Events on our event calendar fall into one of four general categories: gardening/farming, food preservation, sustainable living, or seed saving, and consist of things like classes, talks, plant sales, seed exchanges, fairs and festivals, movies, and special events.
Calendar
Apr
27
Mon
Apr 27 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Container gardening for all seasons, part 2. A Master Gardener class given in Cupertino.
Do you live in an apartment, condo or townhouse? Would you love to grow your own vegetables or flowers but think you just don’t have space? Learn to make use of your limited space by using container gardening for all seasons (part 2)!
In this two-night course, Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County will show how you can grow a wide variety of plants on a patio or balcony. Soil, water, pest control, fertilizers, and various containers will be discussed and demonstrated. Learn how to have a year-round garden that provides food and beauty in your small space.
Unlike many Master Gardener presentations, this two day (four hour) class is not free, and class space is limited. Visit the event registration page to reserve a spot in this in this class. If you don’t have a lot of space or think you can’t grow fresh veggies using the space that you do have, attend this class to be proven wrong. You can grow food in your limited space!
This is part two of a two part class; part one took place on April 20th, at the same time.
Presenter: UC Master Gardeners
May
2
Sat
May 2 – May 3 all-day
The Going Native Garden Tour offers a free tour of native gardens here in the Santa Clara Valley and Peninsula, the San Francisco south bay. The event has been organized by the California Native Plant Society (Santa Clara Valley Chapter), in association with UCCE Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County.
The event takes place all day Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday features a showing of those gardens in the northern cities:
- Los Altos
- Mountain View
- Palo Alto
- Redwood City
- San Mateo
- Sunnyvale
Sunday features a showing of those gardens in the southern cities:
- Campbell
- Cupertino
- Gilroy
- Los Gatos
- Morgan Hill
- San Jose
- Santa Clara
The array of gardens on the Going Native Garden Tour ranges from established collector’s gardens to those that are newly installed, and from acre lots to townhome gardens. A few gardens will contain mostly local native plants, others the horticulturally available suite of natives from throughout California, and the rest a mixture of natives and Mediterranean plants. Some gardens have been designed and installed by owners, the others by professionals.
What’s special about California native plants? They are adapted to our soil and climate, and are easy to care for. A large number of native plants are naturally drought tolerant. They are unmatched in habitat value, attracting native birds, butterflies, and other forms of wildlife. And, as the gardens on the tour show, California native plants are beautiful; the gardens on the tour display a sense of place that is uniquely Californian.
Gardens on this tour were selected because they:
- Feature native plants
- Are pesticide-free
- Reduce waste by composting, mulching, and selecting appropriate plants
- Conserve water
- Provide habitat for wildlife
On tour day, sponsoring nurseries will conduct native plant sales at select gardens. Part of the proceeds benefit Going Native Garden Tour.
Looking for answers to specific questions? Refer to the GNGT FAQ…
May
20
Wed
May 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
A tour of our local wastewater treatment plant – Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) – located at 1400 Radio Road in Redwood Shores. Take the opportunity to visit the plant that is in the midst of a an over $700 million Capital Improvement Program to update aging infrastructure originally built back in 1982. The plant is a regional facility that serves Belmont, Redwood City, San Carlos and West Bay Sanitary District.
Tour features:
- Secondary treatment and advanced filtration
- Recycled water facility
- Cogeneration of energy from methane gas
- Biosolids production used for composting and farming
- On-site use of recycled water
Please note that no children under the age of 11 are permitted on this tour.
May
23
Sat
May 23 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Garden work day!
You are invited to join us every month for a morning spent working outside in the Silicon Valley Seeds Demonstration Garden, located at the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Clara. All ages and gardening abilities welcome. Tools and instruction provided.
Activities may include planting, weeding, building raised beds, composting, and other special projects.
Please wear garden-appropriate attire, such as close-toed shoes, and bring sun protection (hats, long sleeves, etc), snacks for yourself or to share, and work gloves if you have a pair you like.
The Silicon Valley Seeds Demonstration Garden is designed to provide a contextual demonstration of organic gardening being done within an urban setting. In addition to raising vegetable produce, the garden also acts as a provider of seed for our south bay seed libraries, serves as a means of increasing a sense of local community ownership and stewardship, fosters appreciation for the beauty that a garden space brings to a well traveled corridor within the city of Santa Clara, and brings people together from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests who wish to learn more about organic gardening. Demonstration gardens like ours showcase plants that grow well in our area and sustainable gardening techniques appropriate to Santa Clara County. The garden acts as a resource for learning opportunities offered to home gardeners on a wide range of subjects, including design, planting, garden maintenance, and seasonal growing cycles.
Hope to see you in the garden…
May
28
Thu
May 28 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
A monthly Silicon Valley Seeds information/help table presence at the West Valley Branch Library. Stop on over to chat a bit, learn what’s happening at the seed library, or get help with whatever challenges you’re running into at your garden sight.
May 28 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
A monthly Silicon Valley Seeds information/help table presence at the Central Park Branch Library. Stop on over to chat a bit, learn what’s happening at the seed library, or get help with whatever challenges you’re running into at your garden sight.
