The Garden Faire has become an annual tradition in Scotts Valley, and for a sixth consecutive year, it will visit Skypark this month.
“Celebrating Abundance” is the theme of this year’s one-day fair, organized by founder and chairwoman Sheryl McEwan,
“It’s all free,” McEwan said. “Giving back to the community is what it’s all about.”
McEwan is excited about three keynote speakers who will present during the day.
The first pair is Cecilia Garcia and Dr. James Adams, who will discuss “California Medicinal Plants and Practical Uses for Today.” Garcia is a Chumash medicine woman, and Adams is an expert on medicinal plants. The two have collaborated to write a book about healing plant use.
Second will be Penny Livingston-Stark, with the talk “Visionary Solutions for an Abundant Future.” Livingston-Stark is an expert in ecologically sound design and construction and the use of nontoxic building materials.
Finally, Elizabeth Anne Jones, the president of Elizabeth Van Buren Essential Oil Therapy, will present “Health in the Garden: Ways to use the garden setting and specific botanicals for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing.”
There will be other speakers, as well, and about 35 booths with music, art, information about water and nutrition, and fun for kids.
Five educational modules will be a big part of the fair. Those include fruit tree grafting demos, do-it-yourself native plant garden design, rainwater catchment systems, lessons in composting and instruction in how to use gray water in the garden.
Experts such as sustainable gardener Alrie Middlebrook and landscape architect Bobby Markowitz will be on hand to talk with gardeners.
A new event this year will be the Free Gardener’s Exchange.
“Bring in plants you have an abundance of,” McEwan said. “We’ll have a swap of plants.”
Anyone can take live plants (cuttings or full size), garden books, garden and pond supplies, pots and tools, and garden accents to swap.
The plant exchange has been successful at other fairs in the Bay Area, including the Santa Clara Master Gardener’s fair, organizers say.
The key sponsors of this year’s fair include the Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley water districts and many local groups and gardeners.
Booths will include information on bats, 4-H, recycling, animals and various plants organizations.
At a glance
What: The Garden Faire
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 25
Where: Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road, in Scotts Valley
Cost: Free
Info: www.thegardenfaire.org
Another garden event
**The Cabrillo College Horticulture Department will host The Home Gardening Boot Camp from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 25 at Cabrillo College. Cynthia Sandberg of Love Apple Farm will be the keynote speaker, and the day includes four sessions of gardening classes for all levels. Cost is $35.
For information: www.montereybaymastergardeners.org or 427.2255.
