South Whidbey Tilth and Deer Lagoon Grange are offering a great series of Homesteading Classes! Click HERE for the whole schedule with class descriptions.

You can also go to the Eventbrite site HERE for schedule and registration. First class starts Mon Feb 13th, 6 pm, at the Grange Hall.

STAY TUNED FOR NEW DATE!!!

The light is returning, it’s still cold, and it’s the perfect time to learn about pruning your fruit trees!

WSU Extension Service is offering a free pruning class on January 21st, from 10 am – 12 noon. This is a basic class for those who have little or no experience in dormant fruit tree pruning. The primary focus will be pruning fruit trees, including young trees, for structure and yield; mitigation pruning in neglected fruit trees and lowering the canopy without topping. There will be a short lecture followed by a demonstration and an opportunity to practice (weather permitting).  Growing Groceries January 2012

Instructor: Tim Lawrence
Location: 898 Meadowood Lane, Freeland, WA

The last class of the season is on Saturday, Oct. 8th at the Sears House, Bayview Corner. Learn about

• 9:00 am    Top Tips for October and the winter months.
  Presented by Cary Peterson, Growing Groceries Coordinator

• 10:30 am    Growing Great Garlic – It’s time to plant garlic! Learn about the different varieties and growing tips.
  Presented by local garlic grower Frank Parente, author of the book Garlic! Grow West of the Cascades.

Class fee is $15, scholarships  available.

Location: Sears House at Bayview Corner, (2812 E. Meinhold Rd., Langley).

For more information, call the Whidbey Institute at (360) 341-1884, or email growinggroceries@whidbey.com

On Saturday, September 10, Growing Groceries will be part of the Good Cheer Harvest Party and Music Fest, and the classes will be in the Good Cheer Garden:

9  - 10 am: Top Tips of the Month
Presented by Cary Peterson, Good Cheer Garden Coordinator
What to do in September in your garden. Bring your questions!

10 – 11 am: Composting Basics
Presented by Janet Hall, WSU Extension Waste-wise Coordinator
Learn different ways to turn your food scraps and garden waste into soil fertility.

1:30 – 2:30 pm: The Wonders of Worms!
Presented by Todd Spratt, Bugabay Worm Bins
Learn the keys to success for worm bins, with a special focus on in-ground worm bins.

Classes are by donation this month, as part of the Good Cheer Harvest Party and Music Fest.
No need to register, just come and learn, enjoy the celebration, have fun and eat good food!

The theme of the day is “Cultivating Community”.
Graham Kerr (the Galloping Gourmet) will be giving a workshop and book signing in the garden at 11 am, and then on the main stage at noon.
From 11 am – 3 pm, there will also be local music, games for kids, great food served by local nonprofits, a cook-off competition, and the raffle of a garden shed built by Bob Bowling.

On Saturday, August 13th, from 9 am – 12 noon, at the Good Cheer Garden, learn about

• Cover crops for building soil fertility
  
• TOP TIPS for the month, and Q & A (bring your questions!)
  

  Hoophouses

• How to grow throughout the year by putting your veggies under cover
• Construction tips and tricks
• Best veggies to plant

Presenter:  Cary Peterson, Growing Groceries coordinator

Class fee is $15, scholarships available.
The Good Cheer Garden is at Bayview Corner, 2812 Grimm Rd., Langley, WA.

No registration required.  For information, call the Whidbey Institute at (360)  341-1884, or email growinggroceries@whidbey.com

Photo credit: Susan Burgers (raspberries)

How can it only just be summer, and it’s already time to start planning for the winter crops? That’s our climate! You can eat year round from your garden by growing into the fall and over the winter.

On Saturday, July 9th at the Good Cheer Garden at Bayview Corner, from 9 am – 12 noon learn about

• Planting the second half of the summer
  
• Planting an overwintering garden, what works and doesn’t in our climate.
• Seed saving. Plan for next year’s crop by saving your favorite open-pollinated seeds this year.
  
