Continuing Education
Table of Contents (links are live)
Turfgrass Alternatives for Contra Costa County
Understanding systemic insecticides and their potential impacts in urban ecosystems
Aphids, the Cheetos of the Insect World
Lunchbox Series: Turfgrass Alternatives for Contra Costa County – Presented by Henry Shaw – February 4, 2025
Description: Are you thinking about replacing your lawn, but still want a “green flat place” in your landscape? Although turfgrasses have a unique set of attributes that are difficult to replicate with other plants, there are many reasonable alternatives if one is willing to make some compromises. Henry Shaw will provide well-researched information that we can offer to clients interested in turfgrass alternatives
Presenter: Henry Shaw has been a Contra Costa Master Gardener volunteer since 2022. With his background in geology and chemistry, and his extensive gardening experience, he is a valuable contributor to various projects within the organization.
Understanding systemic insecticides and their potential impacts in urban ecosystems – Presented by Dr. Andrew Sutherland – May 17, 2024
Description: Systemic insecticides, such as neonicotinoids, are often applied in urban and agricultural landscapes, targeting many different insect pests and providing long term control. These insecticides may be taken up by roots, shoots, or cambium layers and then translocated to all tissues in the plant, potentially contaminating pollen, nectar, and guttation fluids. This may pose risks to beneficial non-target organisms, such as pollinators and natural enemies of pests. Learn more about systemic insecticides, potential hazards associated with their use, mitigation measures, and alternative approaches to pest management.
Presenter: Dr. Andrew Sutherland, Bay Area Urban IPM Advisor, UCCE and UC IPM
Thank you to the UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County for inviting us to this presentation.
Lunchbox Webinar: The 11 Worst Invertebrate Pests of 2023 – Presented by the Continuing Education Team – March 28, 2024
Handout: The 11 Top Invertebrate Pests of 2023 Resource Handout March 2024
Description: As UC Master Gardener volunteers, you will likely encounter client questions about the most common invertebrate pests in Contra Costa County. Join our review of the 11 worst invertebrate pests that clients discussed with us in 2023. You will learn about pest identification, damage, control options, plus additional resources for more details.
Presenters: The Continuing Education team: Mike Corby, John Fike, Stephanie Hargrave, Joie Spinelli, and Terri Takusagawa.
Lunchbox Series: Aphids, the Cheetos of the Insect World - Presented by John Fike, November 30, 2022
Description: As UC Master Gardener volunteers, we often hear from clients with questions about the aphids infesting their plants – vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals, etc. “Where do they come from?” “Why are there so many?” “How can I get rid of them?” John Fike has done the research, and he will provide details – amazing facts, beautiful pictures, and engaging anecdotes - that will help us respond to our clients.
Presenter: Presenter: John Fike, volunteer for the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa, is a skilled and engaging presenter who brings his passion for biology and his interest in education to many projects within the organization.
Fertilizers and Amendments - Presented by Mike Corby, August 23, 2021
Handout: Soil Amendments-Fertilizers Handout
Description:What are the differences between fertilizers and soil amendments? What are the components of fertilizers? Is fertilization necessary in the garden? Are organic fertilizers better than synthetic fertilizers? Join Mike Corby for his well-researched and thought-provoking perspectives on these and other questions. The information will help you address client questions and might also be applied to your own garden!
Presenter: Presenter: Mike Corby, Contra Costa Master Gardener, is an excellent researcher and engaging presenter who contributes his considerable skills to many projects within the organization. A former member of the Executive Leadership Team, Mike is also actively involved in “Our Garden” demonstration garden activities and Plant Sales.
Soils of Contra Costa County - Presented by Anne Sutherland, July 12, 2021
Handout: Location of 51 CCC Soil Series
Handout: References and Labs
Handout: Results Tables for 17 Samples
Description: “Soils of Contra Costa County” is a journey around Contra Costa County to investigate its soils, review hands-on soil testing (with some unexpected results), and summarize the county's soil issues that Contra Costa Master Gardeners need to understand to better help their clients. The presentation will feature Anne Sutherland, who collaborated with two of her 2020 classmates, Titania Buchholdt and Ann Ramirez, to research Contra Costa soils.
Presenter: Anne Sutherland is a retired physician and Master Gardener from the Class of 2020. She loves science-based plant care and solving gardening problems.
Soils II (Biological) - Presented by John R. Fike, June 21, 2021
Description: Soil is fundamental to gardening but how much do we really know about soil? Join the ever-popular Contra Costa Master Gardeners, John Fike and Mike Corby, as they walk us through the fascinating world beneath our feet. Learn where soil comes from, the ways it functions and methods for improving you own soil over time. This is the second of a two-part series.
Presenter: John Fike is a Contra Costa Master Gardener, Executive Leadership Team member, Co-Coordinator of the Ask a Master Gardener project, a significant contributor to many projects, and an expert, highly engaging presenter
Soils I (Physical / Chemical) - Presented bu Mike Corby, June 14, 2021
Handout: Mulder's Chart
Description: Soil is fundamental to gardening but how much do we really know about soil? Join the ever-popular Contra Costa Master Gardeners, John Fike and Mike Corby, as they walk us through the fascinating world beneath our feet. Learn where soil comes from, the ways it functions and methods for improving you own soil over time. This is the first of a two-part series.
