County and Harvest Fairs

Come see the UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County Demonstration Garden at the Sonoma County Fair, Pandemic Permitting.

UC Master Gardener Sonoma County 2018 County Fair

Each year, the UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County have an opportunity to share with Sonoma County gardeners sustainable gardening practices integrated into practical demonstration at the County Fair. At the 2018 County Fair, we demonstrated firewise landscaping ideas that suit our Sonoma climate and seasons.

The demonstration garden is installed in one week, but the design and planning involves a team that must integrate good practices, cope with the space limitations, bring all the plants and hardscape, and make sure that it stays looking fresh for the two weeks of the fair—which tend to be some of the hottest weeks in Sonoma County.

In 2019, we brought the edible garden and the ornamental garden out of their traditional boundaries. Pumpkins in the front yard? You would be amazed how a pumpkin patch can intrigue your neighbors and the children of the neighborhood. Let the children pick a pumpkin and watch it grow all the way into Halloween. We also broke the rules and added layers of sustainable gardening.

From the old English tradition of the kitchen garden or the French potager, people have mingled edible plants, herbs, flowers and ornamentals. What better way to invite the butterflies, bees and hummingbirds than a splendid tableau of colors and vegetation?

You don’t need a chateau, estate or acres of land; you can apply these practices in containers. Plant your herbs or chard in pots or a container on your deck or balcony and enjoy year-round herbs. Imagine year-round access to thyme, parsley and chives.

Also in 2019, we broke the rules on what is ornamental and what is edible and we brought them together into a demonstration on how to comingle plants in your garden.

Fairgoers saw our sustainable gardening practices applied to an existing landscape, or how to start from scratch. Using food-producing plants as part of an organic landscape is a perfect way to make your landscape more sustainable. And it is a fun way to teach children to joys of sustainable organic gardening.

When operational, come join us daily at our new location on the east side of the Courtyard to answer your gardening questions. We will have information tables on topics ranging from succulents, food gardening, firewise landscaping, worms, bug hotels and more. Stop by our demo garden or information tables and say hi! Take the ideas and apply them to your garden, no matter the size.