Tucson Organic Gardeners

Tucson Organic Gardeners Fall Garden Fair
2023-10-21 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix)
Saturday, October 21, 2023
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 3809 East 2nd Street (1 block west of Alvernon, 2 blocks south of Speedway). Event will be held in the north parking lot. Free admission.

Locally grown plants & seeds -vegetables/herbs/flowers/native plants
Organic compost, fertilizers & garden supplies
Gardening & composting advice
Gift raffle every hour

Proceeds benefit Tucson Organic Gardeners, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

October 2023 - Drought Tolerant Fruit Trees and Plants
2023-10-17 18:30 - 20:00
Drought Tolerant Fruit Trees and Plants
Speaker: Emily Rockey
Tuesday, October 17th at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Presbyterian AND via Zoom
Emily studied Plant Sciences at the University of Arizona, focusing on Controlled Environment Agriculture to optimize food production in indoor greenhouse systems. Then the incredible power of rich, “real” soil drew her back outdoors again and she served as an intern on organic farms in Italy and the US. During the 17 years Emily has lived in Tucson, she has worked for a variety of non-profits and businesses focused on sustainability, gardening, and promotion of compost and soil health. Prior to her role at Mission Garden, she worked at Tucson Botanical Gardens and also represented Tank’s Green Stuff (’13-’20), a local organic compost manufacturer and recycling company. At home, she enjoys wild harvesting, trail running, and exploring all kinds of food preservation techniques including fermentation.
Drought Tolerant Fruit Trees from Yesterday for Today and Tomorrow
Drought tolerance is a highly desirable characteristic of desert dwelling fruit trees, especially in current climate conditions. Tucson’s agricultural heritage museum called ‘Mission Garden’ grows desert adapted and native crops, and water requirements/drought tolerance are certainly qualities that are evaluated and considered. This ten year old public ethnobotanical garden project has been experimenting with heritage fruit tree cultivation including introduced plants such as pomegranate, fig and quince, as well as selected natives like prickly pear and mesquite. The presentation will offer details and observations about these specific varieties’ drought tolerance and general hardiness, as well as insight about their roles in the cultural traditions of the region. Finally, key cultivation and maintenance techniques will be discussed with regards to increasing water efficiency and mitigating the impact of extreme environmental conditions.

Visit us at the Farmer's Market!
2023-10-08 08:30 - 12:30
Representatives of Tucson Organic Gardeners will have a table at the Heirloom Farmer’s Market at Rillito Park (https://www.heirloomfm.org/markets/rillito-park/) on Sunday, October 8 from 8:30-12:30. Visit us there to get your gardening questions answered and learn more about our upcoming events!

September 2023 - Soil Health and Composting
2023-09-19 18:30 - 20:00
Soil Health and Composting
Speaker: Shota Austin, Director of Tank’s Green Stuff

Tuesday, September 19th at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Presbyterian AND via Zoom

Shota has been active in the agricultural industry since 2005 working with livestock (goats, sheep, cattle, chickens), cotton, alfalfa, nursery crops, orchards, and vegetable production. As a former UA Compost Cat, Shota has been working with compost since 2013, and now works for Tank’s Green Stuff. Tank’s Green Stuff produces organic compost and landscape materials in Tucson, AZ; specializing in organic practices and soil health. As the Director of Tank’s Green Stuff, Shota is responsible for all aspects of the business including production, quality control, product development, sales, marketing, social media, and customer service.
Description: “Soil, that’s where it starts.”
In this presentation, we will discuss the foundation for healthy soil and how to foster healthy soil in the garden. Topics include but aren’t limited to: soil microbiology, soil health, mulch, pests, agroecology, and composting. We will explore how quality organic materials can be applied to encourage healthy soil and, in turn, healthy and happy gardens. The benefits of using organic products, rather than conventional, will also be examined.

Visit us at the Farmer's Market for Earth Day!
2023-04-23 08:00 - 12:00 | Rillito Park, 4502 North 1st Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85719, United States
Representatives of Tucson Organic Gardeners will have a table at the Earth Day Event at the Heirloom Farmer’s Market at Rillito Park (https://www.heirloomfm.org/markets/rillito-park/) on Sunday, April 23rd from 8:00- noon. Visit us there to get your gardening questions answered and learn more about our upcoming events!

Spring Garden Fair
2023-03-11 09:00 - 13:00 | St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church 2nd St. Parking Lot, 3809 E 3rd St, Tucson, Arizona, 85716, United States
We will be holding our Spring Garden Fair a little bit earlier this year to provide more planting time! Come join us! We will have many vendors once again offering vegetable starts, seeds, succulents, trees, planting amendments, garden tools, crafts and more. Music will once again be provided by Dust Devils 2! We will also have sheep to play with! Come early to get the best selection! See you there.

