Pacific Oaks Community Garden in El Cerrito hosts UC Master Gardener water conservation talk June 27

Water conservation in your garden will be the topic of the first talk in a Summer Speaker Series by the UC Master Gardener on Saturday, June 27 at 11 am. The talk will be at Pacific Oaks Community Garden, 7250 Portola Drive, El Cerrito, the property that formerly held Portola Middle School.

Sign ups are not required.

Here are the details:

What if we told you that mulch could cut your water use by at least a third and build soil that resists both drought and deluge?

Join us as we share simple water-conserving actions you can take to ensure thriving and bountiful gardens, no matter how little or how much water shows up.

The talk starts at 11 and goes until about noon. Bring a hat and wear sturdy shoes. If you have a camp chair that is easy to transport, consider bringing it along as there are a limited number of chairs available at the garden.

The rest of the events in the series:

• July 25 — Gardening with CA Natives/Pollinator Gardens Are you inspired to plant California natives but overwhelmed by all the choices? In this talk, we will present practical steps to select native plants for different growing conditions including soil type, the amount of sun exposure, and planting in containers. Whether you're planning a native garden or incorporating natives into an existing landscape, this talk will empower you to choose plants suited to your garden.

• August 22 — Container Gardening: Edible Plants in Small Spaces Join us for an overview of what it takes to create and successfully grow a variety of edible plants in containers. We will cover the basics of how to choose a container, types of soil to use, watering, fertilizing, and sun for veggies, herbs and fruit. This talk will be followed by tours of the Water Conservation Garden.

• September 26 — Seed Saving: This hands-on class focuses on saving seeds from food crops and is designed to build local resilience. By learning to save and share seeds adapted to our region, you're not just gardening—you're building a living legacy and helping grow a community-based seed shed for future generations. Join us and learn the ancient and essential skill of saving seeds.

Fourth Saturday of each month: June, July, August, and September 11 am to noon, 7250 Portola Drive, El Cerrito

Note: the garden is covered in deep mulch, the terrain is uneven. The nearest toilet facility is at the El Cerrito Community Center, about a block away.

Hosted by: Pacific Oaks Community Garden and UC Master Gardener 

Pacific Oaks Community Garden is sponsored by Berkeley Partners for Parks, a 501(c)(3) organization which acts as fiscal sponsor receiving donations for volunteer community groups that are not incorporated.

Image received through Pacific Oaks Community Garden.