The Ojai Garden

Saving Seeds With Julian Hoyle

2010-08-15T23:11:23Z

Thirty-four people came to the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden Saturday to attend master gardener Julian Hoyle's workshop on seed collection.Julian, an excellent speaker who has worked in the seed industry all over the world, shared his vast knowledge of all things seed-related with the workshop participants.Julian began by giving the group a crash course in basic botany, that included a lesson in plant genetics. Participants learned how to select a plant to use for seed collection, when to harvest seeds, how to extract seeds, how to prepare seeds for storage, and the best ways to store them. After the talk, Julien wowed everyone when he demonstrated how to pollinate a tomato flower by hand. When the demonstration was finished, Julian led the group into the garden. Participants were able to see a variety of plants that had gone to seed. Julian showed the group which seeds were ready for harvest. He also demonstrated how to remove seeds from different plants.Everyone enjoyed the workshop and left ready to save seeds from their own gardens. Photos by Les Dublin.

Saving Seeds

2010-08-08T00:44:44Z

Learn everything you need to know to start saving seeds from your garden at this free workshop with Master Gardener Julian Hoyle. The workshop will cover the best methods for collecting, drying, and storing seed. You will also learn how to select plants that have good quality seed. Save money, share seeds with friends, and help preserve rare, endangered, and heirloom plants. You may even create your own heirlooms! The workshop will take place on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 10:00 am in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden. The garden is located at 401 South Ventura Street, behind City Hall. Seating on the benches is limited, so feel free to bring a chair for a comfortable seat.

Jojoba

2010-08-05T02:23:28Z

Volunteers planted tiny jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) seedlings in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden last week. The plants were propagated for the garden and donated by Larry and Donna of the La Ronna Jojoba Company. Jojoba is a California native that lives in the desert, so it is drought tolerant. The deep roots of these attractive shrubs will help prevent erosion on the slope, and the leaves and seeds, which are known for the high quality oil that is used in many skin and hair care preparations, will provide food for wildlife. Photos by Les Dublin.

Teamwork

2010-07-29T19:17:54Z

A charming new sign in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden may have a small footprint, but it took the combined effort of 4 people to bring the concept to finished product. The design by the garden's coordinator was turned over to Matilija Junior High shop teacher Lee Burns, who found a talented student volunteer, Max Metlen, to make the wooden sign and carve and paint the letters. Then garden volunteer and skilled woodworker Ted Precht stepped in to put a protective coating over the wood and mount the sign to a post. Thanks everyone! Photo by Les Dublin.

Volunteers Wanted!

2010-07-06T20:16:02Z

Come to a short meeting on Saturday, July 10th at 9:00 A.M to learn what's going on and how you can sign up to volunteer in the beautiful City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden. Stay as long as you like to help out in the garden.
All are welcome to participate. If you would like to be involved in any aspect of the garden, please come by. There’s plenty to do, so come join us. Many hands make light work! The garden is located at 401 South Ventura St, behind City Hall. Photo by Les Dublin.

Loving that Lavender

2010-06-27T05:14:25Z

The City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden once again played a role in the Ojai Lavender Festival. Volunteers were present all day to greet guests, answer questions and show them the beds of lavender in the garden. Many visitors enjoyed strolling through the tranquil garden and discovering it for themselves. The garden coordinator also conducted 2 tours of the garden. Out of town visitors were very impressed with Ojai's "hidden treasure," and plan to return to see the garden at different times of the year. The garden looked beautiful, with most of the lavender in bloom, along with many other plants.Photos by Les Dublin.

Lavender Festival

2010-06-21T23:06:25Z

Come visit the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden during the Ojai Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 26. Volunteers will be in the garden all day, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, to greet guests, show them beds of fragrant lavender, and answer questions about the garden. In addition, there will be free tours of the garden at 11:30 and 3:30. The garden is just a few short blocks from Libby Park, at 401 South Ventura Street, behind City Hall.

Calling All Volunteers!

2010-06-10T23:08:32Z

There will be a volunteer work day in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden on Saturday, June 12th at 9:00 A.M. Come see what's growing on — plus get some exercise, meet people and have fun working to help maintain our beautiful community garden. Stay as long as you like. There is something for everyone, and no experience is necessary. There's plenty to do, so come join us! The garden is located at 401 South Ventura St., behind City Hall. Hope to see you there!

