…season, so long as they’re in the soil 8 weeks before the first frost. Roses like to dry out in between watering. Water deeply and in the morning. Do not…
How to Tell if Your Compost is Ready
…Your Compost is Ready Composting is one way many gardeners recycle garden waste. Shrub and plant trimmings, grass clippings, kitchen waste, etc., can all be returned to the soil in…
New ‘Roadmap to an Organic California’ Report Released
…the health of California communities. The Roadmap report lays out policy recommendations that encourage an increased focus on soil health as well as further investment in water efficiency programs and…
Why You Need Green Sand in Your Garden
…Why You Need Green Sand in Your Garden Green sand is an organic soil amendment that’s fabulous for loosening up heavy soils and improving drainage. Green sand is the bottom…
USDA Unveils Agriculture Innovation Agenda
…through soil health and forestry and reduce nutrient loss by 30 percent by 2050 without any regulatory overreach. The program also calls for enhancements to the biofuel industry and increases…
Taking A Cooperative Approach to Issues Such as Water
…of the value of taking a cooperative approach to multifaceted issues. Many concerns about water and soil are too big and complex for governmental intervention to address. “There’s not enough…
Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup is Feb. 28
…resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees (known as “covers”), which can control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on marginally productive agricultural lands. CRP…
Cover Cropping in Almond Orchards Shows Promise
…the research, a 12th leaf orchard with extremely compacted soil experienced a 200 pound per acre yield increase in year two of the trial. Gaudin noted that it was more…
Using Lagoon Water in SDI Systems for Forage Crops
…some of the various methods for helping to offset the cost for establishing these types of systems. “One would be using SWEEP. We also got approved by NRCS; it’s its…
Emma Chow Recognized for Conservation Excellence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVVv55iI89c# DAVIS, Calif, Feb. 12, 2020 – Emma Chow, District Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Santa Maria, California, has been named the winner of the 2020…
Relationships and Service Bring NRCS Conservationist State, National Honors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVVv55iI89c Emma Chow is the Santa Barbara County district conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This is Chow’s second go-around at the Santa Maria office, coming back to…
Saving Things Now for Your Spring Garden
…recycling bin. For example, used coffee grounds. Save them in a separate bucket to add texture and fertility (nitrogen) to the garden soil. Sprinkled around the base of plants, coffee…
Preventing Ice Damage to Your Plants
…remember to remove it as soon as you can. Give your plants a blanket of protection with mulch, which keeps the soil a little bit warmer, protecting the roots of…
Growing Cress, a Nutrient Powerhouse
…green, and it’s also a perennial variety. It prefers damp soil. Cress grows well in zones 6-9, prefers full sun unless if you live in a hot climate, in which…