- Author: Chris M. Webb
Besides the Ventura County Cooperative Extension office, the University of California has another center supporting local agriculture. The UC Hansen Agricultural Center in Santa Paula, is made possible by a trust established by the late Thelma Hansen. The purpose is to conduct research and outreach to keep our county’s agriculture strong and sustainable.
One of the extension programs at the center are field trips for Ventura County youth. Master Gardener and Hansen Center volunteers host the field trips for area kindergarten, second and third graders. During the field trips kids get hands-on learning opportunities related to plant growth, composting, pollination, harvesting and nutrition. While there, the children feast on a nutritious assortment of vegetables freshly picked from the farm.
More about the Hansen Ag Center, and a calendar of upcoming events can be found at, http://ucanr.org/sites/hansenagcenter/.
Thelma Hansen
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Our Ventura County UCCE Master Gardeners work hard delivering science-based gardening information to the public. One of the ways they accomplish this is through their MG Speaker Bureau. The speakers are very knowledgeable in their subjects and are available for group meetings.
The current topics offered are:
- Composting
- Container Gardening
- Container Vegetable Gardening
- Fruit Gardening
- Garden Design/Plant Selection
- Gifts from the Garden
- Introductory Horticulture
- Pest Management
- Water-Wise Gardening
- Low Cost/No Cost Gardening
- Low Maintenance Gardening
- Propagation
- Pruning
- Roses
- Tomato Culture
- What About Soils?
- Succulents and Cacti
- Vegetable Gardening
- What is a Master Gardener?
- Peppers, Onions and Tomato Facts
- Fertilizer Use
- Weed Killers
Additional information and instructions on how to request a speaker can be found by clicking here. Please contact our office if you need additional information.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
On a late day in August, Ventura County UCCE Master Gardeners and 20 hard- working youth in the Oxnard City Corps program began installation of a rain garden at the Camarillo Ranch House. Channels were dug, and rocks and boulders moved. An estimated 100 wheelbarrows of dirt was moved on one of the hottest days of the year all by volunteers to create the rain garden.
So what you may ask is a rain garden? Ventura County UCCE’s Monique Myers provides the following answer:
Rain gardens collect rain water and beautify a yard. They provide a simple form of rain water harvesting, allowing homeowners to save valuable rain water. Although more commonly found in wetter climates, rain gardens are certainly beneficial in water-thirsty California where local rainfall often does not meet water demand and imported water is necessary to support the majority of the population. As water prices climb and the threat of droughts loom-large homeowners and municipalities are looking toward conserving and utilizing water that falls on-site. Rain gardens offer a simple, attractive and inexpensive option.
Basically, rain gardens receive rain that falls on a roof or other collection surface. The water is channeled, via rain gutters, pipes, swails or curb openings, into a depression in the yard where it soaks into the ground and waters vegetation. Contrary to what many people think, a rain garden is not a pond feature. A properly functioning rain garden holds water for only a short period of time. The purpose is to retain water just long enough for it to percolate into the soil. Most of the time, the bed of the rain garden is dry.
More work days will be scheduled soon, including one on Monday October the 5th. This will be a planting day. Work will start at about 9:00 am near the barn. Bring gloves, hat, shovel and smile! If you are unable to make that day, but are interested in helping, please contact our office.
Oxnard City Corps youth working on rain garden project
Oxnard City Corps youth working on rain garden project
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Ventura County UCCE Master Gardeners is a busy and important volunteer group. Their mission statement is, “Enhance the well being of people, plants, and environment through science based gardening education and community outreach.” They work hard to do just that.
So far this calendar year our Master Gardeners have logged approximately 2,000 community service hours. These hours include assisting on Cooperative Extension research projects, leading tours of school children at the Hansen Ag Center, working at various gardens throughout the county, and staffing the Master Gardener Helpline.
The Master Gardener Helpline is a great resource for home gardeners. Please contact them with garden-related questions. The line is staffed Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1-4. They can be reached by calling 805.645.1455 or by email at mgventura@ucdavis.edu. Additional information and resources can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Susan Gloeckler, our Ventura County 4-H Program Representative, has been working to set up 4-H clubs at area military bases. This work is part of a larger federal initiative to create 4-H clubs at military bases across the world so that when families are transferred to a new base, children can continue to enjoy the program and have consistency of involvement in the same organization from one place to the next.
Recently 4-H youth at the Port Hueneme Naval Base and at Point Mugu have been participating a variety of activities including: visiting local farms, growing vegetables, learning where food comes from, and the importance of good nutrition. These fun learning experiences were provided by UCCE staff, 4-H volunteers, Master Gardener volunteers, and youth program leaders at the bases.
On Monday August 3rd, The Ventura County Star wrote a great article about the military 4-H program. The entire article can be read here.