Classes at Green Gulch

Check out these classes to be offered at Green Gulch:

Groundwork II: Learning from the Green Gulch Farm and Garden

Four Afternoon Classes:
Saturday, February 6
Sundays, March 21, June 13, and October 3
1 - 4:30 pm
with Wendy Johnson and Skip Kimura

A 2010 continuing organic gardening series on the principles and practices of growing fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs. Each class offers full instruction on the cultivation, fertilization, propagation and care of a healthy and productive garden.

Saturday, February 6 - Organic Fruit Gardening
Basic aspects of home fruit growing, covering both tree and soft fruit, their planting and culture, selection of varieties and rootstocks, pest and disease management, pruning and harvest. Note: Sunday, February 7, is the annual celebration of Arbor Day from 2-5 pm at Green Gulch Farm. All are invited to attend.

Sunday, March 21 - Organic Vegetable Gardening
Fundamentals of the home vegetable garden, including layout and soil preparation, seed selection and sowing, planting schedules, crop rotations, pest and disease management and harvest.

Sunday, June 13 - Organic Flower Gardening
Focused study of annual, biennial and perennial flowers, including bulb, rose and shrub culture, maintenance of year-round planting and many seasonal flowering schedules, layout and design of the home cutting garden and harvest information. Everyone cuts and arranges a flower bouquet to take home.

Sunday, October 3 - Organic Herb Gardening
Primary teaching on the lore and culture of annual and perennial herbs grown for culinary, medicinal, and ornamental use, covering the planting schedules for long season production, harvesting and processing procedures, seed selection and asexual propagation, as well as how to make simple tinctures, salves and other herbal preparations.

Fee: $30 per class

Registration: Call the Green Gulch office at 415.383.3134.

Homeward Bound of Marin Garden Needs You

Join our partner Homeward Bound of Marin in helping at a Garden Work Day scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 AM - 12 PM. Help plant the next crop at the New Beginnings Center in Novato, 1399 N. Hamilton Parkway . . . a housing and job-training program operated by Homeward Bound of Marin. Contact Dominique Legnitto for more information at 382-3363 x212.

Marin Open Garden Project Featured in the Mill Valley Herald's 2009 Year in Review

Looking forward to Spring!

It's Still Harvest Time . . . Persimmons!

Dedicated volunteers Denise and JoJo Wears and Sarah Rose got busy this past week gleaning at least 50 pounds of Fuyu persimmons in Kentfield. We donated them to the Ritter Center in San Rafael, a place of last resort for the homeless in Marin. When I pulled up with the fruit, the Marin Organic truck was already there unloading gleaned veggies from local farms in West Marin. It felt great to be part of the team making fresh local food available for all in Marin. Thanks to all of our volunteer harvesters and Happy Holidays!

Marin Agricultural Land Trust Holiday Open House

The place to be on Friday, December 11?

Point Reyes Station!

This Friday, MALT will be hosting their annual open house. Hors d'oeuvres, hot cider, and cocoa will be served and a no-host bar will be available for the purchase of local beer & wine.

This year's event is extra special!

The following local restaurants and businesses have generously offered to donate a percentage of Friday's sales to MALT, so get shopping and make your reservation today! Be sure to say, "MALT sent me"— you'll be helping MALT and local businesses!

• Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes
• Palace Market, Point Reyes
• Station House Cafe, Point Reyes
• Cafe Reyes, Point Reyes
• Osterina Stellina, Point Reyes
• Nick's Cove, Marshall
• Farmhouse Restaurant at Point Reyes Seashore Lodge, Point Reyes

RSVP: hjeffris@malt.org

Volunteer Spotlight: JoJo Wears

A few months ago I had the good fortune of meeting JoJo Wears, a truly inspired St. Ignatius High student who is already working to improve nutrition at local elementary schools in Sausalito by teaching kids about eating fresh and local and learning to enjoy cooking. JoJo and her mom Denise live in Greenbrae and did several volunteer harvests this summer to help our partner organizations serving people in need. How did they use their share of the bounty? You guessed it, JoJo tried out a few more recipes . . . Read more on her blog here and in an article about her in the Marin IJ here.

Need garden irrigation in Mill Valley?

I recently stumbled upon a family of expert irrigation specialists here in Mill Valley. If you need help with your sprinkler, drip or rainwater catchment systems, give Fritz and Chris Cassee a call at 415-388-7053 or 415-525-1924. Truly local.