UC ANR's activities are free and scheduled for both days:
10 a.m. Be a Master Gardener – Rob Bennaton, UC ANR Cooperative Extension urban agriculture advisor for the Bay Area, will discuss water-wise gardening and answer questions about UC Master Gardener training classes.
11 a.m. Fun with Seeds – Steve Andrews, UC Master Gardener Program coordinator for Alameda County, will demonstrate how to make a greenhouse out of a zip-top plastic bag. Kids can choose the seeds they want to plant and customize their greenhouse by decorating it on site.
12 p.m. Be a Master Gardener – Bennaton will discuss water-wise gardening and answer questions about UC Master Gardener training classes.
1 p.m. Worm Composting – Andrews will demonstrate how to turn waste into fertilizer with the help of earthworms.
Kids are invited to become part of the “Pollen Nation” by wearing an antenna headband, available for free at the UC ANR booth.
UC ANR gardening publications including “California Master Gardener Handbook,” “Landscape Pest Identification” cards, “Healthy Roses,” “Pests of the Garden and Small Farm,” “Wildlife Pest Control around Gardens and Homes” and more will be available for purchase at the booth. For more information about urban agriculture and the UC Master Gardener Program, visit http://ucanr.edu/UrbanAg and http://mg.ucanr.edu.
The UC ANR booth will be located in the Eco Alley section of the book festival, on Allston Way between Shattuck and Oxford, across the street from the Brower Center.
The Bay Area Book Festival is a free event and will feature nearly 300 authors, as well as panels, performances and public art displays at Civic Center Park and surrounding indoor and outdoor spaces in Berkeley. For more information about the festival, visit http://www.baybookfest.org.
