Test PB Collection: FTE

Do those nice, neat rolls of “weed blocking” fabric seem like the perfect solution in your battleagainst unwanted vegetation? Visions of freeing oneself from this perennial struggle areenticing and the task seems simple enough: just lay it on the soil, cover with an attractive layerof mulch and the foul…

 There’s a “mom” in the word Stagmomantis, as in Stag-mom-antis limbata. That genus name seems quite appropriate for a gravid mantis, don't you think?Take the mama-to-be that's a permanent tenant in a Vacaville patch of African blue basil. She knows this is the place to "bee."We've nicknamed her …

 If you’re taking a break this fall and winter after growing summer veggies, then plant a cover crop to enrich and protect your soil as well as to attract beneficial insects. Choose a variety of cool season cover crop seeds, such as flowers, grasses and a legume, for sowing in early fall. See Cover…

 Before rolling out landscape fabric to keep weeds at bay, consider the effects on your soil and plants. Landscape or “weed blocking” fabric, usually made of plastic or polyester, has varying degrees of permeability. Over time, holes in the fabric get clogged, preventing the movement of water, oxygen…

Urban farms face unique challenges from pocket gophers. Unlike rural fields, urban farms are often smaller, intensively managed, and located near homes, parks, or other landscaped areas. These conditions can actually increase gopher pressure: food is concentrated, protective cover may be abundant, and…

California’s urban forests deserve nothing less than “Fancy” trees. Jessie Godfrey, UC ANR Environmental Horticulture and Water Resource Management Advisor, is elevating the work of “Team Fancy,” a group of nursery professionals advocating for state-specific tree quality standards. These standards aim to…

La temporada de cosecha comenzó de manera especial en Tanaka Farms, Irvine, con la Primera Celebración de los Héroes de la Cosecha, un evento que rindió homenaje a los agricultores y colaboradores que han transformado el sistema alimentario local.Este año, la apertura de Tanaka Farms, uno de los huertos de…