Harvest. A word replete with cultural, seasonal and regional meaning and imagery – from the kitchen-bound harvest of the home garden to the large-scale harvest of North State nuts, rice, grapes and other autumnal fruit.
Because we live in a mild climate agricultural region, harvest of something is going on nearly year-round, but August – the warm dry beginning-of-the-end-of-summer month we’ve just entered – marks the beginning of the growing year’s largest harvest season.
Harvest of course happens on many levels at any time of year. For now, I harvest tomatoes and potatoes and eggplant and peppers. I harvest weeds hoping to curtail their spread in the next season and I harvest seeds I want to hold over and grow along in the next season. The jays and squirrels harvest the acorns ripening in the blue oaks and the berries ripening on the Manzanita; ants harvest the aphids ripening everywhere. Bees and butterflies harvest the season’s floral nectar and pollen – perhaps already cognizant of the end of season’s approach. Dragonflies, hummingbirds and bats harvest their daily share of mosquitoes and midges, and the spiders weave their intricate webs to harvest whatever might land there.
Plants harvest the sun, the rain and the soil below them for the food and water they need – oftentimes with the harvesting help of symbiotic fungi who pre-harvest the soil making many nutrients more easily available to their associated plants in return for food provided to them by these same plants.
When you think about it – all the world’s at work at harvest and we are all harvesters of some kind.
I like this quote by Henry David Thoreau: “The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched. ”
What are you harvesting this season?
Good tasks in the garden this month includes pruning back spent summer flowering plants, pruning the home orchard as needed for shape and size, planting your fall/winter seeds and even seedlings including broccoli, kale and chards. Remember to protect young plants from hot afternoons, to keep them well-watered and to fertilize as necessary – the whole vegetable garden and any potted plants will benefit from a good drink of fish emulsion or other organic feed this time of year. Now is the time to start pulling back the water on many established and drought tolerant perennials, shrubs and trees. As the length of daylight and heat of each day slowly begins to diminish, so too do the water needs of those plants past their peak growing season.
The On-line Calendar of North State Gardening Events at jewellgarden.com adds events throughout the month. I do my very best to keep the calendar up-to-date and accurate, please confirm all events with the event host. If you have an event you would like listed, or if you are aware of a mistake on the calendar, please send all pertinent information to: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com. Thanks!
AUGUST
Aug 3 – Fair Oaks: Fair Oaks Horticulture Center and Sacramento Master Gardeners HARVEST DAY 8 am – 2 pm. Sacramento’s biggest one-day gardening event. Featured speakers, demonstrations, educational booths, open gardens, produce tastings, a plant clinic and more. Bring your friends and enjoy! For more information: http://ucanr.org/sites/sacmg/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/Workshop_Schedule/
Aug 3 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Charlie Rabbit and His Friends 10:30 am. Join us the first Saturday of every month for an interactive program in the Gardens (or Greenhouse when it rains) for children, their siblings, parents and Grandparents. Join Charlie, our adorable jack rabbit puppet, in various gardening activities. Wear your favorite gardening clothes! Presented by Dennis and Sherrill Bambauer. Free with park admission! Meet at the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Office (1135 Arboretum Drive next to Nursery Greenhouse)
Aug 3 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum Tired of Mowing Your Lawn? 10 am, UC Davis Arboretum Gazebo, UC Davis campus. There are great alternatives to a thirsty, high-maintenance lawn. Come find out about water-wise landscape options that also have great curb appeal. Plus, get tips on how to approach the process of replacing or reducing your lawn. The event is free; parking is free and available along Garrod Drive or in nearby Visitor Parking Lot 55. For more information and directions, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit http://arboretum75th.ucdavis.edu/tired-of-mowing-your-lawn.
