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Soil Born Farms hosts busy Saturday

Bird walk, farm tour and seed saving workshop offered at American River Ranch

Soil Born Farms' American River Ranch -- Sacramento's oldest working farm -- grows a wide range of crops using regenerative methods.

Soil Born Farms' American River Ranch -- Sacramento's oldest working farm -- grows a wide range of crops using regenerative methods. Photo courtesy of Soil Born Farms   Soil Born Farms

Celebrate the change of season while learning about local wildlife and gardening know-how.

Soil Born Farms’ American River Ranch – the Sacramento area’s oldest working farm – will host a variety of workshops and tours Saturday, Sept. 24. Register in advance.

At 8 a.m., enjoy a “Bird Walk” with naturalist Cliff Hawley and get to know the feathered friends that flock to the American River Parkway. It’s ideal for beginning and intermediate birdwatchers. Fee is $15 with proceeds supporting the American River Ranch Restoration and Development Fund.

At 9 a.m., learn about “Seed Saving” with Soil Borns’ Kellan MacKay. Class fee is $30.

“We will discuss the importance of seed saving, how to care for the plants to assure a good seed supply and how to create the right environment to save seeds,” say the organizers. “Learn the difference between open pollinated plants and hybrid seeds and get hands-on experience cleaning and storing seeds.”

Also at 9 a.m., take a “Regenerative Agriculture Farm Tour” with Tyler Stowers. “See how our farmers implement regenerative practices that revitalize the land and restore the historic American River Ranch,” say the organizers.

Sign up in advance at www.soilborn.org. Soil Borns’ American River Ranch is located at 2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova.

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Garden Checklist for week of April 21

This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.

* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, radishes and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.

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