What can you do with a plot of land that's empty and full of weeds? Plant a garden and start composting with your neighbors! St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Gridley, with the help of generous grants from the Episcopal Foundation of Northern California and California Alliance for Community Composting, has transformed the lot next door to the church at 450 Jackson Street into a garden and composting center for the community: a place to grow food or learn how to garden, a drop-off site for compostable kitchen scraps, and a peaceful outdoor space for people to enjoy.

The Garden at St. Timothy's opened to the public in May 2023 with 20 newly-built and filled garden beds for rent in the following sizes:  5' x 6' (30 sq. ft.) at $15 per year, 5'x 8' or 4'x 10' (40 sq. ft.) at $20 per year, and 5'x 10' (50 sq. ft.) at $25 per year. Each bed has drip irrigation. The yearly enrollment price includes both water and irrigation supplies, which are provided by St. Timothy's church. The system is on a timer and waters automatically so that gardeners don't have to worry about daily watering. To rent a plot, please email st.timothygarden@gmail.com or call 530-218-6636.

The idea for a community garden at St. Timothy's began back in 2015 with the Gridley Community Roots Garden, which closed in 2018. In addition to the individual garden plots for rent, the church's relaunch of the garden includes a teaching garden which doubles as growing space for food to give away to the community, a children's garden and mud kitchen (for messy outdoor play), an outdoor sink and potting area, and of course shaded seating and pleasant surroundings for those who gather.

The Drop in the Bucket composting program at St. Timothy's started in August of 2023 with generous help from Butte Environmental Council (BEC). Anyone in the community may sign up to drop off compostable kitchen materials, for example: fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, paper napkins (no meat, bones, fat, oil, or dairy).

The composting program at the garden is expanding thanks to a grant from California Alliance for Community Composting (CACC) funded by CalRecycle. St. Timothy's currently composts about 75 pounds of kitchen scraps weekly, with the capacity (and goal) to triple that amount, significantly reducing the amount of organic waste going to the landfill. All compost produced at the garden will be used in the garden or shared with those who donate kitchen scraps.

To sign up to bring kitchen scraps to The Garden at St. Timothy's, go to Butte Environmental Council - Composting and scroll down to find the links to Gridley. When you sign up, you can request a complimentary 5-gallon bucket with a lid.

The Garden at St. Timothy's is part of a larger effort by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California (and the Episcopal Church across the U.S.) to return its unused property to agrarian uses. Plenty of grant money is available for garden and farm projects. Locally, St. Timothy's Church wanted to offer Gridley a garden that is both useful and beautiful, to encourage people to grow food with their neighbors, and to increase food security in the community.

With faith that the grant funds would come through, St. Timothy's began preparations for the garden in July 2022: cutting weeds and clearing rubbish, grading and leveling the ground and solarizing the soil to kill weeds. The church paid for a new chain link fence on the alley side of the garden.

By the fall of 2022, volunteers were digging trenches, repairing existing piping, and installing new in-ground irrigation pipe and sprinkler valves for the watering system. Old lumber left over from the first garden was repurposed to build a potting bench, outdoor sink, and mud kitchen for children.

In March of 2023, new redwood was purchased to construct the garden beds, and many volunteers showed up to tackle the job of filling the beds with soil and compost. Pathways between beds were covered with donated wood chips.

The newest addition to the garden is an 8' x 16' greenhouse that is currently under construction. Other plans include comfortable benches and a small fountain at the center of the garden, espaliered fruit trees, a rainwater recovery system, and a redwood deck at the front garden entrance.

Gardeners and volunteers at The Garden at St. Timothy's get together monthly to learn more about gardening and preserving food while enjoying each other's company. All are welcome to attend the meetings which take place in the church offices.

You don't need to be an experienced gardener to get started at St. Timothy's. There are lots of resources and support (everything from tools to seeds), as well as guidance from UC Master Gardeners of Butte County! A recent seed-starting event at the garden attracted a friendly mix of new and experienced gardeners and volunteers who had fun planting seeds in flats (for transplanting outside later this spring). Other recent events included free public talks about composting and the 1,000 Acres More program by Amy Roseman of Butte County Local Food Network.

Butte County Local Food Network has donated a “Free the Food” stand to The Garden at St. Timothy's, so that gardeners can share their produce with the community, and the community can bring food to share with others as well: fresh, whole vegetables and fruits are welcome. The food stand will soon be located in front of the church at 410 Jackson Street.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of projects at The Garden at St. Timothy's, ranging from garden maintenance and composting to building projects, publicity and social media. If you would like to learn more about what's going on, volunteer to help, or donate to the garden, email st.timothygarden@gmail.com.

The Garden at St. Timothy's is growing, thanks to the many gardeners, volunteers, and other folks who have provided ideas, effort, enthusiasm and support. There's plenty of room in the garden and it's always open…come and take a look!

The Master Gardeners' Spring Workshop Series has begun! There will be 15 more workshops on a variety of topics (including composting) between now and May 22. For information about the workshops, and to register, go to our website.  All workshops are free, but registration is required.

UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system.  To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website.  If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.

