LIVE OAK

Summer plant exchange at the Grange

The Santa Cruz Garden Exchange is scheduled from 8 to 9 a.m. May 24 at the Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave. Santa Cruz. 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.

WATSONVILLE

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, uniting thousands in a celebration of plant-based living, sustainability and animal compassion. Hosted by Plant Based Treaty Bay Area, the free, 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 Treaty table to learn how small choices can create big change. Kids 12 and under get in free.

Visit facebook.com/events/s/vegfest-santa-cruz/1384536362716325/ for info.

FELTON

Explore Loch Lomond on guided walk

Did April showers bring May flowers? Don’t miss the next Loch Walk at 10 a.m. May 24. Join the free, 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 for an interpretive hike around Loch Lomond. 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 May 24. Admission to the Loch Walk is free for participants.

County offers Basic Composting workshops

County-sponsored composting workshops are open to everyone and there will be three more Basic Composting Workshops before taking a summer break. Upcoming dates for Basic Composting Workshops are 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Pinto Lake County Park outside of Watsonville, from 10 a.m. to noon May 24 via Zoom and from 10 a.m. to noon June 14 at the Live Oak Grange.The two-hour Basic Composting Workshop covers general principles of composting and provides sufficient detail about backyard and worm composting to help someone get started. There is plenty of time for your questions to be answered by the presenters, who are experienced composters.

Pre-registration is required online at goo.gl/Fw6BaK or by calling 831-824-6484.

SANTA CRUZ

Housing Navigation Services weekly

Volunteer Housing Navigators provide 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., Santa Cruz.

Go to santacruzpl.libcal.com for more information.

SAN FRANCISCO

Summer internship at the Dahlia Dell

The Dahlia Society of California seeks two young adult interns to volunteer at the Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park. Interns will work from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays from early June through mid-August, under the guidance of master gardener Deborah Dietz. This hands-on opportunity includes learning how to weed, deadhead and disbud dahlias, while helping prepare for the Dahlia Show Aug. 16-17 at the County Fair Building (1199 9th Avenue) in Golden Gate Park.

Applicants must be ages 16-26, reliable and comfortable getting dirty, crawling, bending and lifting up to 25 pounds. They must be available and committed to all Saturdays during the internship session, willing to be fingerprinted by mid-May and complete a volunteer application shortly after expressing interest. The time commitment is about 20 hours over 10 Saturdays, plus additional hours for the Dahlia Show.

This opportunity is open until filled and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified candidates. To apply, email brenda.cartagena@sfgov.org and explain why you’d like to be considered.

Questions: email dahliasocietyofcalifornia@gmail.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.