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The Flower Fields At Carlsbad Ranch

UC's Ag Water Quality Exhibit And Master Gardener Demo Gardens

This self-assessment provides a basis for assessing runoff and nonpoint source pollution potential from greenhouses and container nurseries.

Runoff and non-point source pollution management on any agricultural property will involve a combination of practices. Not every property will have the same issues or utilize the same Best Management Practices to address them.

Ask A Master Gardener

One of the least-known treasure troves of information in San Diego County is that over two hundred Master Gardeners provide home gardening and pest control information throughout the county, FREE to the public.

Master Gardeners are volunteers trained and supervised by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Learn More

Never been to the flower fields? Visit The Flowers Fields At Carlsbad Ranch

Featured Story

All this month UCCE San Diego is setting the tone for Earth Day. From now until May 13th our Ag Water Quality Exhibit and Master Gardener Demonstrations are on display at the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. 

The goal is to protect our local water systems through a series of best management practices. As stewards of the community UCCE strives to build relationships with local growers in the commercial agriculture industry to use innovative techniques to solve water quality issues.   

There are a wide variety of challenges when it comes to commercial farming and water quality. Here are a few examples: soil erosion, runoff, pesticide residues, salinization among other pollutants that may affect our water supply or harm the environment.

The good news is there are proven practices we can use to protect the environment and prevent water waste such as: 

  • Utilizing drip irrigation systems 
  • Time release fertilizers
  • Contour beds with a 1-2% slope
  • Using compost
  • Poly hose instead of canvas
  • Water bars

These are few things we can do to improve our environmental impact as well as help our crops be more successful; which in turn keeps our local waterways healthy and prevents unnecessary water waste. Water is a precious resource, especially in Southern California and San Diego where agriculture is a vital part of the community.

If you'd like to learn more about water management we invite you to come out and visit our demonstrations! We promise you'll learn something new. For more resources visit:

UCCE's Ag Water Quality Webpage

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