Ongoing research

UC Master Food Preserver: Article

The Joy of Grape Jelly (December 2025)

December 10, 2025
By Travis R Alexander
Ariel Patton, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer  Hand picked cluster of grapes (Ariel Patton, used with permission). The thousandth grape drops into the bowl. As the wilting days of summer soften into crisp fall mornings, I pick bunches and bunches of grapes from my garden. I…
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UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Spotlight: Monica Gross, Class of 2025 MFP Volunteer (December 2025)

December 9, 2025
By Travis R Alexander
Monica Gross, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program VolunteerCounty of residence: Los Angeles Monica Gross (Used with permission).  Hi! My name is Monica Gross and I am a 2025 graduate of the UC Master Food Preserver (MFP) Online Delivery Program. I heard about the MFP Program when I first…
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UC Master Food Preserver: Article

Pumpkin is more than home décor! (December 2025)

December 9, 2025
By Travis R Alexander
Robin Martin, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer Although the best pumpkins for cooking are the smaller, sweeter varieties of pumpkin, pretty much any pumpkin can have its life extended after its role as an autumnal decoration is concluded. Prepare and freeze* pumpkin purée for soups,…
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bok choi vegetables in containers, J Cloutier.jpg
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Event

Growing Vegetables in Containers - Gilroy

Jan 31, 2026

If you’d like to grow more vegetables but have space limitations, gopher, or other issues, try growing in containers. Water, nutrients, soil mix, and container types will be discussed. Will focus on vegetables that grow well in containers. You will learn how to avoid common problems when growing vegetables…
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County
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Parsley sharing space with other houseplants on a window sill. Debi Durham
The Real Dirt: Article

Herbs as Houseplants

December 9, 2025
It’s cold outside! But that doesn’t have to stop you from gardening. Why not cheer up the dark days of winter by planting some herbs on a sunny windowsill indoors, and using them in your cold weather soups and stews?
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pomegranate bush with 3 pomegranates
UC Master Gardeners • Napa County: Event

Library Talk: Perennial Edible Plants

Apr 2, 2026

Discover some new edible plants for your home landscape. From Asparagus to Yams, we will cover growing requirements, maintenance and harvest. This event is live at the Napa Library! 
UC Master Gardeners • Napa County
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Bumble bee on a pansy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Want to Participate in a Statewide BioBlitz?

December 9, 2025
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Science matters. Science beckons. Science fulfills.The California All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (CalATBI) is organizing a 2026 Student Insect Collection BioBlitz, a statewide community science effort to document our state's biodiversity.Organizers related:The goal: "To document California’s insect…
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