Session Descriptions

Garden Myth or Rooted in Science? Putting Garden Tips to the Test
Calcium sprays for Blossom End Rot, rocks in the bottom of pots, milk to sterilize tools for TMV and honey as a rooting hormone? These are just some of the ‘myths” covered in this talk. We will break down each “myth” and discuss the science behind it. Entertaining with plenty of garden tips and tricks mixed in.

How Does your Garden Grow: Know your Plant Hormones
Marlene Simon
Learn how Auxin and Cytokinin work together to keep your plant in balance and how this relates to transplanting, pruning, cuttings and overall plant health. An educational but entertaining talk that gives you just enough science to walk away a better gardener.

Zen and the Art of Arboriculture Maintenance
Andrew Carmichael – UC Master Gardener & ISA Certified Arborist
Discover how to view trees as important physical and spiritual components of our habitats. Learn how to plant, grow, and love trees properly to develop healthy human systems.

Growing an Heirloom Garden
Jeff Ramsey - UC Master Gardener
Heirlooms are historic plant varieties cultivated by generations of gardeners.  Growing heirlooms in the home garden helps preserve genetic diversity and biodiversity of plant species. Learn how you can successfully grow heirlooms in your garden. 

Computer Tools for Gardening
Lee Miller - UC Master Gardener
There is a wealth of garden information on the Internet but how do you know what to trust? We will share some of our favorite  researched based sites that will help you in your own gardening adventures.

Dehydrating Basics with the Master Food Preservers
Jim and Sue Farr - UC Master Food Preservers
Dehydration is a simple, ancient form of preserving food. Master Food Preservers will provide a basic introduction to safe dehydration techniques. Learn about methods, equipment, and cooking and using dehydrated foods. You will be able to see what various dehydrated foods look like and learn how they can be used.

Making Sense of Drip Irrigation
Karrie Reid - San Joaquin County Environmental Horticulture Advisor Installing drip irrigation may seem simple, but there’s a lot to know with all the different ways to use it. We will view and discuss the basic parts from the controller and valve to the end caps, and we’ll focus on different types of drip tubing and emitters. There will also be discussion of design as well as the need to be sure you have enough pressure for your system to work correctly.

Sustainable Gardening: It’s all the Rage!
Robin Fuller - Master Gardener
Sustainability is a lifestyle. It has immediate as well as long-term rewards. When one chooses to preserve and protect resources, to make as little negative impact on the earth as possible, to nurture the planet as well as those around us, one has chosen the path of sustainability. We will explore some of our favorite ways you can become a sustainable gardener.

Thinking Outside the Box – Growing Vegetables in Small Spaces
It’s the time of year when many gardeners get “twitchy” to do something with their gardens! But for those who have no space or limited space gardening in “traditional rows” is not an option! This class will encourage attendees with sparse soil options to consider gardening with “alternative” small gardening practices. We will also cover some basic vegetable gardening tips to make sure you have a successful vegetable garden!

Managing Pests in Your Garden
Kathy Schick - Master Gardener
Are bugs infesting your garden? Eating your plants before you do? Are your plants covered in insects? Pest intrusion is an undesired, yet unavoidable, part of having a garden. In this class we will cover common garden pests, how to manage them and some beneficial insects that often get a bad wrap.

Making Sauerkraut with the Master Food Preservers
Colleen Young and Jennifer Ghiglieri UC Master Food Preservers
Freshly fermented foods are delicious, and if you have never had home-made, home-fermented sauerkraut, you are in for a treat! Make sure you attend this class for really good, easy-to-do, home-fermented sauerkraut. Participants will learn how to make sauerkraut and will take home a quart jar with them to enjoy.

Growing CA Native Plants
Nadia Zane - Landscape designer and CA Native Plant Society Member
More and more Californians are choosing to use native plants in their gardens. We will explore the basic needs of California native plants and Nadia will share some of her favorites that do well in our area.

Designing a Watershed-Friendly Landscape
Karrie Reid - San Joaquin County Environmental Horticulture Advisor
While conventional landscapes allow water to run off the property and often waste water, watershed-wise landscapes are designed to hold on to rainwater and reduce the demand for supplemental irrigation. In this class you will understand how water moves, learn how you can keep water on-site and make the most of it in your landscape.

Gardening Strategies to Promote Soil Health
MargaretSmither-Kopperl - Manager of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Lockeford Plant Materials Center
The health of your soil determines the health of your plants. The success of your garden depends on making healthy garden soil. The more you can do to keep your soil healthy, the more productive your garden will be and the higher the quality of your crops.

Making Your Landscape Beautiful, Organic and Delicious
Greg Gayton - Horticulturist and Manager at Green Acres Nursery
Description coming soon!

Food Preservation 101 with the Master Food Preservers
Nancee Siebert and Leanne Calderon UC Master Food Preservers
This class will give a complete overview of different food preservation techniques and will discuss what types of food are best or necessary for each one. Recipes will be provided to get you started on various home food preservation methods.

Discover Succulents!
Leslie Oliver, Trish Tremayne, Meredith Davis, and Rosalie Osman, Carole Smith - Master Gardeners
Succulents are easy to grow if you know how. We will cover some basic succulent care, propagation methods, pest management and varieties that do well in our area.

Participants will fill their own decorative succulent box to take home with them.  (Please note: Due to popularity from the 2018 Smart Gardening Conference, this is a repeat class.)

Herbs 101
Jody Lacey and Pegi Palmes - Master Gardeners
Herbs are easy to grow and handy to have on hand when you need a few leaves for grandmas secret sauce recipe. We will cover the basics of successfully growing herbs, some common pests you might encounter and how to manage them and different ways you can use herbs. 

Project: TBA soon!

Vermicomposting: Turn Kitchen Garbage into Gardening Gold
Pat Skjervheim - Master Gardener
Let’s cut to the chase: “vermicomposting,” which is composting in a bin with red wiggler worms, is not icky.  Done properly, it is also not difficult or smelly or messy and in the end your worms will convert your kitchen “garbage” into some of the most amazingly rich and wonderful fertilizer you could hope for. We will discuss how to set up and manage a worm bin from the beginning to harvest.

Participants will have a chance to make their own worm bin to take home with them. Registrants will be able to pre-order worms to take home the day of the event for an additional (but discounted) fee.

Gardening for the Bees, Birds and Butterflies
Janet O'Brien - Master Gardener
Bees, Birds and Butterflies add beauty and excitement to gardens, but those aren't the only reasons to invite them in. Many ornamental and edible plants rely on these colorful creatures to transfer the pollen within their blooms. Making your garden pollinator-friendly is simple when you garden with pollinators in mind. We will cover specific needs to keep in mind when gardening for pollinators.

Project: TBA soon!

Making Jelly from Juice with the Master Food Preservers
Barbara Mattice and Sharon Seegmiller UC Master Food Preservers
Do you want to make your own jelly not sure where to start or just don't have the time to process fruit? Come and learn the basics of jelly making and preservation. In this class, you will make jelly from juice and take home a jar for your enjoyment