American River Ranch hosts Saturday walks, workshop, produce stand and gift shop
Produce grown on site at the American River Ranch is available at Soil Born Farms' stand on Saturday. Soil Born also presents morning nature walks and a workshop this Saturday. Courtesy Soil Born Farms
Take a nature break this holiday weekend – and get some stress-free shopping done, too.
Soil Born Farms’ American River Ranch hosts several nature walks and talks on Saturday, Dec. 9. That same morning, the ranch’s produce stand will be open, as will its gift shop and nursery.
At 8:30 a.m., join naturalist Cliff Hawley during a 90-minute guided “Bird Walk.”
“Start your morning off with a pleasant walk around American River Ranch,” say the organizers. “We will experience a variety of resident and migratory birds. Cliff will point out other critters and plant life along the way. This walk is ideal for beginner to intermediate birdwatchers.”
Fee is $15 with advance registration required online.
At 10 a.m., herbs take the spotlight during a 90-minute walk with Kellan MacKay, owner of Khela Herbs. Not only will he discuss herbs growing at the ranch, but will demonstrate how to use some of his favorites in herbal tea during “Herb Walk, Talk and Tea.”
“Join Kellan for an easy walk around the American River Ranch and Cordova Creek to identify and talk about the medicinal uses of over 20 plants,” say the hosts. “We will discuss the growth habitat, harvest requirements, and how to use each plant. Some may be familiar friends, but the information about them may be new, and others you may have never encountered before.
“This plant-centered walk is sure to be light-hearted and enjoyable as well as educational! Bring your close-toed shoes and hats for protection. A cup of herbal tea and a short discussion about it is included in this walk.”
Fee is $20 with advance registration required online.
Also at 10 a.m., find out how to convert boring lawn to a pollinator-friendly paradise that can feed your family, too, during the workshop “Lawn to Garden.”
“Learn how to turn your lawn into a thriving food forest!” say the organizers. “We will cover how to get rid of the grass, what to plant when, amending soil, ongoing care, irrigation, and more!”
Jenn MacLeod, owner of Sunflower and Sage Gardens, will lead the 2-1/2-hour class. Fee is $30; advance registration is required.
Proceeds from each of these walks and workshops support the American River Ranch Restoration and Development Fund.
In addition, the ranch’s popular produce stand is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The real treats and potential gifts can be found at Milly’s Mercantile, open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We’ve curated a delicious collection of local farm goods, pantry staples and handcrafted products, Camina bread, Real Pie Company frozen pot pies, homemade soup by the quart from our Farmstand Kitchen and beautiful floral wreaths,” say the hosts. “We are proud to feature the creations of local artisans. Start your holiday shopping early and check out the local, unique and practical gifts we offer in Milly’s Mercantile.”
Looking for a new fruit tree? Soil Born’s Garden Greenhouse and Fruit Tree Nursery also will be open Saturday morning. “Fruit trees are a thoughtful, practical gift that keeps on giving,” Soil Born says.
Among the trees in stock now are: Mission Black and Brown Turkey figs; Comice and Warren pears; Coffeecake persimmons and Dapple Supreme pluots.
Soil Born’s American River Ranch is located at 2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova.
Details, directions and registration: https://soilborn.org/.
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Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
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