Master Gardener's GEC Evolves

 Gardening Education Center, (GEC) has come a long way since its ribbon cutting on May 2, 2018. Pictured above are MGs spreading compost and seeding cover crops from plywood walkways protecting the planting area. See more photos and a video of Master Gardener Norine Cepernich touring the GEC garden, filmed with a GoPro camera the program acquired thanks to a generous grant from the Hillsborough Garden Club. 

Six months after our first attempt to remove Bermuda grass, it had busted through the thin cardboard and four inches of wood chips. Our only choice was to remove the bound-up wood chips that were consumed by the Bermuda grass, using a small bobcat tractor.

Under Master Gardener Terry Lyngso’s advice, we began a Mitigation Pilot to improve the compacted soil by planting a diverse selection of winter cover crops and enhancing the microbial life with compost and compost extract. A fall and spring rotation of cover crops continued until this spring 2021. During this trial, we continued to offer classes to the public as well as our latest MG training course.

We also grew tomato starts in our three greenhouses for the Spring Garden Market sale held in April. Our highly fungal, year-old Johnson-Su Bioreactor compost was distributed throughout the field and raised beds to encourage a high concentration of microbial life.

Note: we hope to resume our in-person Garden Education Workshops here soon!  Check out our Events Calendar for more information.