Through their educational workshops, and its newest initiative, the SCCG Annual Membership Program, the San Carlos Community Garden (SCCG) continues to focus their commitment on stewardship, community building and sustainability. The SCCG’s new membership program now makes it easier for everyone to support the Garden’s mission, while also providing great perks.

Offered at just $35 annually for membership, SCCG members will be able to attend the Garden’s monthly education workshops at no cost.

Other benefits include access to the SCCG’s Garden Resource Center which includes gardening books and tools that can be checked out for no-cost, as well as access to SCCG’s Seed Stash, a unique variety of locally grown and harvested seeds for growing vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and flowers.

Led by SCCG volunteers and reputable experts, SCCG’s Garden Education Workshops offer participants low-cost, high-quality opportunities to grow their garden knowledge, understand and combat San Diego climate gardening, meet new or familiar faces and take-home plants and garden goodies.

SCCG Board Member and Education Coordinator, Sherry Ashbaugh (pictured left), helps in creating the garden workshops, which cover a range of subjects such as specifics on tomatoes, orchids, composting, creating up-cycled garden art and much more.

“We’re really excited about our line-up of workshops this year,” Ashbaugh explained. “We’ve partnered with notable experts like local author, Chuck McClung (pictured right), Sarah Boltwala-Mesina from Food2Soil, and Sam Tall from City Farmers Nursery. For anyone who’s new to gardening or wants a refresher, you’ll get excellent technical knowledge from the instructors. You also get gardening tips and ideas from other participants, which can be motivating and inspiring.”

Chuck McClung, a SCCG volunteer, local botanist, gardening instructor and author, is leading a few of this year’s workshops. On Saturday, Feb. 18, McClung will demonstrate how to integrate edible plants into landscape and container gardens while conserving water. For garden members the workshop is free and $10 for non-garden members. McClung will also provide plants for sale that participants can buy during the workshop.

“This class is informational,” McClung said. “It will really teach you how to grow your own nutrients with edible plants in your landscape.”

On Saturday, March 18, Tyler Trimble, of Backyard Fruit, will offer guidance on all things about fruit trees. Participants will have hands-on experience with fruit tree pruning, fertilizing, pest and disease control and much more. The Saturday, April 15, workshop is guided by Paige Kries, founder of Plant It Again — a non-profit organization dedicated to creating careers for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Kries will illustrate how to upcycle everyday objects into unique garden art. Participants are encouraged to bring a teacup or can choose from those provided. Soil and succulents will also be given to participants to add to their repurposed teacups.

McClung returns to the garden on Saturday, May 20, to teach participants how to grow tomatoes all year long. McClung will share his secrets about growing tips, disease controls and tomato varieties for San Diego Gardens.

SCCG’s education workshops are held from 9 -10:30 a.m. at the Garden on the third Saturday of the month. Additional information about the SCCG’s Growing Community Membership Program and 2023 Education Workshop schedule is located at: sancarloscommunitygarden.com.

If you would like to recommend a workshop topic, or have expertise in gardening and would like to be considered to lead a SCCG Garden Education Workshop, send an email with your request or credentials to [email protected].

– Editor’s note: This article was written by Jessica Mills, a volunteer for the SCCG and senior at the University of San Diego. Mills helps with communication and marketing projects for the garden and the Youth Ambassador program.