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A Gardening Blog for the East Side

The climate of the Eastern Sierra is very different from most of California and so gardening here is different, too! 

Preparing the contents of the pile.

In this blog we examine some of the quirks of gardening on the East Side, and cover horticultural issues that are important locally. Note that if you're visiting our site from the outside our little corner of California, you may find this information may not apply to your area.

Articles are written by local UC Master Gardener volunteers or the local Farm Advisor. 

 
And a website...

The Inyo-Mono Master Gardeners also have a website with local gardening and soil information. Visit it to learn more about our program and gardening. 

We are part of UC Cooperative Extension in Inyo and Mono counties.

 

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Article

Gardening Improves Well-Being

June 27, 2025
by Trina Tobey, Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer If someone asked you, “Why do you garden?” what would you say? Maybe you would respond that gardening makes you happy and keeps you healthy. If you did, you would be correct. There is a plethora of research showing that gardening is great for your…
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A Tale of Two Capitols

June 24, 2025
By Dustin W Blakey
I recently attended a conference in Charleston, West Virginia. In case your 5th Grade History Neurons have deteriorated from lack of use, that’s their state capital. While there, I took a long walk from my hotel through historic neighborhoods to check out the grounds while I was waiting for my flight out of…
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Squash bug eggs on the underside of a leaf
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Squash Bug Season Approaches

May 6, 2025
By Dustin W Blakey
 It’s May, and that means gardeners in our area are planting melons, squashes, and cucumbers. These warm-season vegetables grow great in our climate. I’m convinced a single zucchini plant could feed a whole family, that is if it doesn’t get obliterated by squash bugs first. (Anasa tristis) …
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Person working soil with rake in foreground
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Difference Between Soil and Dirt

April 17, 2025
By Carmen Kappos Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer While the words soil and dirt are often used interchangeably there are differences between them. Recently, Dustin Blakey, our local UCCE Farm Advisor, gave a talk called “Preparing Garden Soil on the East Side.” During this discussion Dustin…
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A hand holding a couple dozen pelleted seeds
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Sowing Pelleted Seeds

April 8, 2025
by Alison Collin Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer One of the most tedious gardening jobs at this time of year must surely be thinning seedling crops such as carrots and beetroot. If you have ever done this you must have experienced the dilemma of having a cluster of beautiful young plants that…
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