Aug 9 – Anderson: Anderson Valley Garden Club Monthly Meeting 12 noon – 1 pm, public welcome. Anderson Valley Garden Club meets the 2nd Friday of each month at the Anderson City Hall Community Room unless otherwise stated. Meeting begins at noon. For more information call Nancy: 530-365-2014. Fri Jul 12, 2013 12pm – 1pm Anderson City Hall Community Room
Aug 9 – Redding: Shasta College UCCE FOOD PRESERVING WORKSHOP SERIES #1 Water Bath Canning 4 – 7 pm. Shasta College, Main Campus, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Room 822 Food Preserving Workshops – Water Bath Canning. Have you ever wondered how to preserve the abundant fruits & vegetables of the season? Have you ever wondered how to preserve chicken and vegetable mix? Then come join us! EARLY REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration will be limited to the first 25 people. To register complete and mail this form with your check to 1851 Hartnell Avenue, Redding, CA 96002 or register online at http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=11045 . You also have the option to pay with your credit or debit card online. Name Telephone # Address City State Zip Please indicate which date(s) you will be attending (cost $15.00 per session). August 9, 2013 August 10, 2013 September 7, 2013 Make your check payable to: The Regents of the University of California
Aug 10 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Botanical Gardens Plant ID and Cultivation Part II 9 – 11 am. With a focus on Drought and heat-adapted Plants – Mediterranean Basin Garden Plants! Prepare yourself for fall planting… If you have wanted to know specific, local information about tough, beautiful plants that are happy to grow in our climate, join Horticulture Manager Lisa Endicott as we start this botanical gardens plant id and cultivation series off with plants in the Mediterranean Basin Garden. These plants have not only a large variety of ornamental textures and colors, they are also easy to cultivate and maintain! Plant talks are FREE for members and volunteers and are $3 for nonmembers! Meet at Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Office – 1135 Arboretum Drive (Next to Greenhouse in Nursery). Take N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take the right fork. Nursery on immediate left.
Aug 10 – Redding: Shasta College UCCE FOOD PRESERVING WORKSHOP SERIES #2 Pressure Canning 9:30 to 1:30 PM. Shasta College, Main Campus, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Room 822 Food Preserving Workshops – Water Bath Canning. Have you ever wondered how to preserve the abundant fruits & vegetables of the season? Have you ever wondered how to preserve chicken and vegetable mix? Then come join us! EARLY REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Registration will be limited to the first 25 people. To register complete and mail this form with your check to 1851 Hartnell Avenue, Redding, CA 96002 or register online at http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=11045 . You also have the option to pay with your credit or debit card online. Name Telephone # Address City State Zip Please indicate which date(s) you will be attending (cost $15.00 per session). August 9, 2013 August 10, 2013 September 7, 2013 Make your check payable to: The Regents of the University of California
Aug 10 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS Field Trip: Panther Meadows Mt. Shasta 9 am Meet. Panther Meadows and surrounding trails on Mt. Shasta. This will be an approximately four-mile, moderately difficult hike on trails around Panther Meadows at the 7500’ to 8000’ elevation on Mt. Shasta. Expect to see Shasta red fir, white-bark pine, and many mountain wildflowers. It’s less than a 1000-foot elevation climb, but the trail does require agility. Meet at Redding City Hall’s south parking lot on Parkview Avenue at 9 AM to carpool to the trailhead. For more information, call David Ledger at 355-8542. For more info: www.shastacnps.org
Aug 10 – Chico: Magnolia Gift & Garden Workshop: Pondless Water Feature Installation 10:30 am Hosted by Chris Hunter and Kurt Giese. Chris and Kurt will be installing a Pondless Water Feature. They will be demonstrating how to set up and answer any questions you may have about pumps, pondliners and basic fountain maintenance. Magnolia Gift & Garden 1367 East Ave Chico, Ca 95926 (530) 894-5410 www.MagnoliaGardening.com
