LIVE OAK
Summer plant swap at the Grange
The Santa Cruz Garden Exchange is set for May 24 from 8 to 9 a.m., taking place at the Live Oak Grange located at 1900 17th Avenue in Santa Cruz. The president of the Live Oak Green Grange will address participants at 8:45 a.m., discussing the organization’s goals before leading a brief walkthrough of the premises.
The Santa Cruz Garden Exchange is an event where locals can share surplus plants, seeds, cuttings, tools, compost, and various gardening materials without exchanging cash. You do not have to bring something to participate. It takes place biweekly; you can join on the second Wednesday between 5 and 6 p.m., as well as on the fourth Saturday from 8 to 9 a.m., always at the Live Oak Grange site. Individuals should ensure they remove any unclaimed items brought with them.
Members have the additional opportunity to engage in private trades via the Santa Cruz Garden Exchange Facebook group, apart from the planned activities. For more details, check out their Facebook page or send an email to santacruzgardenexchange@gmail.com.
WATSONVILLE
VegFest promotes kindness, bringing people together.
The Santa Cruz VegFest is back from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 31 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, gathering thousands for an occasion focused on plant-based lifestyles, environmental responsibility, and kindness towards animals. Organized by the Plant Based Treaty Bay Area, this complimentary, all-ages festival includes more than 100 booths, vegetarian cuisine stalls, musical performances, regional beverages, culinary demonstrations, and talks about wellness, ecological issues, and ethical treatment of creatures.
At VegFest, discover cruelty-free clothing alongside vegan humor and plenty of complimentary samples—there’s something here for every individual, be they an experienced vegan or merely interested. Visit the Plant Based Treaty booth to understand how minor decisions can lead to significant impacts. Children aged 12 and younger enter for free.
Visit
facebook.com/events/s/vegfest-santa-cruz/1384536362716325/
for info.
FELTON
Discover Loch Lomond through a guided hike
Were the April rains responsible for the May blossoms? Make sure not to skip the upcoming Loch Walk scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 24. Participate in these complimentary guided tours led by our team members as they explore the splendor of the 180-acre water reserve and the indigenous flora and fauna residing within it. This experience offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with nature and deepen your understanding of your immediate surroundings. Specialist botanist Andy Werner will accompany participants for an educational trek around Loch Lomond. During this journey, you might catch sight of one of the rare white-redwood trees.
You can register in advance by phoning 831-335-7424 or simply inform the team at the kiosk upon your arrival at the park on May 24 that you wish to take part. Entry to the Loch Walk is complimentary for all participants.
SANTA CRUZ
County offers Basic Composting workshops
The county-run composting workshops are available to all participants, with three additional Basic Composting Workshops scheduled before they take a summertime hiatus. The upcoming sessions for the Basic Composting Workshop include one held this coming Sunday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Pinto Lake County Park located outside of Watsonville, another on May 24th from 10 AM to 12 Noon online through Zoom, and finally, a session on June 14th from 10 AM to 12 Noon at the Live Oak Grange.
The two-hour Basic Composting Workshop delves into the fundamental concepts of composting and offers comprehensive details about both backyard and worm composting techniques, enabling participants to begin their composting journey. The session includes ample opportunities for attendees to have their queries addressed by the knowledgeable presenters, all of whom are seasoned composters.
Online pre-registration is mandatory.
goo.gl/Fw6BaK
or by calling 831-824-6484.
SANTA CRUZ
Weekly housing navigation services were provided.
Housing Navigators who volunteer offer assistance with finding homes for individuals facing homelessness each Tuesday between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Life Literacies Center within the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Downtown Branch situated at 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz.
Go to
santacruzpl.libcal.com
for more information.
SAN FRANCISCO
Summer internship available at Dahlia Dell
The Dahlia Society of California is looking for two young adult volunteers to serve as interns at the Dahlia Dell within Golden Gate Park. These interns will be expected to commit their time from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday starting early June until mid-August, working alongside master gardener Deborah Dietz. As part of this practical experience, they’ll learn essential gardening skills such as weeding, deadheading, and disbudding dahlias, all leading up to assisting with preparations for the Dahlia Show scheduled for August 16-17 at the County Fair Building located at 1199 9th Avenue inside Golden Gate Park.
Candidates should be between 16 and 26 years of age, dependable, and not mind getting messy. They will also need to crawl, bend, and lift up to 25 pounds when required. Applicants must commit to being present every Saturday throughout the duration of the internship program and agree to undergo fingerprinting by mid-May. Following their initial expression of interest, they should promptly submit a volunteer application form. The total involvement would amount to approximately 20 hours spread across 10 Saturdays, with extra hours needed for the Dahlia Show.
This position remains open until all spots are filled and will be awarded according to the order applications are received from eligible applicants. If interested, send your application via email to brenda.cartagena@sfgov.org explaining why you should be selected for consideration.
For questions, email dahliasocietyofcalifornia@gmail.com.
The Garden Digest is put together by Jesselyn Rego. For submitting items such as events, meetings, resources, or any gardening-related content to the calendar, please send an email to sentinelhomeandgarden@gmail.com.