Presenter: Mike Corby, Contra Costa Master Gardener, is an excellent researcher and presenter who contributes his skills to many projects within the organization. He is also actively involved in Our Garden activities and Plant Sales.
Friend or Foe? Presented by John R. Fike, May 17, 2021
Description: This workshop will challenge pre-conceived notions about garden friends and foes. John Fike’s presentation will consider different perspectives when thinking about garden life.
Presenter: John Fike is a Contra Costa Master Gardener, Executive Leadership Team member, Co-Coordinator of the Ask a Master Gardener project, a significant contributor to many projects, and an expert, highly engaging presenter.
Gardening with Native Bees - Presented by Sarah Caso, April 28, 2021
Description: Sarah Caso, a second-year student at UC Berkeley and research assistant at the UC Berkeley Urban Bee lab, will present a talk on the importance of bees, why their population is declining, and what we as gardeners can do to protect the bees.
Engaging Online Presentations - Presented by Lori Palmquist, April 26, 2021
Handout: Boost Engagement for Online Presentations
Description: The public is clamoring for the information we Master Gardeners can share. And they're showing up in droves to our online presentations. Good public speaking is a journey. Whether you're an experienced presenter, or looking to hone your skills, or just thinking about trying it out, this talk will help you get further down that road. We'll cover the software, equipment, and techniques available to us. The time has never been better to hone your presentation skills to reveal that special gift that only you can bestow on your listeners.
Presenter: Lori Palmquist is a Contra Costa Master Gardener and a professional speaker who intently studies public speaking and public speakers. Since 2008 she has been a popular professional speaker, as she is a subject matter expert in irrigation.
Vertebrate Pests - Presented by Devra Laner, March 30, 2021
Handout: PowerPoint slides
Description: This training will focus on solving vertebrate pest problems in the vegetable garden. Using IPM principals, you will learn how to identify vertebrate pests, and the resources available for management solutions. The information is based on the 2019 Advanced IPM Training, a joint project of UCANR IPM and the Master Gardener Statewide Program to train Master Gardeners from all over the state to take the latest IPM information back to their home counties.
Presenter: Devra Laner, MGAC 2016, is a garden educator at Bishop O'Dowd High School and oversees the stewardship of the edible garden and domestic animals as part of the school's 4 acre Living Laboratory. Devra is the lead of the Alameda County School Garden team, which mentors garden teachers at 40 Oakland public schools. Devra has been gardening in Oakland for more than 25 years.
Diagnostic Process - Presented by Dr. Andrew Sutherland, February 24, 2021
Handout #1: PowerPoint slides
Handout #2: Case Studies
Description:Diagnosing plant problems: an interactive refresher course for Master Gardeners. This course will help Master Gardener volunteers review the steps in the diagnostic process, empowering and preparing them to serve residents through the Help Desk, Farmers Markets, and other public outreach programs.
Presenter: Dr. Andrew Sutherland is the Urban IPM Advisor for UC ANR in the SF Bay Area. His goals include education about IPM principles, development of IPM programs for clientele, reduction in unnecessary pesticide applications, and mitigation of surface water contamination due to urban pesticide applications.
Cover Crops - Presented by Mike Corby, November 18, 2020
Handout: Zip file with four handouts
Description: After a season of hard labor growing tomatoes and other vegetables, you might imagine your soil is tired and spent. Should you remove all the plant material to let it “rest” for the winter? Mike Corby will share science-based knowledge and practical information on the use of cover crops to restore, improve and maintain healthy, living soil. This information will be useful to you as a Master Gardener, and it might also help you in your own garden!
Presenter: Mike Corby, Contra Costa Master Gardener, is an excellent researcher and presenter who contributes his skills to many projects within the organization. He is also actively involved in Our Garden activities and Plant Sales.
Mulches - Presented by Dr. A. James Downer, October 26, 2020
Description: Western soils that are not forested are generally low in organic matter (OM) and plants often benefit from adding it if OM is one percent or less. Application can be either as an amendment or as a mulch and this will depend on what is being grown. The presentation will cover mulches and mulching, composting and their uses in landscapes.
Presenter: Dr. A. James Downer has 35 years of experience as a horticulture and plant pathology advisor with the University of California Cooperative Extension in Ventura County. Dr. Downer’s research focuses on mulch, soil microbiology and disease suppression in mulched soils, diseases of shade trees and other landscape plants and cultural practices to maintain landscape plants, especially trees.
Compost! Compost! Compost! - Presented by Joie Spinelli and Team, September 23, 2020
Description: Join us for a fascinating look at composting, presented by Contra Costa Master Gardener and Master Composter, Joie Spinelli. Joie and his team of passionate composters will share successful composting practices used at “Our Garden”, the demonstration garden in Walnut Creek, where garden materials were transformed into beautiful (hot) compost in just a few weeks. Backyard composters on the team will describe experiences with different composting methods, including hot, passive/cold, and natural composting. Composting in place, cover crops, and microbes in compost will also be discussed.
Presenters: Joie Spinelli, Contra Costa Master Gardener and Master Composter will be joined by fellow Master Gardeners – Bob Archer, Margo Peckham, Steve Danziger and Leesa Evans.