lawn is mowed and in the daylight. Is everything working properly, sprinklers putting water on the lawn not the sidewalk or street? Are the sprinklers clogged, broken, or even missing? If you have an automatic timer, check the timer, and remember to decrease time and days as the daylight time shortens and weather cools, and turn the sprinklers off when the rains begin. Be an agent of change for the better! Making a few changes now can make a difference in your water bill, landscape, and our world because we are all in it together.
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Join Rho Yare on Zoom for an evening of tips on how to reduce your water bill, yard work, pesticide use, all while having a gorgeous yard on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Sign up at http://ucanr.edu/sustainable/2020 to receive your link.
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
Design and Implement a Water-Wise Landscape
We are more interested that ever in beautiful, water-wise landscapes that conserve an important natural resource and same time and money. About 1/3 to 1/2 of water used by a typical California family is directed at outdoor irrigation, averaging about 200 gallons a day.
The good news is that, in most instances, you do not need to completely overhaul your entire landscape or commit to expensive fixes to save water. While native gardens are generally water efficient and low maintenance, there are many non-native plants that thrive in California and are just as water-wise. Most of the water wasted in residential landscapes is not due to thirsty plants, it is the result of inefficient and ineffective watering practices.
Following our tips in the coming weeks will save you money, water and time.
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
Why do we want a sustainable landscape?
The benefits include;
- Healthy, low-maintenance landscapes
- Lower water bills (for those on meters)
- Less water quality degradation
- Increased energy conservation due to less pumping and water treatment
- Extended life of water resources infrastructure (pumping, water treatment facilities, etc.)
- Enhanced wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors
- Reduced air pollution
- Reduced home cooling and heating cost through strategic plant placement.
Sustainable landscaping involves selecting plants that are adapted to your climate and microclimate. These practices reduce water waste, protect water quality, nurture the soil, protect and encourage desirable wildlife and conserve energy.
- Author: Gerry L Hernandez
What exactly is sustainable landscaping?
In a nutshell, it involves selecting plants that are adapted to your climate and microclimate and implementing maintenance practices that reduce water waste, protect water quality, nurture soil, recycle organic matter, incorporate integrated pest management, (IPM), protect and encourage desirable wildlife, and conserve energy.
- Choose plants recommended for your climate and microclimate.
- What is your climate zone? Sunset magazine develop the Sunset climate zones many, many years ago. It takes into consideration more factors than the USDA plant hardiness zones. What is your Sunset zone?
- So, what is a microclimate? My house sits in Sunset climate zone 8 but the front and back of the house are very different. For example, the front of my house has a very large tree and it is shady, dark and cool in the summer. I would never be able to grow sun loving plants like marigolds but my ferns thrive there. Another example would be my backyard. In my backyard there is NO shade! In the summer, it's hotter than a firecracker back there. In this case I would never be able to grow ferns but the marigolds would do well and be very happy. What are your microclimates?
- Avoid invasive plants! Many times these plants are great drought tolerant plants but they survive and spread on their own without human assistance. Some invasive plants (that can be found in stores) are Mexican Feathergrass (Nassella or Stipa tenuissima), Green Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), Highway iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis), Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) and Big Leaf Periwinkle (Vinca major), Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius). For more information contact www.plantright.org/regions