- Author: Amy Breschini
What's the goal of the Master Gardener program?
To deliver science-based gardening information from the University of California to the home gardener.
I keep hearing the term "Sustainable", what does that mean?
“meeting the needs of today’s population without diminishing the ability of future populations to meet their needs.”
or
"practices that help protect and nurture our natural resources in order to maintain a healthy agriculture system that can provide for the future demands."
How do I actually create a sustainable landscape?
Do we teach or give information out about organic gardening as Master Gardeners?
Actually we promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It is a strategy that uses environmentally sound, yet effective, ways to keep pests from invading your home, damaging your plants, or annoying you. Successful IPM usually combines several methods for long-term prevention and management of pest problems without harming you, your family, or the environment. In IPM, using pesticides may be an option, but when other nonchemical methods are used first, pesticides are often not needed. The determining factor of pesticide recommendations by UC IPM are based on choosing least harmful/toxic products to humans, animals and beneficial insects and protecting groundwater.
How do I know which plants are invasive?
Go to this website: http://www.cal-ipc.org/
Where does our UCCE funding come from?
The University of California (State of California), County of San Luis Obispo, Federal, Grants and Gifts/Donations.
- Author: Amy Breschini
Pictured above is the apple grafting class of 2011 with the California Rare Fruit Growers. Thanks to Dr. Joe Sabol for making a very special day for us! This is one great group of future volunteers and I feel pretty darn lucky to get to work with them!
I had always planned on using this blog for some type of internal communication for the Master Gardeners in San Luis Obispo. Well, thanks to Sue, our office manager, she made me realize that we needed a "Frequently Asked Questions" for Master Gardeners in the Center of the VMS page.. which happens to be where the blog is. So if you are not a Master Gardener and happen to stumble across the blog on the internet, it's going to be pretty boring. As most of you know, blogs are not private, so I will use people's first names and last name initials only and you will have to find the people's email address on the roster.
So here's a few of my top questions:
Q. How do I find who is in charge/ committee chair of something?
A. Log into VMS, Go to Documents, Go to SLO GRO Newsletter, Go to the back page of the newsletter.
Q. How do I find someone's email or phone number?
A. Click on Roster on the left- if the person has no phone number or email listed (private) contact myself or Marylou H.
Q. What public events are coming up and where are the flyers?
A. Check out our public website http://ucanr.org/sites/mgslo/
Q. How do I get a document posted on VMS?
A. Submit it to Leann B. our webmaster
Q. How do I sign up for an event?
A. Log into VMS, click on Calendar, find the event and click on the underlined title, scroll down to the bottom and click on the button that say's "volunteer for this event".
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On another note, I need some specialized volunteers! I have had a couple of people volunteer lately to help me add more information to our public website and help enter events onto the calendar. .(I'll reveal the computer helpers once I have trained them for their assigned tasks) If you have computer skills, I would love a couple more volunteers to help with things like this... Also, if you have graphic design skills for making eye catching publications, let me know too! Another need is for someone to volunteer to teach a class one evening the internet basics, logging into VMS, entering hours, signing up on the calendar, how to navigate UCIPM.
- Author: Amy Breschini
by Andrea Peck
Q. What is the difference between mulch and compost?
Jane Lauridsen, Los Osos
A. There is no question that when creating a sustainable garden, mulch is a necessary tool in the gardener’s arsenal. Similarly, compost, otherwise called ‘black gold,’ with its ability to improve even the worst soil, is an excellent way to reuse garden waste. But, while mulch and compost have their own stellar qualities, can they be used interchangeably?
Mulch, in essence, is anything that covers the soil to prevent weed growth and water loss. Mulches can be inorganic or organic. Black plastic, rock, even reused rubber from tires are used as inorganic mulches. While inorganic mulches do not amend the soil, they do retain soil moisture as well as block the sun, thereby preventing weeds, slowing down evaporation and protecting soil from erosion.
Organic mulches form a much larger list and extend from leaf litter, grass clippings, straw and wood chips. Over time these organic mulches break down and enhance the soil. Because they are essentially ‘on top’ of the soil, these mulches will not have much effect on nitrogen levels in the soil during the process of breaking down.
