UC Cooperative Extension Central Sierra

10/12/2026

Ready to learn (or re-learn!) some basic gardening skills?

Come to the UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County's Back to Basics free workshop

Saturday, October 17 | 9:00 am to noon
Blackstone Community Clubhouse
1461 Blackstone Parkway, El Dorado Hills, CA

10/09/2026

Fall Into Gardening is tomorrow, Saturday, October 10 from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.
This year's annual free event is smaller, but check out the incredible class offerings!

This year's classes feature
• 9:30 am Composting
• 10:15 am Vermicomposting
• 11:00 am Native Plants
• 12:00 noon Planting Alliums

There will also be activities for children in the Children’s Garden.

All 16 gardens will be staffed for any questions you may have: An amazing opportunity to talk to a UC Master Gardener about exactly what interests you in the garden!

Sherwood Demonstration Garden
6699 Campus Dr. Placerville, CA
Parking at the garden is $2. Please pay at any kiosk in the parking lot.

Fall Into Gardening
Saturday, October 10 | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Come to the Sherwood Demonstration Garden for our annual free event.

This year's classes feature
• 9:30 am Composting
• 10:15 am Vermicomposting
• 11:00 am Native Plants
• 12:00 noon Planting Alliums

We will have activities for children in the Children’s Garden.
All 16 gardens will be staffed for any questions you may have.
6699 Campus Dr. Placerville, CA

Parking at the garden is $2. Please pay at any kiosk in the parking lot.

Hope to see you there!

Photo credit: Debi Valerga
Photo description: Multiple pumpkins of different shapes and colors including white, green, yellow, and orange.

10/09/2026

Kitty wants to hear from you! Her work as a Community Nutrition and Health Advisor is only successful if it meets the actual needs of the communities we serve. When it comes to nutrition and health...

🤝 How can UCCE deliver for you and your family?
🚴‍♀️ What health or nutrition issues are most pressing in your community?
⛔ Are there any challenges you and your neighbors face in living healthy and full lives?
🤔 What health-related resources or information would help you and your family thrive?

10/08/2026

DYK? UCCE Central Sierra 4-H serves over 2,200 youth across Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, and Tuolumne counties! 🙌 We are so thankful for our nearly 600 volunteers who share their time and talents preparing these young people to be for life.

Contact your local 4-H office to learn how you can be a 4-H Volunteer in your community! https://ucanr.edu/node/139717

10/07/2026

Can low-sugar recipes be safely made at home?

Quick facts:
🍓 Sugar is a preservative that binds water and minimizes spoilage.
🍓 Sugar provides flavor and preserves color.
🍓 Safe, tested low-sugar canning recipes are available from reliable sources.
🍓 It is not recommended to simply reduce the amount of sugar in a regular canning recipe.

Questions about low-sugar recipes come up often in Master Food Preserving public classes. First, a little information on low-sugar recipes, especially low-sugar jams and jellies. You should understand there is

10/07/2026

🥗 Does the thought of eating salad still make you leery? Read "Growing Year-Round Salad" by UC Master Gardeners of Tuolumne County volunteer, Jim Bliss. He offers tips for growing your own salad greens, which will save you money and make a delicious salad that won't make the headlines. 🌱

Growing Year-Round SaladLettuce has been making headlines lately. People have been getting sick physically from eating it, and I get a sick feeling every time I price it in the grocery stores.

10/06/2026

🍋 CYVCV...a VIRAL acronym you should know about!

Citrus yellow vein clearing virus (CYVCV) is an emerging disease of citrus that can lead to significant economic losses in California.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has placed new quarantine boundaries in San Joaquin County (Lodi) after the virus was detected in residential areas. This is an evolving situation and California residents play an important role in preventing spread and containment.

As its name suggests, CYVCV often causes foliar symptoms that appear as pale-yellow veins. The virus is transmitted by several species of aphids which are present and widespread in California.

Moving citrus plants and fruit across counties lines is discouraged, and it is strictly prohibited if you live within a quarantine zone, however anyone outside of these zones who plans to move backyard citrus fruit should de-stem, de-leaf, and thoroughly rinse fruit prior to transport.

For more information on CYVCV visit the CDFA pest profile:

Pest Profile: Citrus canker is a disease caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri, a rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium with a single flagellum. Using films of water, the bacteria ‘swims’ through openings on leaves, stems and fruit of citrus hosts, multiplying, and causing necrotic l...

10/05/2026

This week, we join 4-H clubs across the US in celebrating National 4-H Week (Oct. 4-10)! 🍀💚

Recently, the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors adopted a proclamation to acknowledge the week, with this year’s theme of “Beyond Ready.” That theme acknowledges the ways in which 4-H prepares youth for the future, providing them with skills to serve as confident and independent members of their communities. In this county alone, over 10% of the 4-H aged youth regularly participate in 4-H programming in health, science, agriculture and civic engagement, and several of the Supervisors even shared stories of how they themselves benefitted from the program in years past.

We would not be able to provide this program without the support of the County Board of Supervisors, and we thank them for their dedication to providing these educational opportunities for our 4-H members!

10/02/2026

October marks National 4-H Week, a time to celebrate the incredible impact of 4-H on youth development. Join us in supporting current 4-H members as they become the leaders of tomorrow.

Email from UC Cooperative Extension Central Sierra 🍂Fall gardening tips, sourdough class, 🍀National 4-H Week, become a UC Master Food Preserver or Master Gardener UCCE Central Sierra | October News