SANTA CRUZ
Weekly garden club meets on Wednesdays
Check out the London Nelson Community Center Garden Club at 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday in the garden at 301 Center St., Santa Cruz. Do you have a green thumb? Or want to learn basic gardening techniques? All skills levels and ages welcome to join the London Nelson Garden Club. Projects include pollinator and butterfly garden, and utilizing worm and composting bins. Community happens here.
Call 831-420-6180 to learn more or stop by and check it out. Led by local gardeners Tom Fordham and CJ.
SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz Fungus Fair on deck
Did you know that without fungus, we wouldn’t have bread, cheese, beer or wine? Or that anti-cholesterol medicine was developed from mushrooms? Check out the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair Jan. 9 through Jan. 11 at the London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., to learn fascinating and fun facts about beautiful and diverse species of mushrooms. View remarkable mushroom arts and crafts, taste unusual and exceptionally good fungal fare, and experience the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz’s overriding mission: “We keep the fun in fungus.”
This Santa Cruz area tradition draws thousands of visitors each January. Advance tickets usually go on sale by early December. Buy a General Admission “timed entry” ticket to get faster entry and avoid waiting in the cash/credit card line. Buy Talk tickets to guarantee that you do not miss your favorite speakers. Buy your timed entry ticket for a time slot at least 30 minutes before any talks you plan to attend. See ffsc.us for information about the fair, detailed talk descriptions and speaker bios. Go to tickettailor.com/events/ffsc for tickets.
FELTON
Winter fruit tree pruning class and demonstration
Do you have fruit trees in need of pruning? Do you want help sorting out the difference between a thinning cut and a heading cut? Bring your gloves and clippers for a hands-on fruit tree pruning demonstration from 9:45 a.m. to noon Jan. 24 at Sydalyn Hill, 401 Toll House Gulch Road.
After a brief demonstration and orientation, you’ll join Master Gardener Diane Mahan in the orchard for an opportunity to analyze established fruit trees and practice your new-found pruning skills.
This class will be conducted outside. Gloves, pruners, hats, sunscreen, layered clothing, sturdy walking shoes and a water bottle are recommended. In the event of rain, the class will be rescheduled to Jan. 31.
Go to tinyurl.com/2v826b75 to register.
SANTA CRUZ
Fruit tree care and management at the Hay Barn
A backyard series introduction to fruit trees will be held 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at the UCSC Hay Barn and Farm. Park in the Hay Barn parking lot (overflow parking at Lot 116) Santa Cruz. This workshop will focus on fruit tree care and management, especially for those who are looking to establish and/or care for their fruit trees using organic methods. Although the workshop will be demonstrating on a home garden scale, the techniques and methods are applicable at multiple scales — the basics are the same. This hands-on workshop will cover the run up to planting (site, sun, soil), assessing and improving your soil, sourcing quality trees for your area, planting bare root trees, post plant care, and a Q&A session.
This workshop is part of the Backyard Series for home gardeners. Presented by the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden. Members receive a 10% discount on workshop costs. Learn more about becoming a member and sign up at agroecology.ucsc.edu. Email agroecology@ucsc.edu with accommodation requests. This workshop is open to all members of the public who purchase a ticket consistent with state and federal law.
LIVE OAK
Basic composting returns in 2026
Sign up for Basic Composting from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 24, held outdoors in the gardens and orchard at the Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave. Santa Cruz. Basic Composting will discuss the principles of composting kitchen and yard waste using backyard bins and vermicomposting (worm composting) techniques. You will learn how composting will improve your soil and enhance the health of your plants and vegetables. Composting also reduces organic waste going to the landfill thereby cutting greenhouse gas emissions and slowing climate change. Virtual and in-person workshops are led by a certified master composter and sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Public Works Department.
Space is limited at these popular workshops, reservations are required. Call 831-824-6484 or go to tinyurl.com/yua6e3hv to sign up online. After submitting your request, you will be notified if you are accepted in the workshop.
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.
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