Master gardeners offer spring workshops in vermiculture
Red crawlers (not earthworms) live and eat well in a large bin filled with pine shavings. Kathy Morrison
Let's talk worms, shall we? Specifically, composting with worms.
This type of composting is easier, I believe, than starting and maintaining a classic compost bin. The worms and their kitchen-waste food are contained, as is the compost (castings) they produce. And those castings are so rich, so wonderful for the garden soil! It's sustainability at its finest. As a plus, it's a great activity for kids.
This spring, several UCCE master gardener groups in the region have scheduled classes in worm composting. Three types of classes are being offered, but the signup for the first and most detailed class -- one which comes with worms and supplies -- closes Monday, March 11, so move fast if you are interested.
The classes are:
-- Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., UCCE office auditorium, 4145 Branch Center Road (off Bradshaw), Sacramento. The Sacramento County master gardeners will offer presentations on the care and feeding of worms, options for harvesting castings, and a question-and-answer period. Each participant will receive education materials, a worm bin with bedding, red wiggler worms and adoption papers. Cost is $30; ages 13 and up only. Register here by March 11. No drop-ins; no refunds. Information: https://sacmg.ucanr.edu/?calitem=574965
-- Thursday, March 14, and Thursday, March 28, 3 to 4 p.m., online via Zoom. These paired classes from the Yolo County master gardeners are part of their semi-monthly gardening workshops. Both classes are free and do not require registration; gardeners can take either or both. The March 14 workshop with master gardener Jennifer Gilbert will be on "backyard composting," including worm composting. The Zoom link for this class is https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/89236348462. In the March 28 class, master gardener Janet Gaard plans to lead a lively discussion about worm castings, compost and fertilizers -- and when plants don't need fertilizing. The Zoom link is https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/87053297221 For more information on Yolo master gardeners events, go to https://yolomg.ucanr.edu/Public_Education/
-- Thursday, June 20, 6 to 7 p.m., Vacaville Library, 1020 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville. This is a free, in-person class offered by the Solano County master gardeners, taught by Jennifer Baumbach. The master gardeners note: "Bring a shoebox and take home your starter worm composting bin. You must RSVP that you'll participate in the shoebox activity to rehabnurse@sbcglobal.net so she'll have enough worms for everyone." For all the spring events planned by the Solano master gardeners, go to https://solanomg.ucanr.edu/?calendar=yes&g=101656
A personal comment on the shoebox, from a worm "mom" of four years: The worms won't be staying in a shoebox. My worm colony started with two dozen wigglers that eventually grew to fill a large, heavy-duty tote. I've moved some worms into the garden, both accidentally and intentionally, but the main group still hangs out in the bin. They are terrific garden "pets."
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Food in My Back Yard (FIMBY) Series
FALL
Nov. 11: Prepare now for colder weather in the edible garden
Nov. 4: Plant a pea patch for you and your garden
Oct. 27: As citrus season begins, advice for backyard growers
Oct. 20: Change is in the autumn air
Oct. 13: We don't talk (enough) about beets
Oct. 6: Fava beans do double duty
Sept. 30: Seeds or transplants for cool-season veggies?
Sept. 23: How to prolong the fall tomato harvest
SUMMER
Sept. 16: Time to shut it down?
Sept. 9: How to get the most out of your pumpkin patch
Sept. 2: Summer-to-fall transition time for evaluation, planning
Aug. 26: To pick or not to pick those tomatoes?
Aug. 19: Put worms to work for you
Aug. 12: Grow food while saving water
Aug. 5: Enhance your food with edible flowers
July 29: Why won't my tomatoes turn red?
July 22: A squash plant has mosaic virus, and it's not pretty
July 15: Does this plant need water?
July 8: Tear out that sad plant or baby it? Midsummer decisions
July 1: How to grow summer salad greens
June 24: Weird stuff that's perfectly normal
SPRING
June 17: Help pollinators help your garden
June 10: Battling early-season tomato pests
June 3: Make your own compost
May 27: Where are the bees when you need them?
May 20: How to help tomatoes thrive on hot days
May 13: Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can
May 6: Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success
April 29: What's (already) wrong with my tomato plants?
April 22: Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)
April 15: Grow culinary herbs in containers
April 8: When to plant summer vegetables
April 1: Don't be fooled by these garden myths
March 25: Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth
WINTER
March 18: Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space
March 11: Ways to win the fight against weeds
March 4: Potatoes from the garden
Feb. 25: Plant a fruit tree now -- for later
Feb. 18: How to squeeze more food into less space
Feb. 11: When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants
Feb. 4: Starting in seed starting
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Garden checklist for week of Nov. 16
During breaks in the weather, tackle some garden tasks:
* Clear gutters and storm drains.
* Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* After the storm, seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Plant bulbs at two-week intervals to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting them. Do leave some (healthy) leaves in the planting beds for wildlife and beneficial insect habitat.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
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