Michael Morse - owner of Inch by Inch Worm Castings
2022-04-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Learn everything you need to know about Vermiculture on a large and small scale. Find out about growing and supporting your own worms, and how to use them in your garden!

TOG Spring Plant Fair at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church
2022-03-19 09:00 - 13:00
Saturday, March 19, 2022
9am – 1pm
St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 3809 East 2nd Street (1 block west of Alvernon, 2 blocks south of Speedway). Event will be held in the north parking lot. Free admission. Masks & social distancing are required for all in attendance.

Locally grown plants & seeds -vegetables/herbs/flowers/native plants
Organic compost, fertilizers & garden supplies
Gardening & composting advice
Gift raffle every hour

Proceeds benefit Tucson Organic Gardeners, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

March TOG Member Meeting - Heat Loving Edibles with Jacqueline Soule
2022-03-15 18:30 | Zoom
Speakers:
Jacqueline Soule
Tuesday, March 15, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Jacqueline is a popular Arizona-based garden writer who has written several books and numerous columns. She will be discussing heat loving edibles for your summer yard and garden.

February TOG Member Meeting - Seed Preservation, Value of Local Seeds
2022-02-15 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Speakers:
Native Seed Search
Tuesday, February15, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Our free programs are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, August thru April. We are currently holding Zoom meetings. If you are not on our mailing list, please email tucsonorganicgardeners@gmail.com to request a link to the meeting at least 24 hours before the meeting.

January TOG Member Meeting - Superfoods and Perennial Vegetables
2022-01-18 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Speakers:
Melody Peters and Maribeth Slebodnik
Tuesday, January 18, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Our free programs are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, August thru April. We are currently holding Zoom meetings. If you are not on our mailing list, please email tucsonorganicgardeners@gmail.com to request a link to the meeting at least 24 hours before the meeting.

Saturday, January 15 - Community Food Bank Plant Sale
2022-01-15 08:14 - 11:45 | Community Food Bank, 3003 S. Country Club Rd, Tucson, AZ, 85713, United States
It’s not too late to plant a winter garden full of greens!

Come by and purchase plants on Wednesday and Saturday mornings 8:15 am -11:45 am. Please note that the garden will open on Saturday, January 15th.

The following is available:

Arugula, Celery, Beets, Broccoli, Calendula,
Cabbage, Coriander, Collards, Chamomile, I’itoi Onions, Spinach, Rainbow Chard, Kale, Lettuce, Safflower.

For more information email your name and telephone number to garden@communityfoodbank.org

We accept cash or checks only.

Please bring a container or box for your plants.

Worm castings are also available:
Worm Castings – 1 Gallon/$5
Worm Bins $15, $25 or 35 (sliding scale)

November 2021 - TOG 50th Anniversary Celebration
2021-11-16 18:30 - 20:00
Our speaker, Rich Johnson and other special guests will be sharing Tucson Organic Gardeners’ history and memories! What is your favorite TOG memory? There will be opportunities to share!

TOG Fall Plant Fair 2021
2021-10-09 09:00 - 13:00 | St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church 2nd St. Parking Lot, 3809 E 3rd St, Tucson, Arizona, 85716, United States

September 2021 - Winter Gardening with Scott Calhoun
2021-09-21 18:30 - 20:00
Fall to Winter Gardening
Speaker: Scott Calhoun, Local Southwest gardening expert
Tuesday, September 21, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Our free programs are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, August thru April. We are currently holding monthly meetings over Zoom. If you are not on our mailing list, please email tucsonorganicgardeners@gmail.com to request a link to the meeting at least 24 hours before the meeting. We hope you can join us!

August 2021 TOG monthly meeting
2021-08-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Organic Gardening in the Tucson Climate for the Absolute Beginner!
Speaker: Melody Peters, TOG Board Member and longtime organic gardener
Tuesday, August 17, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Our free programs are held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, August thru April. We are currently holding Zoom meetings through October. If you are not on our mailing list, please email tucsonorganicgardeners@gmail.com to request a link to the meeting at least 24 hours before the meeting.

May 2021 TOG monthly meeting
2021-05-18 18:30 - 20:00
Join us on Tuesday, May 18th at 6:30 p.m. for a Zoom presentation about Soil Science by Toni Moore, Pima County Master Gardener (https://extension.arizona.edu/pima-master-gardeners)!

Dirt is what you vacuum off your floors… soil is something entirely different. Soil is at the heart of gardening. Learn how soil works and how it interacts in a living system with your plants. Our soil here in the desert is not “bad,” but does have its special properties and challenges. Why is it different, how does that affect your gardening success, and what are the best practices for Pima County gardeners?

TOG monthly meetings will be held on Zoom through at least June, 2021. TOG members and friends of TOG will be emailed a Zoom link the day before the meeting. New to TOG? Request a link to the meeting by emailing tucsonorganicgardeners@gmail.com at least 24 hours before the meeting. We hope you will join us!
