Backyard Series: Good Weeds, Bad Weeds

Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025; 10:00AM - 12PM

Location: UCSC Hay Barn; park in the Hay Barn parking lot

Format: In person

Instructor: Richard Smith

Cost: $40; students may attend for free, please email agroecology@ucsc.edu to register as a student.

This workshop offers a balanced perspective on weeds, exploring their ecological benefits alongside the challenges they pose in gardens. Learn how some weeds support beneficial insects while also understanding their competitive impact on desired plants.

Led by emeritus farm advisor Richard Smith, the session will focus on practical weed identification techniques, both by type and by season. Participants will also learn how to independently research and identify weeds, a valuable skill for ongoing garden management. A key component of the workshop will be exploring effective organic management strategies, emphasizing environmentally friendly approaches like hand-pulling, mulching, and other sustainable methods.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own weeds for expert identification and will also participate in a guided "weed walk" for hands-on learning in a real-world setting.

Instructor profile

Richard Smith is an Emeritus Vegetable Crops Farm Advisor in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties with the University of California Cooperative Extension. He conducted a research and education program on vegetable production for 38 years. His research included investigating nutrient management in cool season vegetables to help growers improve efficiency of applied nitrogen. He worked on developing practices and tools to help growers maintain economic yields while reducing the risk of nitrate leaching. In addition, he conducted research on weed control in vegetable, grape and range land production systems. He investigated chemical, non-chemical and automated weeding control strategies.

Things to Bring

Bring weeds from your garden to be identified!

Also, bring gardening gloves, layered clothing, sturdy shoes, and rain gear depending on the weather. This event takes place rain or shine. We will be walking on the farm which features a small incline/slope.

Pre-registration is required for this workshop. Email accommodation requests to agroecology.ucsc.edu.

Presented by the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden. Members receive a 10% discount on workshop costs. Learn more about becoming a member and sign up at: https://agroecology.ucsc.edu/get-involved/join-the-friends/index.html