Aug 11 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society FIELD TRIP: COLD BOILING AND CRUMBAUGH LAKES LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot (Hwys 32/99) in time to leave at 8:30 am. Wear sturdy shoes. Bring lunch, wa- ter, sun/insect protection, hiking gear, and money for ride sharing. Take your park pass if you have one We will drive approximately 81 miles from Chico to the trail head in Lassen Park at 7380 ft ele. The hike is an easy 3 mile roundtrip in a little traveled area- excellent for birds, wildflowers and deer. On the way we pass Cold Boiling Lake where gas bub- bles rise to the water’s surface. At Crum- baugh Lake, 7200 ft ele, see lava cliffs that ring the lake’s basin and vistas of surround- ing peaks. Call leader for alternate meeting place. Leaders: Gerry Ingco 530-893-5123, Wes Dempsey 530-342-2239. For more information see website at mountlassen.cnps.org
Aug 15 – Chico: Cultivating Community North Valley Workshop: Integrated Pest Management 6 – 7:30 pm. With Betsy Boyd, Ph.D. at the Organic Vegetable Project
Registration is required and open to everyone. Price for Income-Eligible participants: free. Price for Income-Ineligible participants: $10. Paid day of event at sign-in table. Do you know who your insect friends are? A farm or garden managed to promote a biodiverse ecosystem can reap productive harvests and promote a healthy environment. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll catch and identify insects at Chico State’s Organic Vegetable Project and discuss how to encourage a community of organisms that works in your favor! Based upon research that has identified management to minimize toxins, maximize ecological health, and optimize profit, our discussion will address the planning and monitoring necessary to be successful. Participants should bring a notebook or pad of paper for recording field observations and notes. The workshop will also include an opportunity to taste some fresh vegetables from the field. For more info: http://cultivatingcommunitynv.org
Aug 17 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Science Saturday: Spiders 11am – 3 pm. Have you noticed the number of orb weavers on the Sundial Bridge and around Turtle Bay this time of year? Learn more about these amazing animals and discover why they are so important! Free with Park admission
Aug 17 – Chico: Chico Permaculture Guild Monthly Gathering with guest speaker ‘Local Indigenous Culture and Permanent Culture’ with Ali Meders-Knight 1 – 4 pm. Butte County Library, Chico. What’s Happening this Month: Ali Meders-Knight is an enrolled member of the Mechoopda Tribe based in Chico and is also Nomalackie, Konkow and Wintu of Northern California. Ali will share with us her knowledge of local native plants and animals, their use in local indigenous culture as well as how we can learn to utilize indigenous systems in our own permaculture designs. This special event will be part of our August monthly gathering, we will have our regular Potluck and ‘Share the Surplus’ swap after the presentation. For more information contact Stephanie Ladwig-Cooper Phone: 530-828-6390 E-mail: modcpg@gmail.com OPEN & FREE TO THE PUBLIC, DONATIONS GREATLY APPRECIATED
Aug 17 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum Delights from Down Under 9:30 am, UC Davis Arboretum Wyatt Deck, UC Davis campus. Take a leisurely guided stroll through the Australian and New Zealand collections. See plants from down under that thrive in our Mediterranean climate and discover some of their fascinating adaptations. Many make great additions to home gardens. The event is free; parking is free and available in nearby Visitor Parking Lot 5. For more information and directions, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit http://arboretum75th.ucdavis.edu/delights-from-down-under.
Aug 17 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens – Preserving the Harvest 10am, Betty will be giving a class on different methods of preserving your garden bounty. Betty has been raising, growing and preserving most everything her family eats for years. She is a wealth of information and has some really great ideas! Our classes are always free, please sign-up to reserve your space. Wyntour Gardens, 8026 Airport Rd (1 mi. South of the Redding Airport, next to Kents Mkt). 530-365-2256/inform@wyntourgardens.com.