If you plan to travel this summer, now might be a good time to install an automatic watering system.  Doing so can ensure that your plants will not be under-watered or over-watered in your absence.

An effective irrigation system will supply the right amount of water to each plant resulting in water savings and more healthy plants.  It will reduce weeds and help prevent pest and disease problems from occurring.

Drip irrigation is the tool that can help you minimize water wastage and maximize water's benefits to your garden.   Drip watering is the frequent, slow application of water to soil through emitters or micro-sprinklers.  Drip irrigation works well for vegetable gardens, ornamental and fruit trees, shrubs, vines, and outdoor container plants.  Even without an automatic sprinkler system installed, a drip system can be set up using a standard garden hose attached to the main drip line. 

Installation of a basic, simple drip system is quite straightforward, and easily within the grasp of most home gardeners. It goes together much like a tubular erector set, all snapping together. Main one-half-inch (1/2”) or five-eighths inch (5/8”) polyethylene tubing line connects to your water source (if you're on well water, you need a filter on the water source).  Drip emitters, microsprinklers, or ¼” spaghetti tubing with emitters can be installed off the main line using barbed connector fittings that poke into the main lines.  Solid spaghetti tubing can also be attached to the main line with an emitter attached at the other end to provide water directly to the plant.  Alternatively, main line poly tubing can be purchased with in-line emitters pre-installed inside the tubing.   Both the main poly tubing line or the in-line emitter tubing can be snaked through your beds or circled around shrubs and trees to deliver water directly to your plants.

With a drip irrigation system in place, water will be delivered a) directly to the plants of your choice and b) directly to the roots of those plants.  These two simple factors can lead to fewer unwanted weeds in the garden and help reduce plant diseases. 

The second consideration for smart watering is consistency.   An automatic watering system is extremely consistent because it runs on a set schedule.

The timing and amount of water you deliver depends on the plants to be watered and the soil type.  Depending upon your soil's density, water will move quickly or slowly through it.  For example, water poured through sand will move very quickly because sand is loose rather than dense or compact.  But water poured through clay will trickle very slowly.  Consider the plant's whole root structure within your particular type of soil.  An effective water system will deliver water to the entire root structure.  The goal is to water for deep, strong roots that that aren't waterlogged. 

This is where math becomes useful.  Drip irrigation emitters release a certain amount of water per hour.  You can calculate how much water you are delivering by employing simple multiplication and division.  And with that number, you can decide how long you need to run your irrigation.  Decide on the amount of water required by the plants each watering cycle, calculate the amount of time needed to deliver that amount (gallons per hour per emitter x total number of hours = total gallons per emitter) and water for that amount of time.

Watering is an active relationship that requires constant adjustments.  You may need to tinker with your system to make seasonal changes, fix broken pieces, and make adjustments for better efficiency.  

While drip irrigation is a good way to achieve efficient watering, it is not absolutely necessary.  What is necessary is analyzing your own plants and determining how to best meet their needs given your personal situation.  If you are a gardener who travels frequently, implementing a reliable automatic watering system will reassure you that your plants will remain happy, well watered, and growing until you return.

A very helpful publication on this subject is the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources(UC ANR) Publication 21579, “Drip Irrigation in the Home Landscape.”

Even more helpful can be an in-person workshop, and drip irrigation is the topic of a workshop April 17 at the Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch, one of many in the Master Gardeners' Spring Workshop Series. For more information about this and the other workshops in the series, and to register, visit our website.  All workshops are free, but registration is required.

UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system.  To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website.  If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.

Quiet, solitude and a connection with nature can be vital to one's peace of mind. Health care centers and hospitals have discovered this, and often incorporate garden spaces into their architectural designs with an eye towards reducing anxiety and improving recovery.

In an important study published in the journal Science in 1984, environmental psychologist Roger Ulrich demonstrated that sometimes even just looking out a window into a garden space could speed up a patient's recovery and healing. Ulrich's work has been hailed as groundbreaking and highly influential. Further studies have found that just three to five minutes spent either in a garden or looking at a garden can reduce anger, pain, and anxiety, not only for patients but for stressed hospital workers as well.

Garden spaces specifically designed for this purpose are called healing or restorative gardens. Guidelines for them include water features, artworks, plants with different textures and seasonal color changes, comfortable seating, and accessibility. Ideally at least seventy percent of outdoor space should be planted in greenery. Plenty of seating in both sun and shade can offer private spaces for those who wish to be alone, and adjacent benches where groups of visitors can gather.

Some hospitals and health care facilities have gone yet further and made bringing the outdoors indoors an important part of their design. “Living walls” of plants, or even simply bouquets of flowers in a main entrance or along a hallway can provide an uplifting welcome for patients and their loved ones as well.

If these therapeutic gardens can be so powerful for healing in hospitals, why not create one in your own yard? Gardens are wonderful spaces for connecting with nature: merely stepping out in the garden provides an instant reprieve from the day's weariness and provides us with a heightened awareness. You can extend that benefit by creating a space in your garden specifically for relaxation and mindfulness.

