Ventura Produce Exchange Meets this Sunday 6/27 at 12 noon

Another Sunday is quickly approaching and the Ventura Produce Exchange will be meeting to share the fruits, veggies, flowers and extras from your gardens.

Come join the fun and meet some great gardeners and lovers of fresh local produce.

Another new location: ( Near the YMCA )

This Sunday - June 27th - at 79 Palomares
at  12 noon !

Thanks Kate for hosting !

Important info on this tiny insect... Asian citrus psyllid

Residents of Ventura County are asked to be on the lookout for a tiny insect that could wipe out California ’s citrus industry — and with it, every lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit and mandarin tree in every urban and suburban yard.

This tiny insect, known as the Asian citrus psyllid, carries a deadly bacterial disease that is harmless to humans but inevitably fatal to all varieties of citrus. There is no treatment or cure. The disease has already destroyed millions of trees in citrus-producing regions around the world, including Florida .

The pest has been found in San Diego , Imperial, Orange and Los Angeles counties, and is expected to reach Ventura County this year. The disease is not far behind — infected trees have been found in western Mexico , and the disease is moving steadily closer to California .

The only way to stop this plague is to quickly find and kill the insect pest whenever it reaches a new area. If you have citrus trees in your yard, inspect them often. The insect feeds on the new leaves and stems of all citrus varieties. Twisted, stunted new growth is a sign your tree may be infested by the psyllid (SIL-lid), which looks like a small, brown grain of rice. You may also notice the tiny nymphs feeding on tender young growth. Look for sticky white secretions, like honeydew, or sooty mold clinging to the leaves.

If you think you have spotted this invasive pest in your trees, report the sighting immediately by calling 1-800-491-1899.

For more information about the pest and the disease it carries, call the Ventura County ACP-HLB Task Force at 805-535-8641, or visit www.farmbureauvc.com/pest.html.  

Ventura County Master Gardener Program

University of California Cooperative Extension

669 County Square Drive, Suite 100

Ventura, CA 93003

Master Gardener Contact Information:

       Email mgventura@ucdavis.edu  

       Phone: (805) 645-1455

       Fax: (805) 645-1474

       Website: http://groups.ucanr.org/VCMG 

Master Gardener Helpline Hours: 

       Tuesday and Thursday - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m

Abundant Exchange

Thanks to Lucinda and Dave for hosting the exchange !

Just awesome the abundance that was presented at last Sunday's exchange. So many varieties of so many wonderful fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts and plant starts.

Thank you one and all for growing, collecting, harvesting and sharing LOCAL. It does me proud to see our community come together like this.

We had lemons, avocados, rosemary, oregano, thyme, rue, meyer lemons, oranges, artichokes - big and small, chayote plant, garlic, chervil and basil seedlings, cilantro seeds, sweet peas, heirloom tomato plants, beets, onions, rhubarb, ginger flowers, dog treats, cilantro, chard, kale, celery, loquats, lavender, roses, macadamia nuts, lettuce, mint, grapefruit, parsley, sage.

Next exchange - the week after Father's Day - June 27th - at 79 Palomares  at noon- another new venue !

( Near the YMCA ) Thanks Kate for hosting !

Come Exchange Produce Sunday, May 16th

It's been a month already. How does your garden grow ?

Come and bring any extras for exchange 

Sunday May 16 at a new venue

572 S. Evergreen Drive

12 noon

Any fruit, veggies, herbs, plantings, flowers are welcome!

Or just bring yourself and meet some like-minded people.

 

 

Our 12th Exchange - New Venue - Bigger than Ever

A perfect day in Ventura for exchanging local produce. 

A new venue and many new faces. That was last Sunday and it marked our 12th exchange and the biggest turnout ever.

Wow what an exchange ! Many thanks to Laurel for volunteering her front yard for the exchange and introducing the neighborhood to the Ventura Produce Cooperative. Any one else interested in hosting an exchange, just let me know.

