Bay-Friendly Training in Contra Costa

Contra Costa County will be hosting a Bay-Friendly Training & Qualification for landscape professionals this fall. The course begins September 29 and will meet weekly through November 10, 2011. This fast-moving program includes professional speakers and hands-on demonstrations for experienced public and private landscape professionals who design, construct and/or manage landscapes in Contra Costa County.

Huckleberry Season is Here

California huckleberries (Vaccinium ovatum) are in full production this time of year. These native berries appreciate acidic soils in coast regions and can be found in redwood understory as well as coastal prairie from Santa Barbara county north to British Columbia.

Bay-Friendly on a Budget: Salvage and Reuse

Hardscaping with salvaged materials is a great way to create a beautiful garden on a tight budget. It also helps the environment by keeping waste out of the landfill and reducing resources needed to make new products. Here are a few examples of Bay-Friendly tour host gardeners who have used the unique texture of salvaged materials to create one-of-a-kind gardens.

Bay-Friendly on a Budget: Propagating Plants

Last week we posted about building healthy soil without becoming dirt poor. This week’s post offers ideas for supporting a plant habit on a budget. Bay-Friendly Tour host gardener Melanie Crotty planted her steep Montclair lot with a collection of succulents and cacti from all over the world, including aloe plicatilis, cycads, agaves, and echeverias. Best of all, the entire collection was free. She propagated the plants herself by taking cuttings from her friend’s gardens. There are a variety of ways to add plants to your garden without spending lots of cash at the nursery.

Bay-Friendly on a Budget: Building the Soil

Bay-Friendly practices conserve water and other valuable resources while reducing waste. This also means they can help you conserve cash while you satisfy your gardening habit. Because, if you are using less resources and creating less waste you are probably also spending less money. We will be posting a series of articles about how to be Bay-Friendly on a budget. This week’s is about building healthy soil without becoming dirt poor.