By Bob Labozetta, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa
MARIPOSA — Remember the Mariposa Farmers’ Market? Now that the county is opening up, the Farmers’ Market will begin its annual schedule (every Wednesday, May though Oct.) starting — hopefully — May 20, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., at the bottom of 6th St. and Stroming Rd., adjacent to the Mariposa Creek Parkway in beautiful downtown Mariposa.
Locally grown fruits and vegetables — many organic — are offered from various vendors, but that’s not all. Crafts, music, information booths, and more can be found under different booth canopies.
One such recurring information booth is peopled by the UCCE Master Gardeners of Mariposa County. Trained volunteers of the UC Master Gardener Program extend the services of your local Cooperative Extension advisors by providing practical and accurate horticultural information to any home gardener that drops by to get their gardening questions answered. Regardless of whether your inquiries are about growing fruits and veggies, landscaping, wildfire mitigation, ornamental plants, water-saving strategies, soil improvement, etc., the Master Gardeners will be there to advise you.
Our volunteer staff promotes successful and sustainable gardening practices by providing home gardeners with research-based information from the University of California and other academic or government institutions. If the Master Gardeners at the information booth cannot answer your questions on the spot, the staff can later access an extensive library, University of California agricultural advisors, university internet sites, and a microscope for researching home gardening problems. They will research your issues and promise to contact you with answers.
Additionally, the volunteers there will have information about events and community projects that the Master Gardeners participate in. Consider learning about the Mariposa Creek Parkway Demonstration Garden, the Plant & Garden Art Sales, the Spring Garden Tour, the Mariposa County Fair Horticulture Building, and even how to become a UCCE Master Gardener.
So during your shopping spree at the Farmers’ Market, bring your questions or specimens to the Master Gardener booth and see how the Master Gardeners can assist you with valuable gardening information.
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UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County are located at 5009 Fairgrounds Rd., Mariposa. For more gardening and event information, visit our website at http://cemariposa.ucanr.edu/Master_Gardener and Facebook page (UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County).
UC Master Gardeners staff a helpline serving Mariposa County, including Greeley Hill, Coulterville, and Lake Don Pedro. Please contact us at 209-966-7078 or via e-mail at mgmariposa@ucdavis.edu.
Listen to us on the radio at KRYZ 98.5 FM on Wednesdays at 2 p.m and Saturdays at 5 p.m.