Jun
13
Sat
The San Mateo County Fair has been bringing families and a vibrant community together for almost 100 years.
In its early years (1926 thru 1934), the fair went by the name ‘The Little Flower Show’. The name was apropos: the event was run by the Burlingame Garden and Flower Club and took place at various school facilities throughout San Mateo County. Over the years, the focus of the fair has shifted, as evidenced by the change in name — first to ‘San Mateo County Products & Floral Fiesta’ and later to its current ‘San Mateo County Fair’. Even so, the fair has always valued education and community, two key components that continue on into the 21st century as fair organizers strive to make learning fun and enjoyable for the entire family.
Take some time to consider our region’s rich agricultural heritage while visiting the San Mateo County Fair. County agricultural fairs have always had a strong educational component; in years past, they were strongly tied to agricultural programs being run within the university system, and provided a showcase for the many new farming discoveries that were rapidly coming online. While today’s agricultural fair retains a bit of the educational element, it is now more about exhibition, competition, and entertainment. Ribbons, plaques, and trophies are awarded in a wide range of categories, from livestock and poultry to jams and jellies, with handicrafts and baked goods thrown in for good measure. Attendees will find a strong showing made by such farming organizations as the Grange, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America.
Come on by to learn, remember, grow, and enjoy. Have fun at the county fair…
Hours:
Saturday 6/10: 10am-10pm
Sunday 6/11: 11am-10pm
Monday 6/12: 12pm-10pm
Tuesday 6/13: 11am-10pm
Wednesday 6/14: 12pm-10pm
Thursday 6/15: 12pm-10pm
Friday 6/16: 12pm-10pm
Saturday 6/17: 11am-10pm
Sunday 6/18: 11am-10pm
Cost:
Adults: $10
Children 6 to 12 years: $8
Children under 6: free.
Jun
17
Wed
Jun 17 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
A tour of our local wastewater treatment plant – Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) – located at 1400 Radio Road in Redwood Shores. Take the opportunity to visit the plant that is in the midst of a an over $700 million Capital Improvement Program to update aging infrastructure originally built back in 1982. The plant is a regional facility that serves Belmont, Redwood City, San Carlos and West Bay Sanitary District.
Tour features:
- Secondary treatment and advanced filtration
- Recycled water facility
- Cogeneration of energy from methane gas
- Biosolids production used for composting and farming
- On-site use of recycled water
Please note that no children under the age of 11 are permitted on this tour.
Jun
19
Fri
In terms of offering the greatest flexibility for popping in for a visit, the Alameda County Fair reigns king. It runs for a full three weeks during the summer, along side father’s day and the graduations.
The fair features a host of carnival rides, daily concerts, and a variety of magicians and entertainers of the roving variety (including the ever popular Tadpole the Clown). And to help find tummy yummies, the fair’s website offers an interactive “food finder” which allows folks to use their smartphone to zero in on their favorite edibles.
Take some time to consider our region’s rich agricultural heritage while visiting the Alameda County Fair. County agricultural fairs have always had a strong educational component; in years past, they were strongly tied to agricultural programs being run within the university system, and provided a showcase for the many new farming discoveries that were rapidly coming online. While today’s agricultural fair retains a bit of the educational element, it is now more about exhibition, competition, and entertainment. Ribbons, plaques, and trophies are awarded in a wide range of categories, from livestock and poultry to jams and jellies, with handicrafts and baked goods thrown in for good measure. Attendees will find a strong showing made by such farming organizations as the Grange, 4-H, and Future Farmers of America.
Come on by to learn, remember, grow, and enjoy. Have fun at the county fair…
Cost:
Adult $12
Children 6-12 $8
Children under 6 free
In advance ride tickets are $25 for unlimited single-day use (via wristband)
Jun
22
Mon
Jun 22 @ 9:00 am – Jun 27 @ 3:00 pm
Little Sprouts summer garden camp is a program designed for younger seed stewards 8 to 12 years of age. The week long program is designed to teach elementary school students about organic gardening, seed stewardship, plant science, and food preparation. On the final day (a Saturday), parents are invited to come earlier in the afternoon in order to enjoy a lunch prepared by the students, a meal that will feature a good deal of garden fresh produce.
We have a fun, exciting week planned, one in which student exploration will take place in the classroom, in the garden, and in the kitchen. Each day will be filled with a combination of science, culinary artistry, and plain old fun. Snacks and lunch will be provided each day.
Parents looking for a fun learning experience for their kids would be hard pressed to find a better option. The Little Sprouts summer garden camp is the work of Silicon Valley Seeds. To learn more, parents are invited to email events@siliconvalleyseeds.org. Space is limited, so please make plans early to join in the fun.
One final note: please respect the age requirements when registering. We sincerely appreciate your interest in having your children attend our garden camp, and we would love to have them when the time is right, but we do insist that our students be at least eight years of age by the first day of camp in order to participate. We adhere to this age restriction in order to ensure that the activities planned are developmentally appropriate for all attendees. Thank you for understanding, and for helping to keep our program at the highest possible level of quality.