Saturday, May 2, 2009
Urban Farming Basics: Grow Your Own Food, Indoor Session 1
Learn the best growing methods and practices for productive Bay Area vegetable gardening with seasoned expert Willow Rosenthal. In these difficult economic times it makes more sense than ever to grow some of your own fresh produce and since food travels 1500 miles on average to reach the grocery store, growing your own food is one of the best ways to reduce your ecological footprint. This three-hour class will cover topics such as the most effective gardening philosophies and methods, differences between urban and rural farming that present challenges and opportunities, the different types of urban gardens and how to create them, garden layout and preparation, East Bay crops and timing, garden maintenance and introducing animals to make your garden a real farm. Willow, founder of City Slicker Farms, will present utterly practical advice for becoming a truly productive urban farmer, including specific crop yield information and planting times, crop rotation calendars and natural pest management guidelines. This first indoor session features a best-practices slideshow of intensive organic urban farming from around the globe that will inspire you to turn your hobby garden into a truly productive cornucopia for your family and community. Please contact us to register. Specify when registering if ASL interpretation is requested, (at least 10 working days in advance).
Time: 2 pm - 5 pm
Location: Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way, Berkeley.
Cost: $15 general, $10 EC members, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Urban Farming Basics: Grow Your Own Food, Outdoor Session 2
In these difficult economic times it makes more sense than ever to grow some of your own fresh produce. Since food travels 1500 miles on average to reach the grocery store, growing your own food is one of the best ways to reduce your ecological footprint. Learn the best growing methods and practices for productive Bay Area vegetable gardening with seasoned expert Willow Rosenthal. This hands-on three-hour class in the garden will give you practical experience in building compost piles, double-digging and preparing garden beds, intensively planting and seeding beds including interplanting, effectively eliminating pernicious weeds from beds and paths, mulching, propagating seedlings in greenhouses, cold-frames and seed-beds, vertical growing and trellising and harvesting practices. Urban Farming Basics Session One on May 2 is recommended but not required. Please contact us to register. Specify when registering if ASL interpretation is requested, (at least 10 working days in advance).
Time: 2 pm - 6 pm
Location: Berkeley Youth Alternatives Garden, Bancroft Way, between Bonar and West St., Berkeley.
Cost: $15 general, $10 EC members, no one turned away for lack of funds.