UC Marin Master Gardeners at the Marin County Fair 2024
Bee an Earth-friendly Gardener!
Visit the UC Marin Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at the 2024 Marin County Fair
The UC Marin Master Gardeners are making a “splash” this year with the necessary information for you to “bee”come an Earth-friendly Gardener - and we can’t wait to share our knowledge with you at the Marin County Fair!
Want to “bee”come a more Earth-friendly Gardener, but don’t know where to start? Drop by our tent to see how it’s done. Aside from the garden itself, enjoy free 30-minute talks on the “how-to’s” of Earth-friendly Gardening. Visit our resource desk for answers to your garden questions. Our theory is to start small. Every action that uses earth-friendly practices inches us toward a healthier environment...one garden at a time, one gardener at a time.
Who: UC Marin Master Gardeners
When: July 3rd - July 7th from 11 am to 7 pm & July 8th from 7 am to 9 am
- July 3rd is Children’s Day! (Adults are welcome too!) Children are invited to try their luck at spinning the Earth-friendly Garden trivia wheel to learn which critters live underground to build healthy soil and help plants thrive. Don’t miss the scavenger hunt to find some garden helpers in our exhibit gardens!
- July 8th is a plant sale. Cash or checks only, please.
Where: In the barnyard; look for the big white tent next to the pig races.
What: Demonstration garden, education, and inspiration. Visitors can expect to see:
- “Splashless” demonstration Xerioscape garden - beautiful options for low and no-water plants
- Display of lawn alternatives - see and feel native grasses and groundcovers that are easy to grow and beneficial to the earth
- California natives and other “low splash” plants that welcome pollinators
- Invite pollinators to your edible garden. See our integrated display to entice bees and butterflies to visit your fruits and veggies.
- Earth-friendly container gardening - ideas and tips for your patio, porch, or balcony
- Visit our resource desk for answers to your Earth-friendly Gardening questions
- Learn from an excellent line-up of speakers presenting a broad range of topics.
Marin County Fair 2024
UC Master Gardener Speaker Schedule
THURSDAY, JULY 4TH
Growing Edibles in Containers
Time: 11:30 am
Speaker: UC Marin Master Gardener Raoul Stepakoff
Learn the advantages and disadvantages of using grow bags and other containers for edibles such as cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Participants learn the soil, water, and care needs to provide a bounty of fresh, delicious herbs, fruits, and vegetables in their own container garden.
Herbs for All Seasons
Time: 1:30 pm
Speaker: award-winning UC Marin Master Gardener Anne-Marie Walker
The word is out...herbs are in! Learn how to grow your own herbs. Anne-Marie Walker will talk about the cultivation, propagation, harvest, preservation, and uses of herbs as well as seasons in which they grow, the pollinators they attract, and how to develop your herb garden sustainably including water use. Make an herb seed tape to take home and plant. Select herb cuttings to take home and plant as well. Take home herb tea bags for comforting and refreshing herb teas.
FRIDAY, JULY 5TH
Twenty Great Plants for Marin Gardens
Time: 11:30 am
Speakers: UC Marin Master Gardeners Geri Cooper and Arlene Banks
Are you new to gardening, or considering making some changes to your garden this fall? Come learn about 20 plants that do exceptionally well in Marin gardens. One of these perennials and shrubs is sure to appeal to you. We will discuss growth habits, cultural requirements, and drought tolerance for each plant.
Backyard Composting
Time: 1:30 pm
Speaker: UC Marin Master Gardener Joan Irwin
Composting, the mystery of gardening! Join us and learn how to compost using dry and moist plant material, incorporating your kitchen and table scraps, to create nutrient-rich organic matter. Compost will improve your soil and plants, while at the same time reducing the waste in our landfills.
SATURDAY, JULY 6TH
Between the Sheets (sheet mulching)
Time: 11:30 am
Speaker: UC Marin Master Gardener Diane Gasson
You too can easily transform your lawn or patch of weeds into a beautiful garden while potentially saving money and creating a wildlife habitat. Just take some cardboard/newspaper, compost/mulch, a bit of time, and you are on your way!
Irrigation
Time: 1:30 pm
Speaker: UC Marin Master Gardener Ron Filson
Watering your plants doesn't need to be confusing or intimidating. This talk will strive to clear up any misconceptions and misunderstandings around irrigation and provide easy-to-implement strategies for all aspects of home gardens.
SUNDAY, JULY 7TH
Backyard Birds and Bird Habitat
Time: 11:30 am
Speaker: UC Marin Master Gardener Bob Mauceli
Over 500 species of birds have been seen in Marin County and you can see some of them just by looking out the window into your backyard. In this presentation you will learn about some of the most frequently seen of these backyard birds and how to make them easier to see by building a simple, sustainable, bird-friendly habitat.
Edible Flowers
Time: 1:30 pm
Speakers: UC Marin Master Gardeners Jenine Stilson and Keri Pons
Have you ever wondered if you can eat your flowers? In some cases, you can! Many of these edible beauties are easy to grow over the course of a season. Join us as we discuss which flowers or parts of flowers are safe to eat and, also, some that you should avoid. We will cover ornamentals, herbs, flowers of fruits, vegetables, and even weeds, and give you creative ideas on how to use edible flowers.