Get inspired to grow your own food at the 4th Annual Santa Cruz Edible Gardens Tour on Saturday, August 8 at locations throughout the greater Santa Cruz area.
Organized by Slow Food Santa Cruz, which advocates for healthy food policy in the community and organizes events that celebrate Santa Cruz’s unique, regional food culture, the tour will take in flourishing gardens of many styles and stages of growth, from elaborate showcase gardens to functional do-it-yourself set-ups and an innovative aquaponic greenhouse.
New on the tour this year are a cluster of four gardens in the Santa Cruz Mountains, including the Mountain Feed demonstration garden and the aquaponic greenhouse at San Lorenzo Valley High.
The tour also makes stops at five gardens in the westside neighborhood, including the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz. Attendees will also visit three private gardens in Soquel, and five gardens, including the Riverside Community Orchard and Fairytale Farm around Seabright.
The Riverside Community Orchard, located at Riverside Gardens Park, is the first public fruit orchard in Santa Cruz. Planted this February with pears and apples, the community orchard will expand with citrus trees over the next two years. The trees are maintained and pruned by the Fruit Tree Project and neighbors. The fruit is free to the public.
The tour will also include a wide array of demonstrations and activities.
Attendees will learn about gray water systems, Integrated Pest Management, how to make a garden box from re-purposed bus signs, and more.
The Slow Food Santa Cruz snail gnome mascot will also be ‘sliming’ up in various gardens, so keep a look out.
A post-tour pie party rounds off the activities at 3 p.m.
The goal of this community-wide event is to inspire gardeners and neighbors to share stories and spread the art of growing tasty, nutritious vegetables and fruits at home. So, get out there and start exploring the veritable Edens that are right around every corner.
Info: Santa Cruz Edible Gardens Tour. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday, August 8. Advance tickets at Brown Paper Tickets. Purchase tickets on the day at Riverside Community Orchard in the Riverside Gardens Park, starting at 9 a.m. Photo: Shutterstock.