Aug 17 – Redding: Shasta Chapter CNPS Field Trip: Paradise Meadows and Hat Lake, Lassen NP 8 am Meet. Join Jay & Terri Thesken for an all-day fieldtrip to Lassen National Park. We will stage vehicles and hike from the Shadow, Terrace, and Cliff lakes trailhead to Paradise Meadows and Hat Lake. The all-downhill hike starts at about the 8000-foot elevation and ends at 6400 feet. It is about three to four miles. We will expect to see many wildflowers in the meadows and higher elevations at this time of the year. We will leave Redding at 8 AM, from Redding City Hall’s south parking lot on Parkview Avenue. Bring water, lunch, and adequate hiking footwear. No dogs, please. Call Jay & Terri at 221-0906 to RSVP as the number of participants is limited. For more information, call David Ledger at 355-8542. For more info: www.shastacnps.org
Aug 17 – Chico: Magnolia Gift & Garden Pollination Appreciation Day 10 – 4 pm. Hosted By Trish Howard. Come by and learn about what plants will attract Bees, Hummingbirds and Butterflies to your garden. We are pleased to be partnered up with Floral Native Nursery who will also be sharing their knowledge about attracting pollinators. Be sure to visit both nurseries for Pollinator Appreciation Day! Magnolia Gift & Garden 1367 East Ave Chico, Ca 95926 (530) 894-5410 www.MagnoliaGardening.com
Aug 18 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens – COOL SEASON VEGGIE CLASS 11am, Ferne will be giving a class on Cool-Season vegetable growing. Ferne is an accomplished organic gardener with a beautiful, productive vegetable garden and a large, fruit tree orchard. Ferne preserves most everything she grows and has great growing tips for a successful winter garden! Our classes are always free, please sign-up to reserve your space. Wyntour Gardens, 8026 Airport Rd (1 mi. South of the Redding Airport, next to Kents Mkt). 530-365-2256/inform@wyntourgardens.com.
Aug 20 – Chico: Cultivating Community North Valley Workshop: Sauerkraut and Dills: The Power of Fermentation 6 – 8 pm. With Richard Coon of Wookey Ranch
Location: TBA This will be a fun introduction and hands-on tutorial on how to make delicious sauerkraut and dill pickles at home! Participants will be able to take some yumminess home with them.
Pre-Registration is required. Priority is given to Income-Eligible participants. Price for Income-Eligible participants: Free. Income-Ineligible participants may sign up for the waiting list: If there is space we will contact you within one week of event. Cost will be $10. Paid day of event at sign-in table. **If you would like to attend this workshop twice, please email us at registration@grubchico.org. If the class does not fill, you will be invited to participate again. These classes were very popular last year and class size is limited so we want to be fair by offering multiple classes, as well as giving everyone an opportunity to attend. Thank you. For more info: http://cultivatingcommunitynv.org
Aug 21 – Redding: Shasta Rose Society Monthly Member Meeting & Program The Society meets each month, with the exception of July, August and December, on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm at Building 4, Room 401 at City of Redding Corporation Yard, 2055 Viking Way, Red- ding, California. The meetings are held for the purpose of presenting an educational program. Admission is free to the general public. For more information: http://shastarosesociety.org/Shasta_Rose_Society/Home.html
Aug 21 – FULL MOON
Chico: Gateway Science Museum exhibit Mushrooms: Keys to the Kingdom Fungi OPENS 12 – 5 pm. Gateway’s fall 2013 exhibit line-up begins today with the opening of Mushrooms: Keys to the Kingdom Fungi, an traveling exhibition of Exhibit Envoy in conjunction with Northern California naturalists John Whittlesey and Jennifer Jewell. This exhibit aims to introduce visitors to the range, importance, diversity and beauty of the fungi of Northern California. For more info: www.gatewayscience.org, 898-4121. Gateway is open Wednesday – Sunday 12 noon – 5 pm. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children or students with ID.