• TOP TIPS and bring your questions!

Presenter: Cary Peterson, Growing Groceries Coordinator
Class fee is $15, scholarships available.
Class is at the Good Cheer Garden, 2812 Grimm Rd. at Bayview Corner, Langley.

For information and registration, call the Whidbey Institute at (360) 341-1884, or email growinggroceries@whidbey.com

  The solstice is coming, and we’ve barely had spring! Long days, and hopefully warm and hot days will come. Time to harvest your spring plantings and plant some more….or get your garden started! It’s not too late!

Saturday, June 11th at the Good Cheer Garden:

  9:00 – 10:00 am: In-ground worm bins.  What is one of the best ways to replenish the soil? Worm castings! Learn how in-ground worm bins will transform your kitchen and garden waste into the most nutritious vermicastings.

10:00 – 11:00 am:
        TOP TIPS and Q & A: How are you doing in your garden? Hopefully we can finally get going with the warm-weather crops. Bring your questions!
        Soil Amendments & Fertilizing: How much, what, and when to give veggies some extra feeding.

11:00 – 12 noon: Demonstrations
          Soil Blocks: Growing starts helps with succession planting, and increases the amount of food you can grow. Learn how to grow starts using the soil block method.
          Irrigation tips and tricks: Practical how-to’s to conserve water and make gardening easier.

Presenters:   Cary Peterson (Growing Groceries Coordinator)
Todd Spratt (Bugabay Worm Boxes)

Class is by donation.

For information and registration, call the Whidbey Institute at (360) 341-1884, or email growinggroceries@whidbey.com

   
10 am: See two kinds of in-ground worm bins in action, and learn what makes worms happy. Worm castings are fabulous for your garden!

 
11 am: Learn the basics of installing drip irrigation using t-tape. This is a condensed version of the April hands-on class. Make your gardening easier, your plants happier, and save water in the process.

- Bring your questions and be prepared to be outside! 

Whidbey Institute: 6449 Old Pietila Rd., Clinton, WA

April has been so cold and wet! Normally the soils have warmed up a bit and mid-May is when we can start planting the warmer weather crops. What will happen this year? Will it be warm enough yet? Let’s hope so!

On May 14th, from 9 am – 12 noon, at the Good Cheer Garden, learn about

What makes the warm weather crops happy- tomatoes, beans, squash, basil and cucumbers
Making compost in your garden- adding organic matter is key to healthy soil
Best veggies to plant in May
Irrigation – what are good strategies, and how to install a simple system.

Plus Top Tips for the month, and bring your questions!

Presenters: Janet Hall, WSU Waste Wise Coordinator
Cary Peterson, Growing Groceries Coordinator

Class fee is $15, scholarships available.

For information and registration, call the Whidbey Institute at (360) 341-1884, or email growinggroceries@whidbey.com

Photo © ML Harris Photography

On April 9th, from 9 am – 12 noon, at the Sears House (Bayview Corner) we’ll be learning about

• Crop rotation
• Keeping your garden healthy by attracting beneficial insects
• Using soil amendments
• TOP TIPS of the month, including best veggies to plant in April

Bring your questions!

Class fee is $15, scholarships available.

For information and registration, call the Whidbey Institute at (360) 341-1884, or email growinggroceries@whidbey.com

Sears House address: 2812 Meinhold Rd. at Bayview Corner, Langley

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Hands-on class: Thursday morning, April 21st, from 10 am – 12 noon at the Whidbey Institute Westgarden.

Learn how to install irrigation!

It may still be raining, but it’s good to start now to get ready for summer irrigation. Make your gardening easier, your plants happier, and save water in the process.

• T-tape drip line
• Soaker hoses
• Timers
• Rain barrels

- Bring your questions and be prepared to be outside!

Whidbey Institute: 6449 Old Pietila Rd., Clinton, WA