Learn & Grow with educational workshops, parent/child workshops and hands-on work-learn parties!
Scroll down to view the new 2010 Workshop schedule.
Our Learn & Grow program offers a variety of educational resources for all levels of gardeners in our community.
Each year Growing Gardens recruits experienced and giving volunteers from Portland's home gardening and sustainable agriculture communities to teach a series of workshops for our Garden Recipients as well as the general public.
Topics range from Garden Planning & Design to Food Preservation to Urban Chicken Keeping. The emphasis is on sustainable, healthy, and affordable approaches to vegetable gardening. We also offer a series of Parent-Child Workshops designed to spark creativity and learning in young and old alike.
2010 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Click on a link below to quickly access the section you are looking for or scroll down to view all offerings.
You can also stay up-to-date on Growing Gardens events by checking out our events calendar.
Register now! Workshops are open to the public - no prior experience necessary! Workshops are held throughout North, Northeast, and Southeast Portland and are taught by experienced volunteers. They are free for enrolled Home Garden recipients and open to the community for a sliding scale donation of $5-$20. If you would like to attend a workshop, you can sign up by emailing Rodney@growing-gardens.org or by calling the office at 503-284-8420. We'll provide the exact address and directions when you sign up.
Soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. Learn how to build up the health and fertility of your garden beds to keep your plants happy and productive.
Lo Basico de la Jardinaria en Espanol
21 de Abril, 6:00-8:00 del tarde
Aprenderiá a planificar y cultivar un jardín de verduras saludables, asequibles y sostenibles.
Gardening Basics
Thursday, May 6, 6:00-8:00pm(SE)
Learn to plan, implement and care for a healthy, affordable, and sustainable veggie garden.
Cultivando en Contenedores en Espanol
Miercoles, 12 de Mayo, 6-8 del noche (NE)
Encontraría la inspiración a cultivar comida en contenedores en todos tipos de sitio durante este demonstración.
Container Gardening
Tuesday, May 18, 6:00-8:00pm (NE)
Get inspired to grow your own food in containers and locations of all kinds during this hands-on demonstration.
¯SUMMER¯
Composting & Worm Bins
Wednesday, June 16, 6:00-8:00pm (SE)
Learn the many ways of turning your home kitchen scraps and yard debris into rich food for your garden.
Advanced Soil Health
Tuesday, June 22, 6:00-8:00pm (N)
Learn the best ways to keep your soil healthy by learning about the soil food web, compost teas and bringing soil into balance.
Slugs & Bugs; Naturally Managing Your Garden Pests
Saturday, June 26, 10:00am-12:00pm (NE)
Learn safe, effective & long-term solutions for controlling pests.
Goats, chickens & ducks! Oh my!
Thursday, July 8, 6:00-8:00pm (NE)
Learn the benefits of, and everything you need to know about raising a variety of livestock in the city. This workshop will be held at the home of urban livestock farmers so come prepared to be surrounded by animals!
Year-Round Vegetable Gardening
Thursday, July 1, 6:00-8:00pm (N)
Saturday, July 3, 10:00am-12:00pm (SE)
Come learn what, when & how to plant for fall, winter and early spring harvests.
Tree Care for Gardeners (In partnership with Friends of Trees)
Tuesday, July 27, 6:00-8:00pm (NE)
Learn tips and techniques for tree care in and around your garden, including how to incorporate shade-lovers and early bloomers around existing trees, maximizing your fruit output and how to plant, tend, prune and care for the tallest members of your garden.
Seed Saving
Wednesday, September 8, 6:00-7:30pm (SE)
Learn to save seeds from the garden during this hands-on workshop.
Smart Water Use in the Garden
Tuesday, June 8, 6:00-8:00pm(SE)
See a low water use garden in action and learn the basics of conserving water (and money) in your urban landscape through irrigation systems, rainwater catchment and more.
¯FALL¯
Gardening Basics Parts I & II
Part I: Wednesday, November 10, 6:00-8:00pm (N)
Part II: Saturday, November 13, 10:00am-12:00pm (N)
Learn to plan, implement and care for a healthy, affordable, and sustainable veggie garden. Part II is a continuation of Part I. You don’t have to sign up for both parts, but you’ll get more out of the workshop if you do.
Gardening Planning & Design
Thursday, December 2, 6:00-8:00pm (NE)
Saturday, December 4, 10:00am-12:00pm (SE)
Learn how to get the most out of your veggie garden by planning for a years worth of successive plantings. Each participant will go home with a custom made planting calendar and garden map.
Gardening Planning & Design
Thursday, December 2, 6:00-8:00pm
Learn how to get the most out of your veggie garden by planning for a years worth of successive plantings. Each participant will go home with a custom made planting calendar and garden map.
¯FOOD PREPARATION SERIES¯
Cooking With Summer Vegetables
Thursday, September 9 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. (NE)
Prepare fresh, delicious & nutritious garden veggie dishes during this hands-on workshop with a local chef.
Food Preservation
Tomato Canning: Saturday, September 18, 10am-12pm (NE)
Pickling: Tuesday, September 7, 6:00-8:00pm (NE)
Learn about the many ways that you can preserve your summer vegetables and fruits.
¯DIY SERIES¯
Vermicomposting and Building a Worm Bin
Wednesday, August 18, 6:00-8:00pm (SE)
Learn how to turn your kitchen food scraps into rich compost using red wiggler worms. This hands-on workshop will include building worm bins. All participants will go home with a worm bin and red wigglers.
Chicken Coop Design & Building - This workshop has a flat fee of $40
Saturday, September 25, 10:00am-3:00pm (NE)
Learn how to design and build a secure, happy home for your hens. This workshop will include building an entire chicken coop and run. At the end of the workshop there will be a drawing and one lucky participant will go home with the chicken coop. All participants will go home with a copy of the design and the hands-on know-how to build the coop. This workshop is in partnership between Growing Gardens, Naomi's Organic Farm Supply and John Carr: http://www.thegardencoop.com/
Cloche Building to Extend the Harvest
Thursday, October 7, 6:00-9:00pm (SE)
Learn how to extend the growing season into winter. This hands-on workshop will include building a wood cloche with an easy access hinged top. Each participant will go home with a cloche.
¯PARENT/CHILD SERIES¯
Want to get your family growing their own fruits and veggies? Check-out our parent-child workshops! All parent-child workshops are offered for a sliding scale donation of $5-$20 dollars. If you would like to attend, you can sign-up by emailing our Youth Grow Educator at: nell@growing-gardens.org or calling 503-284-8420. We'll give you the exact address and directions when you sign-up.
Planting Seeds for Your Garden
Saturday, April 17, 10:00am-11:30am (NE)
Parents and children will learn the basics of how to start seeds, care for them, and when to transplant them to have a summer full of fresh vegetables.
Planning a Dinner Garden
Monday, May 10, 6:00-7:30pm (NE)
Thursday, May 13, 6:00-7:30pm (NE)
Saturday, May 15, 10:30am-12:00pm (NE)
Families will learn about fun ideas about how to grow their own food in gardens especially designed for kids. Create pizza, salsa, salad or tacos garden for your family!
Munch and Crunch Workshops
Thursday, July 8, 9:00-10:30am (N)
Thursday, July 15, 6:00-7:30pm (NE)
Thursday, August 5, 6:00-7:30pm (SE)
Taste fresh produce from the garden. Learn how to harvest, store and care for vegetables. Learn easy recipes and how to encourage kids to eat fresh veggies.
Wondrous Worms
Thursday, July 29, 1:00-2:30pm (SE)
Parents and children learn about red wiggler worms, worm composting, and how to make and maintain a worm bin together.
