As the months turn from summer to fall in San Diego, the San Carlos Community Garden has begun to prepare for the leaves to change. From engaging workshops, fruitful produce and various community events, there’s boundless opportunities to harvest community and crops.
Tiffanie Glaze, husband Robert Bunch, and daughters Everest and Aurora Bunch, have had a plot at the SCCG for the past two months. The endeavor has become a beloved and engaging family event.
“It’s been a dream of mine to have a vegetable garden and it wasn’t going to be possible in my home,” Glaze explained. “Over the last couple years, I researched different community gardens and ended up falling in love with the San Carlos Community Garden. My daughters and husband, we’re all involved in it.”
Most plants require specific environments and care and while San Diego may not reach particularly cold temperatures during the winter months, some plants can’t withstand the climate change. Glaze and her family currently have a variety of produce thriving in their plot as they prepare for winter.
“Right now, we have three different varieties of tomato planted. We have lettuce that’s doing well and a couple different peppers and jalapeño that Aurora calls ‘hello peño.’ I just planted another chili pepper and we have a couple different basil and our cucumber is doing really well, along with our strawberry plants.”
Tony Minutelli and Eric Worthington have been a part of the garden since February 2023 after moving to San Diego two years ago. Since joining, the couple have enjoyed both the bountiful connections and produce.
“It’s such a great community,” Minutelli said. “We’ve gotten to know so many different people that are so knowledgeable. The garden has a lot of fun, interesting people. It’s nice when I go over in the mornings and the kids will be there and they just appreciate seeing everything in the garden.”
The SCCG will celebrate the change of seasons during its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 1 – 3 p.m. This free event will feature arts and crafts for children, garden education demonstrations and resources, and live music provided by Patrick Henry’s QuadraBass Band.
On Saturday Oct. 21, from 9 – 10:30 a.m., SCCG volunteer, local botanist, gardening instructor and author Chuck McClung will lead SCCG’s monthly educational workshop: Planning a Winter Vegetable Garden.
According to McClung, his workshop can provide participants with ample information specific to the winter season.
“Growing your own food is an excellent source of nutrition and water, good exercise and a great way to save money and gas,” McClung said. “Attendees can expect to learn about what we plant during our cool-season winter vegetable gardens, as well as what not to plant,” McClung said. “I’ll talk about great organic soil amendments, watering wisely and how to grow tomatoes all year long. I will also provide handouts for the class and bring veggie starts and seeds to show and sell.”
Open to all, the event is free for garden members and $10 for non-members. Advanced registration is required and can be done so at: sancarloscommunitygarden.com/garden-workshops.
Further information on the garden, volunteer opportunities, events and more is located at: sancarloscommunitygarden.com/.