There are four types of healing gardens to consider: 1) a meditation garden is designed to invitequiet reflection and reduce stress; 2) a rehabilitation garden is not only good for reducing stress but also good for the garden, by providing shelter and food for birds and pollinators like bees and butterflies; a restorative garden focuses on calm healing through horticultural therapy from colorful plants, water features, and natural elements; and an enabling garden aims for therapeutic results from active gardening (e.g. planting, weeding, pruning, harvesting). You can pick and choose from all four of these garden types to create the healing garden space best suited to your needs.

Because these are such intimate spaces, it is important to plan them for maximum visual and sensory appeal. As with all landscape projects, available space, budget, and light play a vital role in determining the design. What is most important to you in this garden? Birdsong? The sound of running water? Floral scents? Visiting nurseries and public gardens, or even attending gardening workshops like those in the current Master Gardeners Workshop Series can provide inspiration. The rule of thumb is to keep it simple, but this also depends on personal preference.

The most important factor in designing such a space is noise. A corner of the backyard next to a busy street or noisy neighbors will not be very calming. A welcoming, comfortable spot to sit is a necessity. Screens for privacy, pathways, water features, wind chimes or bells, rocks or statuary can become elements of design. Grasses and plants will provide texture. Look for seasonal color and native plants to add interest, and don't underestimate the therapeutic benefits of fragrant plants like lavender, thyme, and rosemary. Plants in containers can be moved into a covered area during winter, then brought out again when the weather warms up.

Creating a healing garden need not be difficult. You may already have space in your yard, like an area under a shade tree, that provides solitude. Simply adding an outdoor chair or bench and a windchime may be all that's needed. Or a quiet garden space can be created in the corner of a balcony or deck. And if making a relaxing outdoor space is not possible, therapeutic benefits can be achieved indoors with a cozy chair and favorite house plants. Garden or plant-themed artwork nearby can enhance the effect. Any connection with nature creates positive changes in the body.

Dream, plan, and design your way to a healing garden best suited to all five senses and your own personal needs.  

If the sounds and activities of birds are important components of your ideal healing garden, consider attending “Native Gardens for the Birds,” an upcoming Master Gardener workshop on Friday, April 12^th. For more information about this and the other workshops in the Master Gardeners' Spring Workshop Series, and to register, visit our website.  All workshops are free, but registration is required.

UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system.  To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website.  If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.

As concern grows over the decline in the honey bee population, alternative pollinators are gaining attention. Mason bees, which are native to North America, are one option. These gentle-natured bees do not produce honey but they excel at pollinating and are easy to raise.

Mason bees look similar to house flies – they have black bodies and a dark blue iridescent sheen. One advantage for the family backyard is that the males do not have a stinger and the females will only sting if trapped or squeezed.

The mason bee is a solitary bee which lives in natural cavities such as woodpecker holes or hollow stems. They also seem to be just as happy in artificially-constructed nests, so long as these nests include tubes made of cardboard or paper where the female bee can lay her eggs.

Purpose-built nests, often called bee boxes, are set out in early spring when daytime temperatures regularly reach 55 degrees. The bee box is placed outside, facing south in a location that is sunny but protected from wind and rain. Because mason bees will not fly farther than three hundred yards from their nest, bee boxes must be located within range of fruit trees and flowering plants.

The bees emerge from their home in early spring when fruit trees start to bloom. The males emerge first, waiting for the females. When the females come out they quickly mate and start work on their nests for the year. They begin by finding a suitable hole and then start to gather pollen and nectar from nearby trees and plants.

The mason bee gathers pollen on her underside. As she zig-zags among the blossoms she is picking up and dropping off pollen, thus pollinating the flowers as she travels. One mason bee can pollinate 2,000 blossoms in a single day. She brings pollen back to her nest and deposits it at the back of the tube, making a mound on which she will lay one egg. She then seals the space off with mud to create a cell. It is because they use mud in their nest construction that they are called mason bees.

The female mason bee starts another nesting cell and continues until the nesting chamber or tube is filled with a series of egg cells. Amazingly the bee is able to determine, before she lays an egg, whether that egg contains a male or female larva.  She will lay female eggs at the rear of the chamber, for protection, and put the male eggs up front.  Finally, she seals off the front of the tube with a mud plug.

All this activity can be closely watched since the bees don't sting. The female can be seen heading into her chamber when she is laden with pollen, and backing into her chamber when she is about to lay an egg. Sometimes she just likes to rest in the front of the chamber. This activity continues for six to eight weeks, and then the mother bee dies.

Mason bee larvae hatch a few days after their eggs are laid. The larvae eat the pollen the mother has provided and then each larva goes into a pupal stage. The following spring, the adult bees emerge.  The males emerge from the nest first, the females follow, and the process begins all over again.

More information on mason bees can be found at the Crown Bees website.

If you would like to learn more about these and other native bees, there is an upcoming Master Gardener workshop for you. “Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees,” will be take place May 8^th at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch. For more information about this and the other workshops in the Spring Workshop Series, and to register, go to our website. All workshops are free, but registration is required.

UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system.  To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website.  If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.