April 24, 1995 Contact: Francine Tyler (408/459-2495)

LARGER-THAN-EVER ORGANIC PLANT SALE AT UC SANTA CRUZ TO TAKE PLACE MAY 6 AND 7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CRUZ, CA--Shoppers will see more variety and more plants than ever at the annual Spring Plant Sale at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The sale takes place May 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

More than 7,000 organically produced plants will be offered for sale this year, representing 200 different species, said Orin Martin, manager of the Alan Chadwick Garden at UCSC. Last year, roughly 5,000 plants of 100 different varieties were offered for sale. The species chosen for the sale are hardy plants, requiring only moderate maintenance. "They aren't fussy," said Martin.

The sale features numerous varieties of vegetables, perennial flowers, everlastings, and native plants and shrubs. Prices are generally lower than those at nurseries, ranging from $1.50 for a vegetable six-pack to $5 for a one-gallon delphinium or lavender.

This year's selection includes the following:

-- Vegetable starts, including salad mix, leaf crops, tomatoes, peppers, basil, and potatoes.

-- Cottage-garden perennial flowers, including delphinium, columbine, and wallflowers.

-- Everlasting perennials, including a number of species of statice and yarrow.

-- Perennial herbs, including tarragon, rosemary, lavender, oregano, and marjoram.

-- California and Mediterranean natives, including santolinas and sages.

The sale will take place at UCSC's Barn Theater parking lot at the corner of Bay and High streets at the base of the UCSC campus. The sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Farm and Garden, a community-based group that provides financial support to the UCSC Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems and helps educate the public about the importance of sustainable agriculture. Proceeds from the sale support the center's apprenticeship program, a six-month course in organic farming and gardening at the Farm and Garden.

For more information about the Spring Plant Sale or the Friends of the Farm and Garden, call the Center for Agroecology at (408) 459-4140.

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