UC Master Gardener Talk: Building Healthy Soils

This is a free community program. Please consider supporting the Gardens of Golden Gate Park with a recommended donation of $5-20. Your support helps us connect people to plants, the planet, and each other. 

Saturday, October 11, 2025
11am-12pm
San Francisco Botanical Garden — Plant Shop

About the Program

We often think of drought tolerant plants as having the capacity to thrive in poor soil conditions, but in this talk, we’ll dig deeper into understanding the soil conditions you have and the water holding capacity of that soil and ways to improve drainage by building pore space for roots to penetrate deeply. We’ll also discuss how to care for drought tolerant plants, specifically their particular watering needs in your particular garden.

About the Speaker

Kimberly Swan spent decades experimenting in her small fog-challenged San Francisco backyard, joining UC Master Gardeners in 2022.  Interests include soils, succulents, vegetables, perennials, and garden design, studying for several years with the Landscape Architecture program at UC Berkeley.  Kimberly helps friends, family, and community members transform their spaces into gardens that work for them—she led an effort to turn an elementary school in Haight-Ashbury from a barren paved lot into a multi-level thriving garden for play and curriculum. Kimberly is specializing in soils and loves sharing her passion with the public.

—

RSVP Required. Heavy rain cancels. Admission to the Garden is free for San Francisco residents, veterans, Museums for All/EBT participants, and Gardens members.

Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.