Note: This list is for informational purposes only. Check the websites for up-to-date schedules and directions.
The UC Irvine Garden Project
From the website:
The UC Irvine Garden Project is creating a vibrant, coordinated garden community at UC Irvine. The project is harnessing the six UC Irvine-based community gardens as a laboratory for hands-on sustainability education, student professional development, community engagement, and research on creating sustainable communities.
The Global Sustainability Resource Center
The Global Sustainability Resource Center (GSRC) is a student-led campus organization dedicated to cultivating a culture of sustainability. The GSRC is involved in a lot of community events, not all of which get posted to our local events board, so be sure to check their website out for upcoming events. A sampling of recent events posted to their website include a UCI Permaculture arboretum meet-up, a panel on the future of water in Southern California, and an early screening for a climate change documentary.
The Ecology Center
The Ecology Center is a regional hub of sustainability with a mission to engage the entire community in fun, hands-on solutions to improve the health of our shared ecosystems. The Center’s goal is to inspire positive change and cultivate a healthy, abundant future — together. They have events for the whole family, like learning how to implement a grey-water system in your home, how to plant drought-tolerant fruit trees, and how to keep a beehive. To see their calendar, check it out here.
UCCE Master Gardeners of Orange County
The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, Master Composters, and Master Food Preservers invite you, your family and friends to visit South Coast REC (seldom open to the public!) on an adventure of discovery. We hope you will discover gardening solutions, learn how to make a delicious jam or pickle, join in on a tour of the demonstration gardens, learn how to sharpen shears, get acquainted with the worms in the compost bin, and introduce your children to the wonders of nature.
American Community Gardening Association
“The Mission of the American Community Gardening Association is to build community by increasing and enhancing community gardening and greening across the United States and Canada….The Association recognizes that community gardening improves people’s quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education. ACGA and its member organizations work to promote and support all aspects of community food and ornamental gardening, urban forestry, preservation and management of open space, and integrated planning and management of developing urban and rural lands.” (mission)
The Fullerton Arboretum
The Veggiepalooza! plant sale held at Fullerton Arboretum one weekend in March is a good place to learn about and purchase the best flavorful, disease-resistant, new and unusual varieties of summer vegetables.
The Fullerton Arboretum also hosts the Green Scene Plant and Garden Show one weekend in April. The show features specialty garden vendors, plant sales, speakers, and exhibits.
www.occhorticulture.com
Spring Plant Sale sponsored by the Horticulture Department at Orange Coast College, held on Fridays in April/May, sells vegetables, herbs, and perennials.
www.ocpg.org/events
Orange County Great Park offers free workshops on garden topics on a seasonal basis. Check out the raised beds at the Great Park Farm + Food Lab, open daily, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for tips on year-round vegetable gardening.
www.uccemg.com
Master Gardeners of Orange County maintains an easy-to-use website with a wealth of information about garden plants, environmentally responsible pest control, sponsored programs, hotline, and problem-solving tools for the community gardener.
rogersgardens.com
Free seminars hosted by Roger’s Garden staff and visiting experts cover special topics and a monthly discussion of everything edible.
www.springgardenshow.com
An annual event held at South Coast Plaza in April features display gardens, vendors, and scheduled speakers.
westphoria.sunset.com
This Sunset magazine blog covers tips on food and garden topics, including DYI projects like “How to Build a Raised Bed.”