The Good Kind of Tired
Welcome to Issue 26, and welcome to July.
July is one of those months in the garden where a lot is happening — even when it doesn't look like it. We're in the heat now, and the decisions you make this month about watering, mulching, and caring for your plants can make a real difference in how things look come fall. This week I'm sharing what I think about when I look at my garden in July, and we'll have a group discussion in class to talk through what everyone is working on. I've also got a short piece on community gardens tucked in there.
There's also a field trip coming up in two weeks with several dates to choose from — details are inside, so make sure you scroll down and sign up soon.
And tonight — Sunday, June 28th, 2026 at 7 PM — the Garden Hangout live stream is back. Come hang out and ask questions: https://youtube.com/live/rjkDu_U11Pc
Let's get into it.
For Students
Welcome to Week 2
Glad to have you here as we settle into the summer semester. This week's lecture is Your Garden in July — what to expect this month, how to care for your plants through the heat, and a few other important notes. As always, we'll have our group discussion on what everyone's planning for their gardens this month, and I've got a short lecture on community gardens tucked in there too.
Bring your questions to class. That's what the discussion is for.
Where Things Stand With Enrollment
A few of our classes are running a little light on students right now. The good news is that I have not been told any classes will be shut down — and I've got my fingers crossed that we can keep every one of them open.
A few specific asks:
The Tuesday class at Palomares needs a few more people. We meet Tuesdays at 10:30 AM at the Palomares Park Community Center (499 E Arrow Hwy, Pomona, CA 91767). If that fits your schedule, come join us.
The Wildlife Sanctuary class at Mt. SAC is close, but still just a bit shy. This one's a tightrope: my department doesn't want to run classes with fewer than 20 students, but the sanctuary directors don't want groups of more than 20 people inside the sanctuary. So I'm walking a fine line to keep it alive. If you've been thinking about joining, now's the moment — please let me know.
Field Trips Start in Two Weeks
We've got a full slate of field trips coming up, and I'm excited about these. A quick note before the schedule: because of the nature of farmers' markets, I couldn't always line these up with our normal class times, though I did my best where I could. A few times are also set around the forecasted weather, so please pay close attention to the times below — they aren't all the same. I'm hoping the weekend trips help meet everyone's scheduling needs.
A few things to keep in mind:
Sign up early. Some trips are limited on how many students can join, due to parking or other restrictions, so signing up early is the best way to get into the trip you want.
Minimum to run: Any trip with fewer than 6 students signed up by the day before will be cancelled, so the sooner the better.
Need an alternate time? If you can't make any of the scheduled times due to a conflict, reach out to me directly as soon as possible and I'll try to arrange an alternative. If enough students need a different time, I'll find another location and time for a trip.
Here's the schedule at a glance:
Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 — 10:00 AM Villa Parke Farmers' Market. 363 East Villa Street, Pasadena, CA.Heads up: traffic to this area can get incredibly heavy. Leave early to make sure you arrive by 10:00, and map your route with GPS ahead of time.
Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 — 10:00 AM Lopez Urban Farm. 1034 W Mission Blvd, Pomona, CA. We'll do a quick walk around the farm. Dress comfortably and prepare for warm weather — hopefully it won't be too hot!
Thursday, July 9th, 2026 — 10:00 AM Cal Poly Pomona Farm Store. 4102 S University Dr, Pomona, CA 91768. We're meeting earlier than usual — at 10:00 AM — specifically to beat the heat, with the forecast calling for the high 90s. Part of this trip is a walkthrough of their outdoor nursery, so I want to avoid our normal time (1–3), which would land us right on the cusp of the hottest part of the day.
Saturday, July 11th, 2026 — 9:00 AM Mt. SAC Farmers' Market. 1100 N Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789 (Parking Lot B). Parking is completely free in Lot B, where the market is hosted. The lot is found on the northeast corner of Grand and Temple.
Sunday, July 12th, 2026 — 9:00 AM Claremont Farmers' Market. We'll meet at the parking lot on the corner of 4th and Yale (near 339 N Yale Ave, Claremont, CA 91711). This is most of my students' favorite farmers' market — and one of my favorites, too.
Garden Hangout — Sunday, June 28th at 7 PM
The Garden Hangout live stream is back this Sunday night, June 28th, 2026, at 7 PM. Come hang out, ask questions, talk gardens. It's one of my favorite parts of the week: https://youtube.com/live/rjkDu_U11Pc
A Note on the Next Few Weeks
I have to be honest: between grading, the HSR program, and just about everything running at full speed right now, I won't be able to write as much for the next four weeks. Once the HSR program wraps on July 23rd, things will get back to normal around here. Thanks for bearing with me until then.
Thought of the Week
"When you truly love what you do, not working is hard work." — Mokokoma Mokhonoana
I'll be honest with you this week: I'm tired. I've been working nonstop. I'm doing my best - but I'm already tired.
This quote spoke to me because the hardest part isn't the work I have to do — it's resisting the urge to pour even more into the things I love, like this newsletter, when what I really need to do right now is focus on the things that simply must get done. Loving the work makes stepping back feel like the hard part.
So I'm watching myself. For the next little while I'm putting three weeks between my YouTube videos instead of rushing them out — giving myself the room to actually finish them well, and to not burn out in the process. I often struggle to find a balance — but I’m working on it.
See you Sunday night.
