Art exhibit, provocative clown show part of week's events open to public
COMPOST 2026 is the big event in town next week, but there will be some side events open to the public. Screenshot from compostconference.com
As capital of the state with the biggest population, Sacramento certainly hosts its share of conferences. One coming up this next week is right up our garden-and-community-focused alley. Some of the more intriguing associated events are open to the public.
COMPOST 2026, the conference and trade show of the U.S. Compost Council, arrives in Sacramento on Sunday, with events through Thursday, Feb. 5. The 9th National Cultivating Community Composting Forum, presented by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, is held alongside.
But it's not all brown matter and sifters, gardeners.
A curated art exhibition, “Gathering Ground: A Celebration of Compost Art and Culture,” is being presented by California Alliance for Community Composting. It will feature 75 artists, including: textile art, photography, watercolors, paintings, sculptures, graphic prints, ceramics, videography, and several interactive installation displays, all related to composting in some way.
The exhibit is free and will be open to the public Sunday, Feb. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. (followed by the Opening Reception, 5-9 p.m.) and again Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m. The venue is the Flower Fist Art Market, 1819 E St., Sacramento.
Compost can inspire art -- and humor! Alex Tatarsky's "Dirt Trip: A Composting Clown Show" will be performed twice nightly, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, and Wednesday, Feb. 4, again at the Flower Fist Market. The show times are 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.microbes.farm
"This one is for the weirdos and the avant-garde," says Matthew Ambersand of South Oak Park's find out farms, who tipped us off to these events. "I have seen this show and am very excited to watch it again. If you like thought-provoking performance art, this is for you. There are only four performances, so I strongly encourage you to get your ticket in advance."
Does grown-up humor about composting sounds too silly right now? Ambersand includes in his email a pertinent George Orwell quote: "Every joke is a tiny revolution."
Ambersand himself notes: "Taking action can look different to different people, and in stressful situations, joy and humor may seem to dismiss the feelings of fear or angst. Please know that I understand that folks have different ways of addressing discomfort, and I also believe that humor and art are two valuable strategies."
Also, find out farms will be back to its regular hours this Saturday, Jan. 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, the urban farm will host "Start Seeds with Your Sweetie," from 4 to 7 p.m.
"You can purchase a sturdy re-usable 6-cell seed tray filled with high-quality soil, and we will help you to select the right seeds for your growing conditions and tomato desires!" Ambersand says. "Grab a beverage or a special tomato-inspired treat from the Pintworks kitchen. All ages are welcome, and no purchases are necessary to come and hang out and ask questions."
The website for find out farms is findoutfarms.com and the physical address is 4712 Parker Ave., Sacramento.
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Flowers in My Back Yard Series
April 14: Small flowers with outsized impact
April 7: Calendulas do double duty
April 3: Make Easter lilies last for years to come
March 31: In praise of a pollinator magnet (small-leaf salvias)
March 24: Azaleas brighten shady spots
March 17: The perfect flower for beginners? Try zonal geraniums
March 10: Keep camellias happy for years to come
March 3: Fruit tree blossoms are a fleeting joy
Feb. 27: Are your roses looking rusty?
Feb. 24: Treasure spring daffodils now and for years to come
Feb. 17: How and why to grow wildflowers
Feb. 10: Let's talk Valentine's Day roses
Feb. 3: Why grow flowers?
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Garden checklist for week of April 12
After these storms pass, get to work on spring clean-up.
* Weed, weed, weed! Take advantage of soft soil and pull them before they go to seed.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, 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. Late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Transplant heat-resistant lettuce seedlings.
* Feed roses and other spring-blooming shrubs.
* 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.
* 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.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds. Avoid "volcano mulching" -- be sure to keep mulch a few inches away from tree trunks or the stems of shrubs. This prevents rot and disease.
Contact Us
Send us a gardening question, a post suggestion or information about an upcoming event. sacdigsgardening@gmail.com
Food in My Back Yard (FIMBY) Series
Lessons learned during a year of edible gardening
WINTER
Is edible gardening possible indoors?
Hints for choosing tomato seeds
Why winter is the perfect time to plant fruit trees
When to plant? Consider staggering your transplants
How to squeeze more food into less space
Plant a fruit tree now -- for later
Win the weed war by tackling them in winter
Tips for planting bare-root trees, shrubs and vegetables
Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space
Ways to win the fight against weeds
FALL
Dec. 16: Add asparagus to your edible garden
Dec. 9: Soggy soil and what to do about it
Dec. 2: Plant artichokes now; enjoy for years to come
Nov. 25: It's late November, and your peach tree needs spraying
Nov. 18: What to do with all those fallen leaves?
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
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