gardening - Blog - SCOCO Network2024-03-28T19:14:12Zhttps://sustainablecoco.ning.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/gardeningNew Executive Director at The Gardens at Heather Farmhttps://sustainablecoco.ning.com/profiles/blogs/new-executive-director-at-the-gardens-at-heather-farm2015-01-27T18:53:19.000Z2015-01-27T18:53:19.000ZJanet Faziohttps://sustainablecoco.ning.com/members/JanetFazio<div><p class="Pa1"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}8095733281,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}8095733281,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="352" class="align-right" style="padding:10px;" alt="8095733281?profile=original" /></a>The Gardens at Heather Farm has hired Karen Young as their Executive Director effective January 2015. Ms. Young served for over five years as Executive Director of Leach Botanical Garden in Portland, Oregon. During her tenure, she initiated and completed master and strategic plans, managed a major property acquisition, terrace hardscape renovations, and rain garden and herb garden projects.</p><p class="Pa1"> </p><p class="Pa1"> “I am thrilled to become a part of the Walnut Creek gardening community,” Ms. Young said. “The Gardens at Heather Farm does a wonderful job combining traditions of elegance and beauty in The Gardens with new and innovative ideas, like the natural science in-school education programs and Discovering a Sense of Place lecture series. I am excited to join The Gardens and look forward to supporting the organization’s vision to inspire environmental stewardship.”</p><p class="Pa1"> </p><p class="Pa1">Prior to her work at Leach, Ms. Young has held senior management roles with many national nonprofit organizations, including the National Psoriasis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the American Heart Association. She has worked extensively with Boards of Directors, senior staff and with volunteers.</p><p class="Pa1"> </p><p class="Pa1">“Karen is enthusiastic and passionate about public gardens and environmental education,” said Joan Lucchese, incoming Board President of The Gardens at Heather Farm. “She will provide strong executive leadership and assist the Board in building a solid foundation to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty of The Gardens. We look forward to welcoming her to the community.” </p><p> </p><p><b>About The Gardens at Heather Farm</b></p><p>A Certified Wildlife Habitat and Certified Green Business, The Gardens at Heather Farm (GHF) provides six acres of educational gardens and programs for youth, adults and persons with disabilities. A qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, GHF is self supporting through memberships, fundraisers, grants, private donations, facility rentals and program fees. The mission is to inspire and educate our community about sustainable gardening and stewardship practices that preserve and protect our environment.</p><p> </p><p> </p></div>Learn Proper Pruning Techniqueshttps://sustainablecoco.ning.com/profiles/blogs/learn-proper-pruning-techniques2014-11-11T17:53:07.000Z2014-11-11T17:53:07.000ZJanet Faziohttps://sustainablecoco.ning.com/members/JanetFazio<div><p>There are several consequences of not conducting a regular pruning program. These include increased risk of failure, development of low limbs, formation of co-dominant stems, defects such as included bark and dead branches, and obstructed views.</p><p>When pruning is properly executed, a variety of benefits can occur, such as reducing risk of branch and whole-tree failure. Join The Gardens at Heather Farm’s Garden Manager Brian Larsen for an informative evening.</p><p>When: Thursday, November 13 <br />Time: 6 - 8 p.m. <br />Cost: $20 for GHF Members; $25 for non members </p><p>For more information, and to register visit gardenshf.org</p></div>The East Bay Avocado: Invisible No Longerhttps://sustainablecoco.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-east-bay-avocado-invisible-no-longer-edible-east-bay-magazine2013-02-27T15:30:00.000Z2013-02-27T15:30:00.000ZJillian Steinbergerhttps://sustainablecoco.ning.com/members/JillianSteinberger<div><p><span style="font-family:georgia, palatino;font-size:18pt;color:#808000;">T</span>he East Bay produces a cornucopia of tree fruits that we love to eat, such as apples, figs, and plums. But what about our beloved avocado <i>(Persea americana)</i>?</p><p></p><p>Hearing reports of avocado trees growing quietly among us, I followed clues in search of these elusive trees and found them living almost unnoticed all over the East Bay, from Fremont to Antioch. Some are majestic, towering gorgeously above Victorian mansions and dropping their fat fruit from great heights. Many were planted in the 1960s and ‘70s, but there are rumors of trees over 90 years old.</p><p></p><p>Why have more trees not been planted? It could be that many homeowners are concerned that an avocado tree would overwhelm a small urban or suburban lot, since left to their own devices most avocado cultivars grow well over 30 feet in height. Add to that the common caveats: you need two trees for pollination, taking up even more space, and they create deep shade, so you can’t garden under them. Plus, they make a mess if you don’t harvest the fruit.</p><p></p><p>When an avocado craze swept Southern California back in the 1920s, many trees were planted on small lots. But the mania never made it to Northern California, perhaps because there’s a perception that we have too much frost for this subtropical tree, native to Mesoamerica and the Caribbean. In truth, many avocado cultivars are hardy and can take cold down to 25 degrees (once they make it past their juvenile state). The trees can be topped and kept to six feet without harm, says Katherine Pyle, founder of the California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) Golden Gate Chapter. Some varieties self-pollinate, making two trees unnecessary. And you can garden <i>around</i> them.</p><p></p><p>Source: <a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/eastbay/" target="_blank">Edible East Bay</a> magazine. For more, visit:</p><p><a href="http://www.ediblecommunities.com/eastbay/spring-2013/the-east-bay-avocado.htm">http://www.ediblecommunities.com/eastbay/spring-2013/the-east-bay-avocado.htm</a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:18pt;color:#000000;" class="font-size-2"> </span></p></div>