Community Center Senior Garden Club is growing

Check out the London Nelson Community Center Garden Club at 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday in the garden at 301 Center St. The parks crew has been busy building garden beds for the London Nelson Community Center Garden Club. Do you have a green thumb? Or want to learn basic gardening techniques? All skills levels and ages are welcome to join the London Nelson Garden Club. Projects include pollinator and butterfly gardens and utilizing worm and composting bins.

Call 831-420-6180 to learn more or stop by and check it out. Led by local gardener Tom Fordham.

Santa Cruz Orchid Society meetup

The Santa Cruz Orchid Society’s monthly meetup is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange at 1900 17th Ave. and it will feature a webinar titled “Dendrobium Orchids and Medicine” by Jacqui Bowman. Orchids have been used in medicine for hundreds of years, especially in Asian cultures. In 2021, the AOS Education Committee gave a grant to Bowman of The Mütter Museum at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia for a project titled “Dendrobium Orchids and Medicine.” Setup begins at 7 p.m.

For more details visit http://santacruzorchidsociety.org.

Shared Adventures Garden Club held weekly

Come get your hands dirty, your heart happy and your mind clear, gardening is therapeutic. From 11 a.m. to noon every Thursday, Shared Adventures Gardening Club meets at Common Roots Farm, 301 Golf Club Drive. There are raised ADA garden beds to work in and ADA paths as well. Show up, sign in and help out. It’s a fun atmosphere and adaptable to all abilities.

Email sharedactivities@yahoo.com for information.

SALINAS

Learn regenerative soil techniques for the home gardener

UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties presents this free workshop to learn regenerative soil techniques that you can add to your gardening bag of tricks 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Monterey County Cooperative Extension, 1432 Abbott St., Salinas. Learn regenerative soil techniques for the home gardener. Growing healthy soil helps the home gardener grow vibrant veggies and herbs, bountiful fruit trees and gorgeous flowers. We will summarize what makes a soil regenerative, and demonstrate proven techniques such as cover cropping, vermicomposting, lasagna beds and straw bale gardening. This class will be held outdoors. Class size is limited.

The workshop is free, but donations are appreciated. Visit mbmg.ucanr.edu to register.

APTOS

Plant Sale and Pumpkin Patch at Cabrillo College

Check out the Cabrillo College Horticulture Plant Sale and Pumpkin Patch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 6500 Soquel Drive, featuring student-grown plants, you-pick pumpkin patch, and hydroponic greenhouse tours. Come enjoy the beautiful plants and vista point at the top of the hill. Student discounts available with ID cards. Shuttle rides available for overflow parking. Cash and check only. No dogs are allowed in the food production facility.

For details check out https://cruzcnps.org/

SANTA CRUZ

Mark your calendars, it’s time to celebrate apples

Join the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 19 at Wilder Ranch State Park in celebrating the season with the annual apple tasting. If you’ve always wanted to know what apples grow well in our area and want to taste what freshly picked apples taste like, this event is for you. Bring your family and friends. Apple tasting will be held during the Heritage Harvest Festival at Wilder Ranch State Park.

Step back in time at the Wilder Ranch State Park Harvest Festival. Enjoy living history demonstrations, crafts, games, live music, food and more. Taste history during the apple tasting hosted by the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers. This event is free to members of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers; there is a $5 fee for non-members ($8 for couples and $10 for families).

Visit http://mbcrfg.org/events/list/ for information.

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.