The Latest Dirt - March 2024

2024 Great Tomato Plant Sale Needs You

By Robin Moore

If you haven’t heard, the Great Tomato Plant Sale will have sales in all three county areas for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown! East County is ready to rock and roll in 2024 after a total garden redo!

What does this mean to you? It means ALL-HANDS–ON-DECK, please! There are tons of volunteer opportunities, with tasks in Central, East and West Counties. We need volunteers before, during, and after the sale dates. Watering is one of the most critical volunteer opportunities for the GTPS, and we hope you’ll consider joining the team!

Everyone knows we can only have a successful sale if we have beautiful, thriving plants. Seeding and potting-up are both very popular activities, but more volunteers are needed to water and care for them until the sale days. Waterers perform a vital role in the sale, as we have daily eyes on the plants - keeping them moist (but not too wet) and looking for munching critters or other signs of trouble.

Here’s how to sign up for watering duty in each of the county areas:

• Our Garden Walnut Creek: contact Greg Letts at gmletts@neomailbox.ch
• Rivertown Demo Garden, Antioch: Contact Lisa Bramblet at lisa@bramblet.net
• Water Conservation Garden, Richmond: opportunities posted on VMS (West County calendar)

With sales in three locations, including a three-day sale in Walnut Creek, there will be many volunteer opportunities between prep week(s) and sales day events. Keep your eyes peeled for a note from Mary Jo Corby with a list of opportunities, and be sure to keep the sale dates open to help:

• Our Garden, Walnut Creek: April 13-14-15 (Sat-Sun-Mon)
• Rivertown Demo Garden, Antioch: April 20 (Sat)
• Richmond Main Library: April 27 (Sat)

Get ready for some fun and good cheer with fellow Master Gardeners and our very loyal customers!