Master Gardener Workshop In Colville Packed With Fun, Interesting Classes
Registration Deadline Is March 19th
Dying to dig in the dirt again and get that garden going? Well, it is too early yet in our part of the country, but that should not stop anyone from planning their upcoming garden or getting some tips from the experts. The perfect opportunity to do that is just around the corner.
WSU Stevens County Master Gardeners are teaming up with the Colville Community Garden to present the 4th annual “Sowing Seeds for Supper Workshop,” a half-day event that offers seven gardening workshops plus one on food preservation. It will be held in Colville on Saturday, March 24, 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Community Colleges of Spokane –Colville Center, 985 S. Elm.
Registration deadline is March 19. Registration fee is $15, and some hands-on classes have an additional supply fee.
Keynote speaker Susan Wellhausen will speak on “Gardening through the Pain: Exercise in the time of Arthritis.” Susan has been a nurse for 26 years and a gardener for almost 40 years. She currently works full-time as a Public Health Nurse at NE Tri-County Health District. She became a Master Gardener in 2004. She was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2003 and has had multiple health issues since her diagnosis. She continues to garden by adapting her style to her physical abilities. Participants will enjoy her presentation as she discusses her challenges of gardening with humor and common sense.
Following the keynote presentation, each participant will be able to take one class from each session.
Session One:
Pruning and Maintenance of Fruit Trees
Learn when and how to prune fruit trees. This class will discuss spray options and other maintenance for fruit trees. Instructor Bill Donnelly from Wynne Street Nursery and Manager of Aslin-Finch in Kettle Falls has been assisting gardeners since 1985.
Herbs in Your Garden and Kitchen
Add some spice to your life by growing garden herbs and using them in your cooking. Topics covered will include raising herbs, using them in the kitchen, and preserving them for use throughout the year. Instructor Adele Noetzelman is a WSU Stevens County Master Gardener.
Worm Composting Basics
Learn about Vermi-composting in this hands-on workshop. Topics include what to compost and how to reduce you garbage. Participants will build their own simple starter bins with complete instructions. Supply fee is $10. Instructor Jon Lind is a WSU Stevens County Master Gardener.
Pressure Canning
Preserve what you grow by canning. Participants will learn about food safety, equipment, resources, and steps for pressure canning. This class will be canning carrots so come prepared to work. Instructor Bonnie Stichart has been a WSU Food Safety Advisor Volunteer.
Session Two:
Low Maintenance Trees and Shrubs with Pizzazz
Make your borders sparkle with easy-to-care-for trees and shrubs that thrive in our challenging climate. You don’t have to choose between ho-hum standbys and temperamental beauties. You can spice up your garden with all season colored foliage, fragrance, bloom, vivid fall color, and winter interest. Some of these gems are even resistant to Bambi! Instructor Dede McAuliffe has been designing sustainable gardens in Stevens County for 15 years.
Introduction to Drip Irrigation
In our climate it is hard to keep up on hand-watering during the summer. Drip irrigation is a great solution. This class will cover how to set up an adjustable drip irrigation system for flower beds, container gardens, raised beds, veggie patches, or orchards. Instructor Jim Noelzelman has been growing veggies, fruit, and flowers since childhood. A civil engineer by training, he has applied his design skills and understanding of water systems to built-in lawn sprinklers and garden irrigation.
Lasagna Gardening
Lasagna gardens are no-dig, no-till gardens that are created by layering organic materials wherever you want to make a new garden. Participants will build a lasagna garden in a bin that can be planted in the spring, and they will learn how to apply this concept to their garden. Participants are encouraged to bring a week’s worth of fruit and vegetable waste for the bin. Supply Fee is $5. Instructor Susan Wellhausen is a WSU Stevens County Master Gardener.
How to Make an Earth Box
This is an easy way to container garden and get the most out of your plants. An earth box is a sub-irrigated planter box. It is a self-sufficient garden in a plastic tub that takes water and fertilizer automatically when needed. They are popular with busy gardeners because of their ability to keep plants watered regularly and their ability to help vegetables form strong, healthy roots. Participants will build their own small earth box to take home. Supply fee is $5. Instructor Kathy Jones is a WSU Stevens County Master Gardener.
Attendees with a disability requiring special accommodations while participating are asked to call WSU Stevens County Extension at 509-684-2588 in advance of the event to request assistance. If accommodations are not requested in advance, there is no guarantee for the availability of accommodations on site.
For more information call WSU Stevens County Extension at 509-684-2588 or visit http://county.wsu.edu/stevens/gardening/Pages/default.aspx.