Volume 2 Issue 3
March 2026
The RECap
A newsletter from South Coast Research and Extension Center
and UC Cooperative Extension Orange County
| | Small Scale and Backyard Farming Workshop | | |
On February 28th we hosted a Small Scale and Backyard Farming Workshop. Avid backyard gardeners, small-scale farmers, and local educators were eager to learn from our Cooperative Extension advisors and staff about the latest research and newest technologies related to compost, mulch, pest management, irrigation, and hydroponics. This workshop was designed to serve as a primer, giving folks a taste of several different topics to see what people are really interested in learning more about.
From 9am to 3pm, folks gathered in the conference room for classroom style lectures, and made their way outside for hands-on activities related to several agricultural topics. Prior to the workshop, 53% of attendees felt they had some knowledge related to the workshop topics, and by the end of the day 100% of attendees felt they would use the skills and knowledge they gained during the workshop. Attendees felt the workshop tailored to their needs, was well organized, and offered many online resources for future use.
Based on the feedback from attendees, we aim to host additional workshops that take a deeper dive into specific topics and include more hands-on experiential learning opportunities.
Thank you to our speakers, event organizers, and communications team for making the event a huge success!
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South Coast REC Community Education Specialist, Jason Suppes, greets the group for the first-ever Small Scale and Backyard Farming Workshop at SCREC.
| Eric Middleton, Integrated Pest Management Advisor, taught attendees about Integrated Pest Management as well as a small scale urban agriculture project that he is wrapping up in San Diego County. | Jason Suppes (left) brought folks outside to look at different irrigation devices and small-scale farming equipment. | | Natalie Levy (left in blue longsleeve), Soil Health and Organic Materials Management Advisor, taught attendees about composting and walked them through the UC Master Gardeners Compost Education Site at SCREC. | |
Amrita Mukherjee, Small Farms and Urban Agriculture Advisor, taught attendees about the benefits of mulch.
| Urban Agriculture Technology Advisor, Grant Johnson (left, with hat) taught attendees about hydroponics and demonstrated how to set up a Kratky hydroponic tray. | | South Coast REC GROW Program | | |
Annual Ag Mechanics Field Day
On February 12th we hosted our annual Agriculture Mechanics field day with students from Downey High School. During this field day, students who are part of a mechanics career technical education program have the opportunity to visit SCREC, take a tour of the center, participate in our seasonal produce tasting, and, most importantly, learn about ag mechanics. With the help of our Senior Farm Maintenance worker, Eric Palmer, students get to tour our shop, equipment yard, and collection of tractors and farming implements. It is very eye-opening for students to see that their interest in mechanics can be applied to agriculture! Eric is pictured above in the hat and sunglasses, talking with students in the shop about how to identify and work with diesel versus gas engines.
| | Eric Palmer (left) talking with students about different farming implements and tools that we utilize to prep the field for planting various types of fruits and vegetables. | Students love getting to sit up on our large tractors and envision working in the field. | | A hallmark activity of our field days is our seasonal produce tasting. In the winter months students typically get to taste several varieties of citrus, including those that are often not seen in stores. | On the walking tour of the center, students learned about the demonstration landscape houses that we have on site. | | 4-H Youth Development Program | | |
CALLING FOR HELP FROM OUR FRIENDS AGAIN!
We still need evaluators for events and we need some help with our leadership development - career exploration series.
Field Day & Fashion Revue 2026 is coming on Saturday March 14 at SCREC. Evaluators are needed for all kinds of presentations like interpretive reading, persuasive speech, mock job interviews, cultural arts and more. Have a knack for sewing and the fiber arts? We need evaluators for Fashion Revue too. Interested? Contact ocfieldday@gmail.com and someone will contact you to match you to a contest.
Evaluators are also needed for Imaginology in April. Entries for this event fall in a wide range of categories – everything from art and photography, to ceramics and fiber arts, to culinary arts, to woodworking, and even tech categories like graphic arts. Contact ImaginologyCommitteeOC4H@gmail.com and someone will contact you to schedule you as an evaluator. Please note: entries are evaluated at the OC Fairgrounds prior to the event.