Compost, on the other hand, is an equal amount of carbon (brown materials such as leaf litter) and nitrogen (green materials such as kitchen waste) mixed together and set aside in a pile or contained in an open box to decompose. After the process of decomposition is finished, it should be dark and crumbly with an earthy smell.
Compost is best worked into the soil, near the plant root zone, at a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Because it has had a chance to fully decompose, necessary nutrients are immediately available for plant use. Compost can be used as mulch but not vice-versa. In order for weeds to be suppressed, compost should be placed around the plants at a depth of four inches or more to block the light that weed seeds need. But, while weed seeds on the soil before the compost is added will be prevented from growing, any weed seed that lands on top of the compost will find a nice spot to grow. Nevertheless, if you have enough compost to use as mulch, the quality of your soil will greatly improve.
Got a Gardening Question?
Contact the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners: at 781-5939 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday and Thursday; at 473-7190 from 10 a.m. to noon in Arroyo Grande; and at 434-4105 from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday in Templeton. Visit the UCCE Master Gardeners Web site at groups.ucanr.org/slomg/ or e-mail mgsanluisobispo@ucdavis.edu.
- Author: Amy Breschini
Happy Spring!
There's always something new, isn't there? Today I noticed that our Pest Notes Flyer was from a 2009 version and voila! I found a new version! Thankfully the Pest Notes are constantly being updated so we have the latest and best information to pass along to the community.
I highly recommend keeping multiple copies of this list of current Pest Notes at all of the Master Gardener Events. It's an easy hand-out to use when helping people with gardening or pest questions, just circle the topics that they need to look, then they can log into the website and read the Pest Notes online. It saves paper and prevents us from having left over wasted copies at community events. Plus our file boxes were HEAVY!
On another note, it's important to not only check our internal VMS calendar for volunteer and education opportunities, but to check out our public website! Leann works really hard and up to the last minute to keep it current and Chris posts new articles into our blog to make the website interesting and always changing. It's always good to know what we are telling the public. Please feel free to pass this link to your friends, families and the general public, especially working at Farmer's Market, the Advice to Grow By workshops or answering questions on the Helpline. Remember our goal is to reach the community- so promote our website!
For those of you who need the website address, here it is! http://groups.ucanr.org/slomg/
Scroll to the bottom of this article to find the underlined link to the Pest Notes.
Pest Notes Flyer 2010
- Author: Amy Breschini
Christmas Tree Disposal
By Andrea Peck
Q What is best way to dispose of my Christmas tree?
Vibiana Bruno - Atascadero
A It's hard to believe that your tree will lose its holiday luster, but eventually it will.
A simple solution for disposal is to utilize your green waste bin. Cut your tree into four feet or smaller lengths, with no tree part greater than six inches in diameter. The tree must be free of tinsel and decoration. Flocked trees are not accepted.
If you do not have a green bin, you can take the tree to your local landfill, for a small charge. Either way, your tree will start off in the proper fashion by being turned into compost, which promotes soil health.
Be creative when considering disposal - all or parts of the tree can be repurposed. Stand the tree outside in a bucket and hang bird suet from the branches. Make a trellis for climbing vines. Chop the trunk into small logs suitable for use as borders. Create habitat for small wildlife by placing the tree in an unused corner of your yard. The possibilities are as endless as the number of branches.
One solution that is not advisable is burning the tree, as it can be highly flammable.
If you have not purchased a tree yet, or for next year, you may consider a living tree that can be replanted. Even a bush, such as a rosemary "tree" is a plantable solution. Your Christmas tree can be as unconventional as you are. No matter what you choose, consider your yard and the requirements of the tree. Water needs, as well as the potential height and size of the tree will be important.
In the end, planting your own tree is not only enjoyable for the whole family, but it is a truly sustainable method of disposal.
Websites mentioned are sites outside of the University of California domain. No endorsement is intended of products, services or information, nor is criticism implied of similar sites that are not mentioned.
Got a Question?
Contact the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners: at 781-5939 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday and Thursday; at 473-7190 from 10 a.m. to noon in Arroyo Grande; and at 434-4105 from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday in Templeton. Visit the UCCE Master Gardeners Web site at groups.ucanr.org/slomg/ or e-mail mgsanluisobispo@ucdavis.edu.
