- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC Farm Advisor Oleg Daugovish will hold an Irrigation field day Thursday, April 19 from 9:00 am to 11:15 am.
Scheduled topics include:
- Update on conditional waiver and requirements for irrigated lands in Ventura County
- Evaluation of three differing irrigation regimes in California strawberry
- Salts and soil analyses in strawberry beds under different irrigation regimes
- Soil test results interpretation and corrective management
- View experiment plots onsite
VCALIG educational credits have been requested from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
There is no cost to attend. If you have questions, require translation into Spanish, or to register please contact Oleg Daugovish at 805.645.1454 or odaguovish@ucdavis.edu. More information can be found on the agenda.
In the event of rain, the meeting will be held at the UCCE Conference Room located at 669 County Square Drive in Ventura.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Water is essential to life. Clean water supplies require the efforts and cooperation of many. It is our responsibility to learn about this life sustaining natural resource, and take steps to ensure our supply is safe to drink.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an extensive collection of resources to educate the public about drinking water. Titled, Protect Your Drinking Water for Life readers have many topics to explore and a variety to learn about their water supply and takes steps to protect it.
Topics include:
- Drinking water
- Education & training
- Grants & funding
- Laws & regulations
- Our waters
- Pollution prevention & control
- Resources & performance
- Science & technology
- Water infrastructure
- What can you do?
- Adopt your watershed
- After the storm
- Emergency preparedness
- Good Samaritan
- Nonpoint source toolbox
- Pollution prevention
- Protect your health
- Protecting drinking water
- Volunteer monitoring
- Water efficiency
There is also a collection of resources designed for youth, which includes games and activities, and curriculum for teachers.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Our UCCE Master Gardeners have several education opportunities scheduled throughout the county. Most classes are offered at no cost. All classes require registration.
There will be a series of free classes held Wednesday evenings at the Camarillo Library from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.
- April 4, Growing Vegetables in the Garden
- April 11, Steps to Sustainable Yard & Garden
- April 18, All About Tomatoes
- April 25, Seed Collection
At the ARC-Ojai Enrichment Center you can learn about The Science of Soil on Saturday, April 14 from 9:00 to 11:00 am. There is no cost to attend this event.
On Saturday May 19 from 8:15 to noon, join UCCE Master Gardeners at the beautiful UC Hansen Agricultural Center. Scheduled topics are “Growing Terrific Orchids” and “All About Succulents". There is a $25.00 fee to attend this Home Garden Workshop.
The Simi Valley Senior Center will hold a series of free gardening classes. (You do not have to be a senior to attend.) Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.
- May 1, Introduction to Gardening
- May 8, California Natives & Waterwise Gardening
- May 15, Mysteries of Gardening
- May 22, Tomatoes
- May 29, Container Gardening
- June 5, All About Roses
- June 12, All About Citrus
The Goebel Senior Center in Thousand Oaks will hold a free All About Roses class on Saturday, June 23 from 9:30 to 11:30 am. (You do not have to be a senior to attend.)
Please remember all education events, regardless of cost, require registration. Registration is easy and can be completed by following the link for each class. Space is limited, so please register early!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Rain harvesting is becoming quite popular. Rain barrels are one way to harvest rain. These barrels allow residents to store water that would otherwise become urban runoff. This simple process can provide positive benefits to water quality improvement efforts.
The USDA has a practical and easy to follow publication on rain barrels.
This resource includes:
- Rain barrels help your garden – and local streams
- Selecting a rain barrel
- Equipment and installation tips
- Maintaining your barrel
- Links for further information
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Water that drains out of our washing machines, bathtubs and showers is graywater. Graywater can be reused in the yard to water plants and trees. Although graywater use is common in some areas, recycling graywater is controversial in other areas.
As of August 2009 Laundry-to-Landscape systems can be installed in California without a permit. Learn more about these systems at the Casitas Municipal Water District’s free Gray Water Workshop this Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 9:00 am to noon. To register, RSVP to Ron Merckling by email (make link rmerckling@casitaswater.com), or by phone at 805-649-2251 ext 118.
See the Casistas Municipal Water District website for other programs and events.