07/08/2023 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm - UC Master Food Preservers of Mariposa County and UC Master Gardeners of Merced County Present: Growing & Preserving Herbs Stop buying expensive, tiny packages of fresh or dried herbs at the grocery store. Grow and preserve your own at home! The UC Master Gardeners of Merced County will tell you every- thing you need to [...]

By Helen Willoughby-Peck, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County Walking in your garden every day is good for you and good for your plants. Observing your plants on a regular basis helps control pests that may be enjoying your tomatoes before you can. When caught early they are usually easy to control without insecticides or other drastic action. You can get ...

Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County The Oak Fire (July 2022) devastated large parts of the ponderosa pine forest in the mountains east of Mariposa. Wooded landscapes on private properties and substantial areas of the adjoining Sierra National Forest were affected. This article explains how to plant conifer seedlings for post-fire forest restoration. The conifer plant materials for reforestation ...

By Michele Nowak-Sharkey, Master Gardener of Mariposa County In the winter months, more time is spent inside than outside when it comes to the garden. Although there are still things do such as pruning and mulching, the dreaming part of gardening is reserved for the colder, precipitation-filled days of the year. However, before being swayed to purchase dozens of seed ...

By Tery Susman, UC Master Gardener of Mariposa County. Our human tendency is to fix what we perceive as a potential problem or as something “broken” or “untidy.” Our first thought is to reseed flowering plants and grasses on our fire scorched property to speed up vegetation establishment and soil stability, to fix what is “broken.” However, recent research has ...

By Michele Nowak-Sharkey, UC Master Gardener of Mariposa County. MARIPOSA — The impulse after a fire is to remove all evidence that the event occurred. This is understandable from an emotional perspective, however, if we shift to the nature lens we see a different approach. Although the landscape looks blackened with no visible signs of life, life nonetheless is rearranging, ...

By Tery Susman, UC Master Gardener of Mariposa County. MARIPOSA — Wildfires can create immediate and potentially long-term soil erosion. However, there are a number of ways to mitigate this post-fire concern. The following has been adapted from the California Native Plant Society Fire Recovery Guide.  1. Leave the mess; keep it under cover. Much needed soil protection is provided ...

By Michele Nowak-Sharkey, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County This is the first part of “The Partnership between Humans and Nature during Fire Recovery.” MARIPOSA — Wildfire has entered our common vocabulary over the past 15+ years across California and Mariposa County. From the Telegraph Fire in ’08 to the Washburn, Agua, and Oak Fires, Mariposa County has experienced unpredictable blazes, ...

By Ron Allen, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County Right now we are in the midst of extreme, widespread drought. One telltale indication is that oak trees in Mariposa County are dropping their leaves. What should one do? It’s a good time to review proper oak tree care during dry spells. You don’t need to do much, but you should avoid ...

MARIPOSA — Last spring, the UC Master Gardeners of Mariposa County (MG) took on the Mariposa County Plant-a-Row program. Since then, the program has been successful in partnering with local entities that work toward solving food insecurity struggles in the county. Last year Plant-a-Row members participated in the weekly Mariposa Farmers’ Market and collected produce from several of the vendors ...