Ongoing research

     The use of walnut leaf biomass as a natural mulch and an eco-friendly practice can help prevent weed seed germination by excluding light and/or acting as a physical barrier that prevents weed emergence. Beyond that, several studies have shown potential allelopathic effects of juglone and…

 Article by Mike KlukOriginally published in the Fall 2018 Yolo Gardener NewsletterThe recent five-year drought and the assurance we will see other drought years in the future encouraged a lot of people to install water catchment barrels. This is not a bad idea but in our Mediterranean climate, it…

A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior explored the perceptions of elementary school parents and staff in a large, urban California school district that recently introduced more freshly-prepared school lunches. Based on interviews and focus groups conducted from May…

By Alison Collin, Master Gardener Volunteer White table grapes like 'Thompson Seedless' are delicious to snack on, but they can pose a problem to those of us who like to preserve our own produce. Unlike their red-skinned cousins or cultivars like 'Concord', they are generally lacking in interesting…

Blog by Nancy Forrest Recently, we moved our boat up to the Delta for the summer. Normally, it’s in Benicia, which is closer to the San Francisco Bay. The  Delta is a labyrinth of sloughs where vine-covered trees, blackberry brambles, and tule grasses appear at almost every turn. It is a boater’s…