gardening

Integrating growing and storing techniques oriented to long term benefits can help you create a system that improves your self-sustainability. Techniques like crop rotation and seed saving can help you improve soil quality, reduce financial burdens, increase crop accessibility and yield, and more. Join Sibongile of Sycamore Community Garden as she shares some techniques to give you the tools to help improve your small-scale growing systems. Information shared will open your mind to growing in a way that sustains you and your household for years to come.

Through practical insights and expert guidance, you'll gain a deeper understanding of soil microbiology and its profound impact on plant growth and ecosystem health. Our session will equip you with essential tools and techniques for assessing soil microbiology, including microscopy and microbiometer analysis. You'll learn how to collect soil samples effectively and interpret soil test reports to optimize soil health and productivity in your garden. But the learning doesn't stop there. We'll also unveil practical strategies for harnessing the power of soil microbiology to enhance your garden's health, from compost teas and extracts to microbial inoculants. Plus, discover how our professional soil testing services can provide personalized insights and recommendations to elevate your gardening experience.

Growing great seedlings is simple with the right seeds at the right time with the right tools. This workshop will provide the foundation you need to have successful seedlings every year. Learn the 7 essentials from Petra Page-Mann, life-long gardener and founder of Fruition Seeds.

Getting a good tomato season starts at the beginning, the seedlings. Would you love to grow healthier tomato transplants? Would you love to not tend the seedlings alone? Join us to learn best practices as well as how to avoid common mistakes! We'll have time to look at and assess your tomato transplants together, so bring your seedlings as well as yourself.

When placed in habitats that meet their needs, native plants tend to be well adapted to our climate and have few pest, disease or maintenance problems. This illustrated talk will describe the growth habit, preferred habitat, care required, food value, other users, aesthetic appeal and propagation techniques for over 25 native perennial plants you can include in your edible landscape. The plants range from trees to bushes, groundcovers, roots and even vines. If you want to create an edible hedge, an edible bed, a foundation planting, a you-pick venue, or a forest garden, you will discover there are a variety of native food plants to choose from to fill you space.