Aug 24 – Chico: Mt. Lassen Chapter of the California Native Plant Society FIELD TRIP: LONG LAKE / GRASSY LAKE LOOP TRAIL LAKES BASIN RECREATION AREA PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST Meet at Chico Park & Ride west lot (Hwys 32/99) at 7:30 am with a windbreaker or light jacket, lunch, water, in- sect/sun protection, money for ride sharing. We drive up the Feather River Scenic Byway (Hwy 70) following the North and Middle Forks of the Feather River. The last seven miles of the drive is a breathtaking climb into a serene alpine setting. Total driving distance from Chico is 111 miles. Lakes Basin is the gem of the Pumas National Forest, with fifty, or more, crystal alpine lakes confined within five small glacial basins. The area is rich in geol- ogy, mining and prehistoric history. The trail head is at 6500 ft. We will visit Long Lake (1 1⁄4 mile long), smaller Glacier Lake, and pass several ponds. We follow cas- cading Gray Eagle Creek and view beautiful Fern Falls before turning back on the return leg of our loop. We will attempt to do a short car-shuttle to avoid a short walk on the paved road. We should see variety of wildflowers in bloom as we walk. Total trail distance is about 3.5 miles. The maintained trail is mostly level or with gradual short distances up or down. Leaders: Gerry Ingco 530-893- 5123 and Wes Dempsey 50-342-2293. Individual Op- tions: Overnight camp out. Lodging at one of the Basin’s Lodges. Have dinner before driving home at the Gold Lake Lodge or in Grayeagle. For details call Gerry and for an alternate meeting place and time. For more information see website at mountlassen.cnps.org
Aug 24 – Davis: UC Davis Arboretum Succulents, Nolinas, Agaves 10 am, Ruth Risdon Storer Garden, UC Davis campus. Learn about the origins and cultivation of these beautiful and extremely drought-tolerant plants. The event is free; parking is free and available along Garrod Drive near the garden or in nearby Visitor Parking Lot 55.For more information and directions, please call (530) 752-4880 or visit http://arboretum75th.ucdavis.edu/succulents-nolinas-agaves.
Aug 24 – Redding: Wyntour Gardens – SOME LIKE IT HOT ALL DAY, Is all about the chili pepper! A fun-filled day with lots of chili pepper growing and using information. We are holding a Salsa Contest, Chili Pepper Growing & Preserving Class @ 10am, chili pepper roasting demonstrations throughout the day, potted pepper plants, handouts and more! About the SALSA CONTEST: Sign-ups 10am-11am. The three categories are Hot, Mild and Fruit Salsa. Bring a minimum of one-quart of your homemade salsa in a disposable container along with the recipe (we can keep the recipe secret, just need it on hand for food allergies). Judging begins at noon. People’s Choice award tasting is from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Prizes awarded at 2:30pm. Salsa samples will be available the rest of the afternoon, while supplies last. No fee to taste, first come, first served. It should be a lot of fun, so plan on stopping by, taste a little salsa and learning more about Chili Peppers! Wyntour Gardens, 8026 Airport Rd (1 mi. South of the Redding Airport, next to Kents Mkt). 530-365-2256/inform@wyntourgardens.com.
Aug 24 – Chico: Magnolia Gift & Garden Workshop: Kids Fairy Garden Workshop 10:30 am. Hosted By Melynn and Kerra. Bring the kids in to make a “Fairy Garden” We will help the kids create their very own personalized garden to take home and care for. There is a $20- material fee for each child. This will include a little pot, figurine, plant and some recycled glass/pebbles and soil. RSVP is encouraged but not required. Magnolia Gift & Garden 1367 East Ave Chico, Ca 95926 (530) 894-5410 www.MagnoliaGardening.com
Aug 26 – Chico: Cultivating Community North Valley Workshop: Preserving the Harvest: Basic Canning Techniques for Pickles and Tomatoes 6 – 8 pm. With Baji Hantelman of Wookey Ranch. Location: TBA Instructions on the materials and process of hot water bath canning for high acid foods. Demonstration plus actual hands-on learning for participants, and will be able to take some yumminess home with them. Pre-Registration is required. Priority is given to Income-Eligible participants. Price for Income-Eligible participants: Free. Income-Ineligible participants may sign up for the waiting list: If there is space we will contact you within one week of event. Cost will be $10. Paid day of event at sign-in table. For more info: http://cultivatingcommunitynv.org
Aug 27 – Chico: Butte Rose Society Regular Monthly Meeting and Program 7 pm Public Welcome! At the Chico Veterans Memorial Hall on 554 Rio Lindo Ave in Chico, California. Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Butte-Rose-Society/189382585776 Or contact us by US Mail at: Butte Rose Society, P. O. Box 8888, Chico, CA 95927For more info: http://www.butte-rosesociety.org
Aug 27 – Chico: Cultivating Community North Valley Workshop: Sauerkraut and Dills: The Power of Fermentation 6 – 8 pm. With Richard Coon of Wookey Ranch
Location: TBA This will be a fun introduction and hands-on tutorial on how to make delicious sauerkraut and dill pickles at home! Participants will be able to take some yumminess home with them.
