Happy Composting!

Want to know how to keep a happy compost pile this winter?
It's all about layers! 

Check out this article from the Marin Master Gardener's web page for tips on sheet composting!

Garden Leaders Celebrate a Successful First Year!

Year one of the Garden Leadership Training program concluded last Wednesday with a celebration of photos, plans for the future and of course, cake!

20 Garden leaders from Ukiah and Anderson Valley spent the last ten months strengthening community, building leadership skills and sharing hopes, triumphs, tips, challenges and delicious meals with each other.

The goal of this three year program is to train community gardeners to share, organize, lead, and continue to build the movement for expanding and sustaining spaces for community and school gardens.

The group met every six weeks at the NCO conference room and each meeting focused on a different theme such as effective leadership, garden advocacy, market opportunities and growing community. Meetings were facilitated by Gardens Project coordinator Miles Gordon and other Gardens Project staff.

The group's final venture of the year was a PhotoVoice project in which Garden Leaders documented their experiences by taking photos of their community members at work in the gardens.  These photos, with their interpretations, are being compiled into a traveling exhibit so look for them around town soon!

Now that year one has been brought to a close, Garden Leaders from Ukiah and Anderson Valley have chosen to continue meeting as a Garden Leadership Council next year without facilitation by the Gardens Project. The Gardens Project will be moving onto year two of this three year program by starting  the same training cycle with gardeners from Willits, Laytonville and Covelo this January. The following year will be with gardeners on the coast from Point Arena to Fort Bragg. 

Become a Master Gardener!

The UC Cooperative Extension office of Mendocino County is currently seeking applicants for their 2013 Master Gardener training program in Ukiah.

The ideal applicant is enthusiastic about volunteering and educating the community about gardening. The classes will be held Wednesday afternoons from late January through early May. Trainees will receive 50+ hours of training from various specialists from the University of California and other qualified experts in relevant fields. Applicants must be committed to completing 50 hours of volunteer service in their first year as a certified Master Gardener, after successfully passing a final exam at the end of the training course and completing a background screening. 

To maintain certification, Master Gardeners must complete 12 hours of continuing education and 25 volunteer hours in each subsequent year. 

Applications are currently being accepted with a priority deadline of November 9^th, though applications will be accepted through mid-January as class space permits. Please contact 707-463-4495 or nfrench@ucdavis.edu with any questions. Applications are online at: http://ucanr.edu/2013mendocinomg

Farmer's Night Out 2012

Even though it was cold and rainy outside, the atmosphere at Patrona Restaurant and Lounge was warm and cheery this past Monday in celebration of national Food Day. Community members and local farmers gathered for Farmer's Night Out- a celebration of local food and all who grow it.

Dinners enjoyed a delicious and locally sourced menu including pumpkin, chard and fried pepper lasagna, potato hash with smoked wild boar sausage and vegetarian surf n' turf with delicata squash and seaweed. Food has a way of bringing people together and this was the perfect setting for farmers and community members to meet and mingle.

We also raffled off a $50 gift card to the Ukiah Farmer's Market in recognition of the 35th Anniversary of this local food institution.

 A big thank you to all who contributed: Aqua Gardens Family Farm, Zeni Ranch, Mendocino Grain Project, Sharmrock Artisan Goat Cheese, Inland Ranch, Cinnamon Bear Farms, Leonardis Organics, Mendocino Organics, Dillanni Gardens, Ocean Harvest Sea Vegetable Company, Schat's Bakery, Stella Cadente Olive Oil Company. And of course thank you to Patrona and staff for hosting this delicious event!

Thank you to all who came out to show your support! Can't wait to see you all again next year!!

If you missed the event click here for pictures!

Extend Your Growing Season!

This Saturday, the Gardens Project and the Mendocino Agriculture Department is holding a row covers and hoop houses workshop! Learn how to use simple tools to prolong the life of your garden this fall and winter!

Location: Mendocino College greenhouse 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah

Time: 2pm

Instructor: Tom Gervase

There will be Spanish translation offered

Free to all!

United Way's Day of Caring

 

People were chatting and sipping warm coffee at Ukiah's Civic Center bright and early on Friday, September 21st as a kick off  to the United Way's Day of Caring: A day meant for people to come together and serve their community by volunteering. The Mendocino College Women's Basketball team and a few other caring individuals joined the Gardens Project at Mayacama Industries in order to turn an old, filled in swimming pool into a useful garden. The crew spent the day pulling weeds, digging trenches, installing irrigation, building the garden bed and moving it into place. Because of their efforts there is now a place where the members of Mayacama can grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables.

Thank you Russ Troxler, Garret Troxler, Corrinne Chaulk, Jody Steliga and the Mendocino College women's basketball team as well as the great folks at Mayacama for all your hard work!

For more on the Day of Caring check out this article in the Ukiah Daily Journal or click here to see more pictures!

We Ran the Ranch!

Sunshine, fresh air and community support was abundant Sunday, September 30th at the Run the Ranch 5k! Jaxon Keys Winery generously hosted this fundraiser for the Gardens Project to help support the continued building of community and school gardens. Over 50 people came out to run or walk the course that wound through rolling hills and beautiful vineyards of the winery. Participants were rewarded for their efforts with a farm fresh lunch. Kids had a great time making their own organic smoothies with our smoothie bike and adults enjoyed complementary wine tasting on the porch. Winners of each age category took home a bottle of  Jaxon Keys wine or spirits.

A big thanks to all who came out to support the Garden's Project!
 Thank you to all who made this event possible:

- Schat's Bakery

-Lovin' Mama Farm

-Jaxon Keys Winery

-North Coast Striders 

 -Our wonderful volunteers: Lauryn Ringwood, Lucy Shapiro, Jessica Ohland, Kristin Cutler, and Elizabeth Archer!