From the numerous private gardens found throughout Ojai to outdoor Ojai destinations to over a million acres of national forest, The Ojai Garden is the greater Ojai Valley as a giant natural garden to explore, cultivate and learn from.
Compost Workshop
Jessica Craven gave another inspiring and informative compost workshop on December 10th in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden. 
The workshop covered all the basics of composting. Jessica shared many tips to make composting easy, and answered everyone's questions. 
Participants pitched in and built a compost pile out of dry leaves, fresh grass clippings, manure and fruit and vegetable peelings. 
The compost will be all ready to use by the next compost workshop! Photos by Les Dublin.
Arborist and horticulturist Michael Inaba, who spoke for almost three hours, provided an in depth look at oaks, and explained when and where to plant near them. 
Mike explained how fungi in the soil help oak trees, and showed the group beneficial fungi that he found in the soil just a few feet from where we were sitting. 
Mike also demonstrated how to determine what kind of soil texture you have by simply using a jar and water 
and passed around branches so everyone could learn how to observe a tree's rate of growth. He covered pruning requirements as well. Finally, Mike discussed appropriate plants that are suitable for planting at the edge of the oak canopy, such as California native plants that grow in dry shade, irises and succulents. Photos by Les Dublin.
The display was designed to provide information about alternatives to a typical lawn. Lawns require a lot of water and maintenance, and are the reason many homeowners use fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, and nitrate fertilizers that pollute our waterways. 
Landscape designer and garden educator Kate Riley stopped by to sit at our table and answer questions about native grasses and meadows. 
Visitors to the booth went home with a packet of California poppy seeds to plant this winter. 
Photos by Les Dublin.
The children came to see what California native plants look like before they plant their own schoolyard habitat garden to provide some food for the wildlife in their area. Each group learned about the native plants in the garden and, while they were there, they learned a little bit about composting, too. 
Photos by Les Dublin.
Your oak trees are an important part of your landscape, and they are even more important to the environment! Come learn how you can get the most from your trees, and how to avoid extra expenses to maximize your “green investment.” The workshop will take place rain or shine on Saturday, October 22, from 10:00am to 11:30am, in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden. The garden is located at 401 South Ventura St., behind City Hall. Seating on the benches is limited so feel free to bring a chair for a comfortable seat.