Master Gardener Monthly Newsletter
August 2021
|
|
Become a UC Master Gardener
Application Deadline July 15, 2021
UC Master Gardener volunteers serve their communities by supporting local projects, answering questions from the public, teaching workshops, leading plant clinics, speaking on a variety of subjects, participating in plant sales, and more. We are now actively recruiting for the new class of UC Master Gardener volunteers for San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. First view a video explaining the procedures and requirements for becoming a Master Gardener, and then fill out an application. The fee for the entire 16-week course, which begins in January 2022, is $375 and includes excellent books and other useful educational materials. We also have some scholarships available. Most importantly, the deadline for applications is July 15, 2021.
|
|
Online Classes, Videos & More |
|
August Gardening Checklist
Grow Organic Peaceful Valley
August marks the beginning of the end of summer and a key transitioning period in your garden. View 20 tips on how to maintain your organic garden during the month of August. View video.
|
|
Harvest for Neighbors
UC Master Gardeners
Harvest for Neighbors builds on the tradition of gardeners sharing their harvest with others. It is a people-helping-people project to assist in feeding the hungry in our communities. Master Gardeners recruit groups of home growers (other Master Gardeners, neighbors, friends, family) and partners with organizations (garden club, youth group, church, community garden) and teach how to successfully grow vegetables at home. The extra food is donated to food pantries and food programs. Read more.
|
|
Create Shade in Your Garden
Growing in the Garden
If you garden in climates where the summer sun is intense, it’s best to provide afternoon shade for many vegetables in the garden. Adding shade to your garden is like putting “sun screen” on your plants. Wondering how to create shade in the garden? Learn some ways to add shade and help your garden survive during the hottest months of summer. Read more.
|
|
Good Bugs Bad Bugs on Edible Plants
UC Master Gardeners/Sponsored by Lyngso
July 14, 2021, 1:00pm-3:00pm
Before you grab insecticide to rid your vegetable garden from all those creeping, crawling, flying bugs, learn to separate the "good bugs" from the "bad bugs.” This class will focus on encouraging the good bugs to work for you, saving money and time wasted on treating your garden with unnecessary insecticides and on keeping your home and garden healthy. Registration required.
|
|
Basics of Raising Backyard Chickens
UC Master Gardeners/Sponsored by San Mateo County Libraries
July 15, 2021, 4:00pm-5:30pm
Learn all the questions to ask yourself before you begin to raise chickens. Understand the requirements such as food, space, health, and other important factors for raising chicks and hens. Registration required.
|
|
Herbs and Edible Gardening
UC Master Gardeners/Sponsored by San Francisco Public Library
July 31, 2021, 11:00am-12:00pm
Just a few pots of homegrown herbs will enhance your gardens, meals, and health. Learn the basics of growing, harvesting and using culinary herbs and edible flowers. Propagate your plants from seeds, cuttings, transplants and divisions. Integrate your herbs and edible flowers in your native landscapes, vegetable gardens and containers. Maintain, harvest, use or preserve herbs for future use. Let’s have fun while sharing the many ideas for using herbs. Registration required.
|
|
Good Bugs Bad Bugs on Edible Plants
UC Master Gardeners/Sponsored by South San Francisco Parks & Recreation
August 14, 2021, 10:00am-12:00pm
Before you grab insecticide to rid your vegetable garden from all those creeping, crawling, flying bugs, learn to separate the "good bugs" from the "bad bugs.” This class will focus on encouraging the good bugs to work for you, saving money and time wasted on treating your garden with unnecessary insecticides and on keeping your home and garden healthy. Registration required.
|
|
Videos on Irrigation/Citrus/Squash & More
Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems
The Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems is a research, education, and public service program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, dedicated to increasing ecological sustainability and social justice in the food and agriculture system. On the UCSC campus, the Center operates the two-acre Alan Chadwick Garden and the 25-acre Farm. Both sites are managed using organic production methods and serve as research, teaching, and training facilities for students, staff, and faculty. View videos.
|
|
Fixit Clinic - Repair Help Online
San Mateo County, Office of Sustainability
July 17, 2021, 11:00am
San Mateo County residents can get online help with repair anytime through Fixit Clinic's online Global Fixers Service. Have your broken item looked at by the growing network of community repairers from around the world. Read more.
|
|
Worm Composting Workshop
San Mateo County, Office of Sustainability
July 31, 2021, 10:00am-12:15pm
Learn the basics of vermicomposting via lecture and demonstrations. By attending this workshop, San Mateo County residents qualify for a complimentary composting bin and discounted supplies. Note that vermicomposting can be done indoors or outdoors. In this style of composting, worms are the primary decomposition agents; the pile does not get hot, nor require turning like a backyard hot pile composting system. This workshop is perfect for people interested in composting indoors or who don't have a suitable space outside to create a compost pile. This workshop is bilingual. Registration required.
|
|
PLANT PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TOOL
Choose the affected plant from photos displayed, click on the photo, remove any selections that do not apply, click on the plant names, and continue to filter selections to view the results for a possible diagnoses. Learn more.
GARDENING RESOURCES
Select links to access gardening resources, California Backyard Orchard, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), publications, and finding a local Master Gardener program. Learn more.
ARBORETUM ALL-STARS
Do you need help picking plants for your sustainable home garden? Selecting from the “Arboretum All-Stars” list is an easy way to start making “green” choices for your great looking garden. Arboretum All-Stars are top plants recommended by the horticultural staff of the UC Davis Arboretum. They thrive in California’s Mediterranean climate and have qualities that make them great choices for sustainable home gardens. Use a searchable plant database to pick the perfect All-Star for your garden conditions. For more information, view their website.
MONTHLY GARDEN CHECKLIST
Find helpful hints of things to do from January to December. Some examples of spring hints are: prune back herbaceous plants, transplant tomato seedlings, work your cover crops into the soil before they seed, remove aphids from plants with a strong stream of water, start planting summer annuals like lobelia, begonias, marigolds, cosmos, petunias, snapdragons and alyssum, and plant gladiolus, dahlias and lilies for summer blooms. View our monthly checklist.
|
|
Do you need help with your garden? Have a pest problem? Curious about what will grow well in your region?
Please provide the following information to facilitate a prompt response:
1. Name
2. City of residence
3. Email
4. Phone, best time to call
5. Description of problem/question -- for plant or pest problems, please attach photo(s)
|
|
Follow us at SFBayGardeners and/or
share this newsletter on your social media page
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
