March Green Tips
GO GREEN FOR GOOD LUCK!
St Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and this year, ACI’s Green Team encourages you to celebrate by going green, as in sustainability, of course! Please see our Green Tips, which will help ensure a healthy and happy spring season!
Start bringing your own reusable water bottle and cutlery kit
One easy way to go green is to start bringing your reusable items into the office as part of your everyday life! Bring a reusable water bottle instead of purchasing plastic single-use bottles to reduce the amount of waste you produce. You can also bring your own cutlery to restaurants and for takeout to reduce your footprint with less waste. Finding ways to reduce your waste and introduce reusables into your life will ultimately make a huge impact on the planet and can make your life greener!
Consider starting a garden
March is a good time to plant cool seasonal crops like peas, lettuce, spinach, and broccoli. These crops love the cooler weather and will thrive in your garden this time of year. Make sure to plant them in a spot with plenty of sun and well-draining soil.
If you plan on growing warm-season vegetables like tomatoes (see tomato economics below), peppers, or eggplants, now is the time to start your seeds indoors. Learn more about seed-starting from the UC Master Gardener’s blog: Get a Head Start on Your Garden by Starting Your Vegetable Seeds Indoors.
Tomato Economics
Growing tomatoes at home can significantly reduce your environmental impact and make your next salad more affordable. Commercially produced tomatoes have a carbon footprint of approximately 0.82 kg (1.8 lbs.) of CO₂ equivalent per pound, with about 94.53% of these emissions stemming from agricultural practices, including land use and pesticide application. Home gardening allows you to get a healthier tomato at substantial savings. Starting a tomato plant from seed or purchasing a seedling typically costs between $2 and $5. A healthy tomato plant can produce 10 to 30 pounds of tomatoes in a growing season. (Purchasing 15 pounds of organic tomatoes at $3.29 per pound would total approximately $49.35.) SOURCE: https://earth911.com/inspire/we-earthlings-tomato-economics/
Questions? Ask your Local UC Master Gardener Program!
Have a gardening question? UC Master Gardener volunteers are available to help for FREE. Click here to Find a Program and connect with your local UC Master Gardener Program. You will be redirected to your local county website and contact information. Happy gardening!
Upcoming Master Gardener Plant Sales
-The Incredible Edible Plant Sale
Where you can get vegetable starts for your spring planting, from vibrant tomatoes to piquant peppers—we’ll have over 100 varieties of veggies! April 13-14 9 am-4 pm Pleasanton Senior Center—Centennial Park, 5353 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94566. Bring cash and check for a smooth transaction at checkout. Master Gardeners will offer free workshops on beginning plant care, container gardening, and more. More info at: https://acmg.ucanr.edu/plant-sale/
-Spring Garden Market and Educational Fair
By the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties Saturday, April 19, 2025 9 am – 1 pm Sequoia Hall at the San Mateo County Event Center Come buy plants for your summer garden: tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, herbs, succulents, pollinators, and more. Varieties have been selected just for the San Francisco and Peninsula climate zones and grown by local UC Master Gardeners. More info: https://smsf-mastergardeners.ucanr.edu/Special_events/spring-garden-market-and-educational-fair/
-The 2025 Great Tomato Plant Sale
In 3 Contra Costa County Areas – 75+ varieties of tomatoes plus peppers, eggplants, squash, and more. All plants are $4.00. Visa, Mastercard, cash, or check accepted. Remember to bring boxes or containers to carry your new plants home! For safety reasons, pets are not allowed inside the sales area.
Our Garden, Walnut Creek
Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, 10 am to 3 pm Wednesdays, April 9 and 16, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. located at the corner of N. Wiget and Shadelands
Rivertown Demonstration Garden, Antioch
Saturday, April 12 10 am to 3 pm located in the Contra Costa Event Park, 1201 W. 10th St.
Richmond Civic Center Library
Saturday, April 19 10 am to 3 pm 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond More info at: https://ccmg.ucanr.edu/EdibleGardening/GreatTomatoPlantSale/
Find Other Plant Sale Events Near You! Visit the Master Gardeners Website at https://mg.ucanr.edu/volunteer/FindUs/ to view events in your neighborhood.
Get out there and be active!
The sun is shining, and temperatures are rising! It’s a great time to get outdoors and explore nature! Being outside is good for you. Here’s why it’s helpful to spend time outdoors every day:
- Walks in nature help your memory
- Help you feel happier
- Helps with concentration
- Prompts weight loss
- Supplies you with vitamin D
- It can help you sleep better
- Nature limits your stress
- It strengthens your immune system
- It lightens feelings of depression