SANTA CRUZ

Exchange at the Grange

The Santa Cruz Garden Exchange is scheduled from 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday at the Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave. At 8:45 a.m. the president of the Live Oak Green Grange will speak to attendees about the mission of the Live Oak Grange and lead a short tour of the grounds.

The Santa Cruz Garden Exchange is a free event where local residents bring extra plants, seeds, cuttings, tools, compost and other garden-related items to give away. No money is exchanged, and participants are not required to bring anything in order to take part. Attendees are expected to take home any items they bring that are not given away. The in-person exchanges occur twice a month: from 5 to 6 p.m. the second Wednesday and from 8 to 9 a.m. the fourth Saturday, both at the Live Oak Grange location.

In addition to the scheduled events, members can also participate in private trades through the Santa Cruz Garden Exchange Facebook group. For information, visit the group’s Facebook page or email santacruzgardenexchange@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Get your hands dirty

The Live Oak Green Grange committee would like you to join the fun in the sun at the next garden party and workday at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave. Help clean up and beautify the property. Tasks include mowing in and around the orchard and the south side of the building, weeding, tree and shrub pruning and applying mulch to the California native plants garden, around fruit trees, perennial beds and on pathways. Additional duties require the stove and refrigerator in the kitchen to be cleaned, removing suckers around fruit trees, audit and troubleshoot the drip irrigation system, apply fertilizer around fruit trees, apply 4-6 inches of wood chip mulch around fruit trees and install six new rootstocks in gopher baskets.

All tools provided at the grange, including shovels, rakes, pitchforks, pruners and a couple of wheelbarrows. You may bring your own tools also, along with your gloves, hats, boots (or closed-toe shoes), eye and ear protection (as needed) and water. A free lunch will be served around noon.

Help out, make connections and find out how the grange supports the community. The monthly Site Team meeting will begin shortly afterward at 2 p.m. Contact Michael Johnson at president@santacruzliveoakgrange.org or 831-325-3376 with questions.

SANTA CRUZ

Berry u-pick at UCSC Farm

Enjoy picking organic strawberries and/or blueberries at 9 a.m. Saturday at the UCSC Farm, 1156 High St. Delicious organic berries will be plentiful this spring, so head over and enjoy the bounty. Proceeds from u-pick sales support the Center for Agroecology. Flats and pint containers will be available for a flat rate. Bring a credit card and smartphone for payment (you will need to scan a QR code). Wearing layers is recommended, as well as a hat, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes you can comfortably move around in. Strawberry availability is subject to change depending on the volume of customers and other circumstances.

Park in parking lot 116 on the UC Santa Cruz campus or take public transportation. For directions to the farm, visit agroecology.ucsc.edu/visit/directions.html.

WATSONVILLE

Santa Cruz VegFest serves up compassion, community

Santa Cruz VegFest returns from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 31 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., uniting thousands in a celebration of plant-based living, sustainability and animal compassion. Hosted by Plant Based Treaty Bay Area, this family-friendly event features over 100 exhibitors, vegan food vendors, live music, local drinks, cooking demos and speakers on health, the environment and animal rights.

From cruelty-free fashion to vegan comedy and free samples galore, VegFest offers something for everyone — whether you’re a longtime vegan or just curious. Stop by the Plant Based Treat table to learn how small choices can create big change. Tickets are $5 presale and $10 at the door. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Visit vegfestsantacruz.org for information.

FELTON

Explore Loch Lomond at nature hike

April showers bring May flowers? Don’t miss the next Loch Walk at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Loch Lomond Recreation Area, 100 Loch Lomond Way. Join the staff-led Loch Walks and discover the beauty of the 180-acre reservoir and the native species that call it home. It’s the perfect way to connect with nature and learn more about your local environment.

Botanist Andy Werner will be joining to discuss native plant species found in the Newell Creek watershed. Among other things, you are likely to see one of the albino redwoods during this walk.

You can sign up ahead of time by calling 831-335-7424 or just let the staff at the kiosk know that you’d like to join in when you enter the park.

Housing Navigation Services offered weekly at library

Volunteer Housing Navigators provides housing navigation services for people experiencing homelessness from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays in the Life Literacies Center at the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Downtown Branch, 224 Church St. For information, visit santacruzpl.libcal.com.

The Garden Digest is compiled by Jesselyn Rego. To submit items for the calendar including events, meetings, resources or anything garden related, email sentinelhomeandgarden@gmail.com.