Preview: Smart Gardening Fair brings hens, sauerkraut, bees, olives and more to Carmel.

As spring blooms and trowels sink into soil, the annual Smart Gardening Fair focuses on sustainability and water-wise practices.

It all goes down 9am-3pm Saturday, April 4, at the Carmel Crossroads.

Considering the drought, an event like this couldn't have been any more timely.

Hint: Water-wise doesn’t have to mean re-envisioning the yard as a succulent garden.

Collecting and storing rainwater for later garden-quenching duties also works well.

Jon Ramsey of Aquasoleil, a local company specializing in rainwater and solar energy harvesting systems, talks “Rainwater Harvesting 101” at 10am.

He'll provide an overview of the five-part process for gardeners, whether they are looking at large or small operations.

Local agencies may even provide rebate incentives.

Cindy and Ted Walter of Passionfish will give a crash course on fermenting homegrown veggies to make kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles.

There will also be presentations that look at beneficial insects in the yard and caring for olive trees as well as the benefits of extra virgin olive oil.

Additionally, demonstrations on the basics of beekeeping—with a live observational hive—hen housing, tree pruning, making tea infusions out of homegrown herbs (even the pesky dandelion) and other topics add up to a wide array of information useful to gardeners of all skill levels.

Vendors offer their wares and Master gardeners from the UC Master Gardener program will be on hand to answer questions.

The Smart Gardening Fair is a bounty of smart and green inspiration. And it's all for free.

For more information contact the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners (644-0161) or visit mbmg.ucanr.edu.