Our Leadership Development – Career Exploration Series will be hosting panels of professionals over the next few months. Professionals will share their career path and details of their field. Interested? Contact oc4hleadership@gmail.com and someone will contact you to schedule you to a panel.
| | Fashion Revue 25 Participants | Cultural Arts Presentation | | Educational Display Presentation | | |
Pro Tips
Tips, tricks, and advice from our program experts
| | Tampico Spice Company: Keeping It Spicy & Safe | | |
The Master Food Preservers of OC recently visited the Tampico Spice Company in Los Angeles for a lesson on spice importing, blending, and sales. Three generations of the Martinez family have led the company since its founding in 1947, and their dedication to quality, variety, and customer service was evident in every part of their operation. Richard Martinez, grandson of founder Jesus Martinez, showed us around the facility, explaining the quality control measures they utilize to ensure their products stand out in terms of both flavor and quality. Mr. Martinez had a receptive audience when he spoke about food safety and the importance of FATTOM in minimizing the chances of food borne illnesses.
FATTOM stands for Food, Acidity, Temperature, Time, Oxygen, and Moisture – the six factors that affect microbial growth in food. Controlling potentially harmful and costly microorganisms is crucial in the food manufacturing industry for ensuring food safety and quality, and it is also important in the home kitchen. Richard shared helpful tips on how to store and use spices properly:
- When possible, keep spices whole until use to preserve the flavors and oils for as long as possible
- Do not store spices above the stovetop. The heat and moisture will affect the quality, and possibly the safety, of the spice(s) if moisture enters the spice jar
- Whole, dry spices will last for 3 years when stored in a cool, dark location
- Delicate, dried herbs and spice blends will last for 12-18 months when stored in a cool, dark location
Our group learned so much from the visit and we are grateful for the opportunity to visit our local food manufacturers. Tampico has a lot of recipes listed on their website, so go to https://tampicospice.com/recipe-categories for ideas and inspiration!
Have questions about food preservation? Email our helpline at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=8800
Jennifer Borges
Program Coordinator, Master Food Preservers of Orange County
| Jennifer Borges is the new Program Coordinator for the Master Food Preservers of Orange County. She can be reached with questions or inquiries at jhborges@ucanr.edu. For quick answers to your food preservation and safety questions, contact the MFP Helpline: uccemfp@ucdavis.edu | | UCR Roundtable on Future Careers in Agriculture, Food, and Sustainability | |
SAVE THE DATE
The UC Riverside Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (CAFE) is hosting a roundtable discussion focused on the future of agriculture education and workforce development in Inland Southern California.
Date: April 20, 2026
Time: 8:30am to 1:30pm
Location: South Coast REC
7601 Irvine Blvd.
Irvine, CA 92618
Sign-up link and more info COMING SOON!
| Orange County Bee Team Apiary Tours | | |
Explore the world of honey bees and their habitat with our Certified California Master Beekeeper Program (CAMBP) Instructors. After this tour, participants will be able to:
- Explain how to light a hive smoker.
- Describe a complete hive inspection.
- Identify eggs, larvae, and capped brood.
- Distinguish hive food sources.
- Identify the queen, worker, and drone.
Date(s):
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April 24, 2026
May 1, 2026
May 9, 2026
May 23, 2026
June 5, 2026
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June 20, 2026
June 26, 2026
July 11, 2026
August 29, 2026
September 11, 2026
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Forestry Institute for Teachers: 2026 Summer Sessions | | |
🌲Ready to take your teaching beyond the classroom?
This summer, the Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT) invites you to join one of four immersive FIT sessions — week-long professional learning experiences designed for both formal and nonformal PreK-12+ California educators.
Each session combines hands-on field instruction with insights from forestry and natural resource experts, giving you fresh tools to bring environmental education to life in your classroom or program. Plus, it’s a chance to connect with peers from across the state who share your passion and curiosity for forest stewardship.
🧭Choose your adventure:
📍El Dorado FIT | June 14–20
📍Tuolumne FIT | June 22–28
📍Humboldt FIT | July 11–17 (WAITLIST)
📍Shasta FIT | July 19–25
✨Space is limited — apply today!
🔗https://www.forestryinstitute.org
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