Before you grab insecticide to rid your vegetable garden from all those creeping, crawling, flying bugs, learn to separate the “good bugs” from the “bad bugs.” This class will focus on encouraging the good bugs to work for you, saving money and time wasted on treating your garden with unnecessary insecticides and on keeping your home and garden healthy!
You will learn:
- to identify the most common and destructive pests on edible plants
- to identify beneficial insects that will help your edible garden thrive
- to invite the good bugs into your garden and safely send the bad ones on their way
- the basics of Integrated Pest Management (“IPM”)
- where to find science based and healthy solutions for your garden pest problems
Presenters:
Master Gardener Eliana Bushwalter: Eliana loves working in the garden and volunteering with UC Master Gardeners when she is not traveling and hiking in our national parks. She grew up with a love for the outdoors and, as the daughter of an entomologist whose life work focused on integrated pest management (IPM) and biological control, Eliana developed a love of insects and the role they play in our natural world. She has been a Master Gardener since 2018.
Master Gardener Sharon Winnike: UC Master Gardener Sharon Winnike has been a volunteer UC Master Gardener since 2010 and has been active in the establishment of the UC Master Gardener Gardening Education Center speaker series. Interested in Integrated Pest Management, Sharon attended the UC Statewide IPM Program’s Advanced IPM Workshop for Master Gardeners in 2016. Her personal garden features oak trees and shade plants, edibles, container gardens and succulents.
