Occidental Arts and Ecology Center Plant Sale This Weekend and Edible Garden Class next Saturday, August 29.
Fall and winter gardens require less work and are more forgiving – just the thing for busy people wanting to start growing some of their own food.
My farmer friend, Wendy Krupnick says:” The late fall and winter is the “easy season” as there is no rush and little to do other than harvest. Unlike the summer garden, where squash, beans and cukes demand to be picked daily and weeding and other gardening chores are constant. For winter food production we do most of the work in late August and September. Slowly maturing produce holds well in nature’s refrigerator and hopefully winter rains provide most of the irrigation. But planting time is crucial, as is soil care.”
Interesting in hearing more? Wendy is teaching the following edible gardening class through the Santa Rosa Parks and Recreation Department:
Fall and Winter in the Edible Garden, Saturday, August 29, 9 am – noon, Finley Community Center
Santa Rosa resident – $35; non-resident – $45, Registration: 543-3003 or http://econnect.ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?aid=51&cid=52325
OAEC Fall Biodiversity Plant Sale, Saturday Aug. 22nd – Sunday Aug. 23rd , 9am – 5 pm, www.oaec.org/plant-sales/fall-biodiversity-plant-sale-august-2009
This weekend is the fabulous Occidental Arts and Ecology Center’s Fall Plant Sale. Here is a way to purchase organic seedlings and plants grown in their nursery, many from seed collected in their gardens, and support a locally based nonprofit doing wonderful work. (7% of their income comes from the plant sales.) It is also a chance to visit a wonderful place. Garden tours are offered at 11am and 1pm; a donation of $10 is requested.
Wondering what you can plant? Here is a short incomplete piece about my garden:
The beds have been cleared of weeds, while the carrot, beet and spinach seeds have been planted and covered with straw as mulch. The parsley, kale and chard have been cut back, while the onions, garlic and hollyhocks get to do what ever they want. My favorites, they last for more then one season, are self seeding, and quite easy to please as long as you water them once in awhile. I love to see patches of onions coming up where the dried flowers were tossed so carelessly. They look like two day old beards – little green bristles sticking up from the earth.
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