Here’s the variety of what was harvested : Artichokes, sweet peas, roses, red and white chard, bay leaves (from the Bay Laurel tree), plant starts, seed packets, oranges, rosemary, lemons, succulents, lettuce, spinach, radishes, Meyer lemons, cucumber, trumpet seeds, thyme, rhubarb, rosemary plant, comfrey, lavender, oregano, bell peppers, Haas avocados, passion fruit, macadamia nuts, catnip, bacon avocados, and Bearss limes.

May's exchange will be at 572 S. Evergreen Drive - May 16th !

The Beet that Ate Ventura .... At Another Great Exchange on Sunday

Thank you all for another great Produce Exchange, our 11th so far, but who's counting?

The harvest this week included various plant starts and succulents, ginger roots, artichokes, avocados, arugula, lemons, oranges, rosemary, lavender, sage, lemon thyme, sweet peas, calla lillies, green onions, swiss chard, limes, meyer lemons and Three-Citrus Marmalade. The marmalade was made from last month's extra fruit and the recipe follows.

Then there was the ginormous beet...... a picture is worth a thousand words. It was divided up and shared.

Next Month's Exchange - April 18th- A Change of Venue - More info to follow

An omission from last month...Oops

A big shout out and Thank You to Betsy & Gunter of Betsy's Tempeh. They explained the process of making tempeh and provided grilled samples of their delicious Tempeh marinated with tamari and brushed with Hot Pepper Sesame Oil . If you're interested in making it yourself  or for a group, please refer to   www.maketempeh.org

TomatoMania is coming to Filmore (April 9-10) and Ojai (April 23-25) ! It's just the place to get your favorite heirloom variety of tomato for your summer garden.  www.Tomatomania.com

More classes - The Mastering Your Home Garden Seasonal Workshop Series event (Summer in the Garden) is scheduled for Saturday, May 22, 2010
   Leah Haynes, Master Gardener Program Coodinator mgventura@ucdavis.edu
   805 645-1455 http://groups.ucanr.org/VCMG

 
Want to try Composting? There are still some 50% off coupons for Composting Bins at Green Thumb, both the Garden Gourmet and Wriggly Wranch stackable worm bin.

When life gives you lemons and oranges.... make Marmalade

Three-Citrus Marmalade

4 navel oranges

1 lemon

½ pink grapefruit

2 ½ C water

1/8 t baking soda

5 ½ C sugar

1 box (1.75 oz) Sure-Jell fruit pectin

·        Using a vegetable peeler, remove the colored zest from the fruit and discard the white pith. Chop the zest coarsely.

·        Chop the fruit, discarding any seeds and reserving the juice.

·        Place the zests, water, and baking soda into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat;  cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

·        Add fruit and juice; simmer another 10 minutes.

·        Measure the sugar and set aside. Do not reduce the sugar, or marmalade may not set properly.

·        Sir the box of fruit pectin into the fruit mixture. Bring to a full, rolling boil.

·        Stir in the sugar quickly, return to full rolling boil, and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and skim off any foam.

·        Pour the hot marmalade into clean canning jars. Process according to the canning instructions, 10 minutes or refrigerate and use within 2 month. The marmalade also can be frozen, without canning, for up to 1 year.

 

Exchange Sunday March 21st at 12 noon

 

Many thanks to all that participated in our last exchange. The cache of citrus
was exciting.... lemons, oranges, meyer lemons, tangerines and limes along with fresh rosemary, dried thai basil, eggs, chard, avocados, geraniums, green onions, rosemary bread and black jade plants.

For some heirloom tomatoes, visit Tomato Mania April 9-10 in Filmore at Otto & sons Nursery

www.tomatomania.com 

Thanks to one and all for a great first exchange of 2010

What fun to have a sun-filled day and share the fruits of the garden. Sunday was indeed sunny, a nice change from the much needed rain earlier in the week. The group gathered to exchange lemons, pumpkins from Dave McGrath's patch, lots of herbs - Rosemary, thyme, lemon thyme, sage, columnar oregano, parsley, dill, tangerines, oranges, succulants, new starts of tomatoes and broccoli, spicy radish sprouts, arugula, collard greens, avocados, Doggie treats, and meyer lemons. Welcome to our new participants - both young and older ! 

Next Exchange on the THIRD Sunday of the Month - February 21st !