Seminar Schedule

Join Master Gardener Belinda Diaz, a vegetable gardening specialist, as she shares expert tips for a successful fall garden in the desert Southwest. Learn how to prepare your soil, conserve water, and time your planting for our unique climate. Whether you’re planting your first vegetable garden or looking to improve your harvest, you’ll gain practical techniques to help your garden thrive throughout the season.

Bring the whole family to Story Time with the Master Gardeners! Learn about pollination, planting seeds, and growing your own garden. Kids of all ages will get excited about getting their hands dirty and growing something of their own. It’s a fun and engaging way to inspire young gardeners and their families to discover the joys of gardening together.

Discover the delicious benefits of raw honey in this engaging live cooking demonstration featuring the EPCC Culinary Club. Learn the differences between raw honey and store-bought honey, how honey can elevate everyday recipes, and why protecting pollinators—especially honeybees—is essential for every gardener. You’ll also get an inside look at EPCC’s beekeeping initiative and discover simple ways to support healthy bee populations at home. This educational and flavorful presentation is a must-see for food lovers, gardeners, and anyone passionate about sustainability.

Join Chef Cristina Navarro for a delicious live cooking demonstration showcasing a variety of culinary mushrooms grown through the EPCC Culinary Arts Program. Discover how mushrooms can elevate the rich umami flavor in meat-based dishes or serve as a flavorful plant-based alternative. Chef Navarro will also demonstrate how these versatile ingredients can be incorporated into both sweet and savory recipes. Explore the unique characteristics of culinary mushrooms through every stage—from freeze-dried to freshly harvested—and gain practical tips, cooking techniques, and inspiration to bring these nutritious, flavorful ingredients into your own kitchen.

BRobin Scofield, a Master Gardener with a long history of managing the demonstration garden at Ascarate Park, will present a program on fall gardening in the desert. The presentation will focus on preparing gardens for the fall season, with special emphasis on plants that thrive in our desert climate and provide outstanding performance and beauty.

Blanche Herrera, an El Paso County Master Gardener and insect specialist, will help you identify the insects you’re seeing in your garden and determine whether they are truly pests. Learn how to distinguish beneficial insects from those that cause damage and discover the best practices for creating a healthy, balanced garden that welcomes pollinators and a diverse community of beneficial bugs.

Join Chef Cristina Navarro for a delicious live cooking demonstration showcasing a variety of culinary mushrooms grown through the EPCC Culinary Arts Program. Discover how mushrooms can elevate the rich umami flavor in meat-based dishes or serve as a flavorful plant-based alternative. Chef Navarro will also demonstrate how these versatile ingredients can be incorporated into both sweet and savory recipes. Explore the unique characteristics of culinary mushrooms through every stage—from freeze-dried to freshly harvested—and gain practical tips, cooking techniques, and inspiration to bring these nutritious, flavorful ingredients into your own kitchen.

Discover the delicious benefits of raw honey in this engaging live cooking demonstration featuring the EPCC Culinary Club. Learn the differences between raw honey and store-bought honey, how honey can elevate everyday recipes, and why protecting pollinators—especially honeybees—is essential for every gardener. You’ll also get an inside look at EPCC’s beekeeping initiative and discover simple ways to support healthy bee populations at home. This educational and flavorful presentation is a must-see for food lovers, gardeners, and anyone passionate about sustainability.