Compost Workshop

2010-06-07T01:14:45Z

28 Ojai Valley residents came to Saturday morning's compost workshop in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden. Master Gardener Jessica Craven engaged the group as she interspersed anecdotes from her own composting adventures with her well-structured composting lesson. Participants learned all the do's and don'ts of composting, as well as the pros and cons of different methods, and styles of bins. Jessica also explained how to make compost tea, grasscycle, make a worm bin, and add red wigglers to a compost pile. Workshop participants had a chance to see, touch, and smell finished compost that was made at last December's compost workshop. Jessica demonstrated building the first two layers of a compost pile in a bin fashioned from old pallets. All who attended received a handy gift from the City of Ojai — a compost wheeler full of useful tips for successful composting. Jessica received a gift, too, a Demo Garden mug featuring our local beauty, the Matilija poppy. With all these Ojaians making their own brown gold, our valley will soon be a little greener! Photos by Les Dublin.

Composting with Jessica Craven

2010-05-27T19:05:19Z

Learn how to make compost like a pro and turn your kitchen and yard waste into a valuable soil amendment that your plants will love, at this free, hands-on workshop with Master Gardener Jessica Craven. You'll save water by adding moisture-retaining compost to your soil, too! If you would like to help us make compost, please bring along a bag of fruit and vegetable peelings. The workshop will take place rain or shine on June 5, from 10:00 to 11:30 am, in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden, 401 South Ventura St.

Now That's Delicious!

2010-05-24T22:10:41Z

Thirty people came to the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden Saturday morning to learn about the healthy benefits of culinary herbs. Local herbalist and nutritional counselor Carol Wade discussed several common herbs that many of us have at home, in our gardens or spice racks. Many of the herbs that Carol spoke about can be used to help ease tummy aches, such as cinnamon, fennel, sage, thyme, peppermint, basil, and catnip. These herbs have many other healthy benefits as well. To illustrate her presentation, Carol brought along examples of several of the plants she discussed. Everyone had a chance to see, touch, and appreciate the fragrance of the fresh herbs, as well as some dried herbs that Carol brought. Carol also made a delicious herbal iced tea from lemon balm, licorice and lavender for the group to enjoy. After the talk, participants had a chance to talk with Carol and leaf through the many excellent books about herbs that she brought to share. Guests had time to enjoy a stroll through the garden before departing. Photos by Les Dublin.

Healthy Benefits of Culinary Herbs

2010-05-11T03:12:06Z

Most of us are familiar with, and may even grow herbs such as parsley, oregano, thyme, sage, or rosemary in our gardens. We know how to use these delicious herbs in the kitchen, but may not realize that these aromatic plants have other uses as well. Their medicinal virtues have been recognized throughout the ages. Learn about the cultivation and medicinal uses of culinary herbs at a free workshop with herbalist and nutritional counselor Carol Wade.
The workshop will take place at 10:00 am on May 22, in the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden. The garden is located at 401 South Ventura Street, right behind City Hall. Seating is limited, so feel free to bring a chair for a comfortable seat.

Garden Tour

2010-05-05T02:45:23Z

The City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden was once again a stop on the Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce Garden Tour. The garden coordinator was on hand to greet guests and provide information about the garden, while volunteers were out and about, working in the garden and chatting with the visitors.The garden rewarded visitors with masses of colorful, fragrant blooms. A highlight of the garden in April and May are the many varieties of drought-tolerant rock roses (cistus) that are in bloom. Rock roses are native to the Mediterranean regions of the world, and are a natural for our Mediterranean climate. A representative from the the Ojai Valley Sanitary District provided information about their free compost made from biosolids, and offered visitors a free plant. Photos by Les Dublin.

Earth Play

2010-04-26T05:58:54Z

Volunteers and the garden coordinator spent Saturday in the peaceful Ojai Meadows Preserve, participating in Ojai's first EarthPlay on the Meadow Earth Day celebration. The City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden display was designed to teach children about composting and vermicomposting, or composting with worms. The worm viewing box was by far the most popular feature of the display.Children who stopped by received a recycling coloring book or a recycling activity book. There was plenty of information available for grown-ups, as well. Volunteers were happy to share their knowledge and answered questions about composting throughout the day. Photos by Les Dublin.

Volunteers Enjoy a Morning in the Garden

2010-04-19T02:26:56Z

Volunteers mulched and weeded in the vegetable area of the City of Ojai Community Demonstration Garden Saturday morning. A path was cleared and mulched, the edible landscaping demonstration got some TLC, and a pizza plot that is in the works was cleared of weeds. Photos by Les Dublin.