Pre-Registration is required. Priority is given to Income-Eligible participants. Price for Income-Eligible participants: Free. Income-Ineligible participants may sign up for the waiting list: If there is space we will contact you within one week of event. Cost will be $10. Paid day of event at sign-in table. **If you would like to attend this workshop twice, please email us at registration@grubchico.org. If the class does not fill, you will be invited to participate again. These classes were very popular last year and class size is limited so we want to be fair by offering multiple classes, as well as giving everyone an opportunity to attend. Thank you. For more info: http://cultivatingcommunitynv.org
Aug 28 – Chico: Cultivating Community North Valley Workshop: Bottling Summer: Preserving Summer Fruits Using basic Canning Techniques 6 – 8 pm. With Baji Hantelman of Wookey Ranch. Location: TBA Introduction to water-bath canning techniques for preserving jams, jellies, applesauce, and other fruit preserves through hands-on activities. Participants will be able to take some yumminess home with them. Pre-Registration is required. Priority is given to Income-Eligible participants. Price for Income-Eligible participants: Free. Income-Ineligible participants may sign up for the waiting list: If there is space we will contact you within one week of event. Cost will be $10. Paid day of event at sign-in table. For more info: http://cultivatingcommunitynv.org
Aug 29 – Chico: Cultivating Community North Valley Workshop: Sauerkraut and Dills: The Power of Fermentation 6 – 8 pm. With Richard Coon of Wookey Ranch
Location: TBA This will be a fun introduction and hands-on tutorial on how to make delicious sauerkraut and dill pickles at home! Participants will be able to take some yumminess home with them.
Pre-Registration is required. Priority is given to Income-Eligible participants. Price for Income-Eligible participants: Free. Income-Ineligible participants may sign up for the waiting list: If there is space we will contact you within one week of event. Cost will be $10. Paid day of event at sign-in table. **If you would like to attend this workshop twice, please email us at registration@grubchico.org. If the class does not fill, you will be invited to participate again. These classes were very popular last year and class size is limited so we want to be fair by offering multiple classes, as well as giving everyone an opportunity to attend. Thank you. For more info: http://cultivatingcommunitynv.org
Aug 31 – Redding: McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens at Turtle Bay: Walk with Horticultural Manager Lisa Endicott 10:30 am. Bring your notebooks and camera! We’ll make our way through the Gardens with frequent stops for discussions about (what else?) plants! Free with Park or Garden admission. Meet at West Garden Entrance. Take N. Market Street, turn on Arboretum Drive. Take the right fork. Parking lot and entrance are on the left.
To submit plant/gardening related events/classes to the Jewellgarden.com on-line Calendar of Regional Gardening Events, send the pertinent information to me at: Jennifer@jewellgarden.com
Did you know I send out a weekly email with information about upcoming topics and gardening related events? If you would like to be added to the mailing list, send an email to Jennifer@jewellgarden.com.
In a North State Garden is a weekly Northstate Public Radio and web-based program celebrating the art, craft and science of home gardening in Northern California. It is made possible in part by the Gateway Science Museum – Exploring the Natural History of the North State and on the campus of CSU, Chico. In a North State Garden is conceived, written, photographed and hosted by Jennifer Jewell – all rights reserved jewellgarden.com. In a North State Garden airs on Northstate Public Radio Saturday mornings at 7:34 AM Pacific time and Sunday morning at 8:34 AM Pacific time.
