cherry tomatoes and raspberries from the Edible Demo Garden at Indian Valley College Novato CA
UC Marin Master Gardeners

Edible Demo Garden

The Edible Demo Garden at IVC Organic Farm & Garden

The 2100 sq ft Edible Demonstration Garden at Indian Valley Organic Farm and Garden (IVOFG) in Novato was designed and installed by UC Marin Master Gardeners in 2016 and is a hands-on teaching tool for UC MMG and the public.  The garden showcases sustainable agricultural practices while growing over 100 varieties of vegetables, flowers, fruit and herbs using a variety of growing situations that are options for Marin gardeners.

News from the Edible Demo Garden

What you can do at the Edible Demo Garden

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Marin Edible Demonstration Garden

Visit the garden
Drop in any Friday of the month between 9am-11am. We will give you a tour and answer any gardening questions.  Closed toe shoes or boots and long pants are recommended due to active rattle snakes.

Please note that the garden may be closed due to holidays or weather.  Email for schedule confirmation.

Guided group tours
Private educational tours and training are available to groups. To schedule a private tour, contact us at EdibleDemoGarden@MarinMG.org

Buy our sustainably-grown, organic produce at the Farm Stand
All produce grown in the garden meets the Marin Organic Certified Agriculture (MOCA) requirements and is sold at the IVOFG farm stand or included in the farm's CSA boxes. The farm stand is open Saturdays 10am - 1pm July through October.

 

Email us at the Edible Demo Garden for more information

HOW TO GET THERE

College of Marin Indian Valley Campus
1800 Ignacio Blvd
Novato CA 94949

> Directions to Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden

_____________________

OTHER UC MMG 
DEMONSTRATION GARDENS

> Harvey's Garden at Blackie's Pasture, Tiburon
> Falkirk Demonstration Garden, San Rafael

LEARN HOW TO GROW EDIBLES IN STRAW BALES

> BACK TO ASK US

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Almost all artichokes sold commercially in the US are grown in California Credit: rawpixel
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

January 2024: Planting Time for Artichokes

December 26, 2023
While artichokes may not be on every gardeners cool season vegetable list, they are fun to grow, and December is the right time to plant them for an early spring crop.
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Caption: Buckwheat is a non-legume cover crop that helps to improve the soil in preparation for spring planting.
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

December 2023: Caring for the Soil

November 28, 2023
After the fall harvest was over, it was time to clean up and replenish the soil in the Edible Demo Garden. Healthy soil is fundamental to the success of the next seasons crops.
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Eggplant varieties differ in size, shape, and color Photo Credit: flickr
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

November 2023: The Versatile Eggplant

November 6, 2023
There is always room for eggplant in the summer Edible Demo Garden. Its an attractive well-behaved plant that doesnt sprawl or climb and it thrives in...
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Summer squash are tastiest when they are picked while small.
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

October 2023: An Abundance of Squash

September 27, 2023
The summer harvest was in full swing in the Edible Demo Garden in September. Volunteers harvested beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, and lots of summer squash...
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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

March 2023: Straw Bale Gardening

August 25, 2023
Setting up straw bales for growing spring and summer veggies has become an annual event in the Edible Demonstration Garden. Over the years, a number of different edibles have been tried in the straw bales but the most successful have been....
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Tender plants are covered in tulle to protect against bird damage
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

April 2023: A Year in the Garden

August 25, 2023
Located in a corner of the Indian Valley College Organic Farm and Garden, the MMG Edible Demonstration Garden was created in 2016 by Marin Master Gardeners in collaboration with IVC to build knowledge and provide hands on experience in organically growing a variety of edible plants.
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Time spent monitoring and caring for plants in an organic garden can be very satisfying.
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

June 2023: Gardening Organically

August 25, 2023
Its often the desire to avoid pesticides that makes organically grown produce especially appealing. Pesticides can be a health risk not only for consumers, but also for those who grow, harvest, and distribute food crops...
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Planting begins with a tray full of seeding mix. A pencil is a handy tool for pushing seed down to the right depth.
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

September 2023: Starting With Seeds

August 25, 2023
All the annual edibles in the Demo Garden, with a few exceptions such as potatoes and garlic, started as seeds. Planting seeds is a year around activity for garden volunteers...
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Rhubarb needs some winter chill to produce thick, bright red leaf stalks. Photo: Wikimedia commons
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

August 2023: In Praise of Rhubarb

July 27, 2023
Visitors to the Edible Demo Garden often dont recognize the large attractive plants with the big, bright green leaves growing in a corner garden bed...
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Pole beans and indeterminate tomato varieties grow best with sturdy support
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

July 2023: Trellises for Plants that like to Climb

June 26, 2023
Last month volunteers worked on building permanent trellises for several garden beds. Constructed of metal stakes and heavy wire, the trellises will provide strong support for beans, peas, cucumbers, and other climbing edible plants...
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