Sow and Grow Workshops Connect Smart Farm, Community

On a chilly autumn morning at the UC Merced Experimental Smart Farm, about a dozen people enthusiastically dug/plunged their hands into soil in an exercise on how to propagate plants.

For the less horticulturally inclined, propagating is the process of creating new plants from a single parent plant. Methods include using cuttings, seeds and dividing plants.

"You can do this from a lot of plants," Lynn Breithaupt told the group of students, staff and faculty. Breithaupt is a Ph.D. student who studies California vernal pools and volunteers with native plant restoration projects. "Each plant is specific as to what it wants."

The demonstration in the smart farm's greenhouse included species of California native plants, propagated with seeds and cuttings. It was the first of a series of planned workshops at the farm. California native plants are easy to grow, Breithaupt said.

"They've adapted to their habitat."

It just takes a little care and know-how, she said.

When propagating, that means creating a damp environment. A lot of people will just plop a seed or cutting into some potting soil, but that's not going to get it the nutrients it needs, she said.

Breithaupt showed attendees how to soak potting soil to provide a sufficiently wet environment for the plant to thrive.

"You want your plants to get a good, strong start, so when you put them into the ground, they're happy," she said. "If you choose wisely, you can grow anything."

The next workshop was held this month and focused on the proper placement of plants in the ground.

"Propagating and planting are two very different processes," Breithaupt said.

Attendees learned about the significance of native plants in restoring local ecosystems and explore how native species support biodiversity and climate resilience. Attendees will have the opportunity to place native plants in a garden on campus designed to attract and sustain pollinators. UC Merced recently was certified as an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program, which unites cities and campuses across the country in an effort to improve their landscapes for pollinators.

The November workshop is full, but organizers are planning more opportunities for people to visit the greenhouse and learn how to care for plants.

For more information on upcoming workshops, email Barbara dos Santos at [email protected] .