Article by Peggy Beltramo, UC Master Gardener of Placer County Have you heard of the term “keystone” species? They are the species of plants and animals within an environment that hold all the other elements together, much like the keystone block in an ancient arch. Without the keystone…
"Good morning, mourning cloak! Fancy meeting you here."The mourning cloak indeed chose a fancy meeting place. It touched down on our Tower of Jewels (Echium wildpretti) and began to nectar."I'm trying to get an image of you," I whispered. "Open your wings." And magically, or sort of magically, it did…
Learn the art and science behind composting from a local Certified Master Composter. Learn about the importance of managing your organic waste (food scraps and yard trimmings) at home. As the drought worsens and the climate warms, home-based waste management has never been more relevant. With wide reaching…
Program: Can you grow Nuts in Marin? Some think nuts are tough to crack. Come learn about the dos and don’ts of growing these nutritious, delicious snacks in our area. Learn about the six most popular nuts, their attributes and how to grow and store them. We’re nuts about nuts!Speakers: Keri Pon has been a…
Eaten raw as a young leafy green, or sautéed as a mature stem & leaf, Chard is an easy-to-grow vegetable that is among the most versatile. It’s also known as Swiss Chard (though the plant originated in the Mediterranean.) Growing in the rainbow-colors available adds a visual pop to any vegetable …
Out of ideas for how to use all that zucchini coming out of the garden? This is a great way to preserve homegrown zucchini and a lovely complement to any summer barbecue menu. Yield: ~ 8 to 9 pint jars Prep: 15 Minutes Processing: 15 Minutes Ingredients: • 4 quarts cubed or shredded zucchini • 46…
Sweetened with crushed pineapple and spices, this sunny fall jam tastes just like carrot cake. It makes a perfect gift for any occasion. Yield: 6 half-pint jars Prep: 40 Minutes Processing: 10 Minutes Ingredients: • 1 ½ cups finely grated, peeled carrots • 1 ½ cups chopped, cored, peeled pears • 1 ¾ cups…
These candied jalapeños deliver a real punch of sweet heat. Outstanding on sandwiches, nachos, in tacos and topping chili. These will become a pantry staple! Yield: ~ 4 pint jars Prep: 25 Minutes Processing: 15 Minutes Ingredients: • 3 cups vinegar, apple cider or white (5% acidity) • 2 tsp salt • 4 cups…
Lettuce is a very popular vegetable, and can be grown spring through fall in the Tahoe Basin. Lettuces come in a wide variety of reds and greens and can add a beautiful element to an edible garden. Many varieties can be harvested on an as-needed basis, making for a very convenient source of fresh…
