Educational Programs & Outreach
The Beaches Community Garden aims to serve as an educational source for sustainable living practices and responsible resource management within our community. There are many different ways to partake in our programs, such as guided educational garden tours, workshops, "good food" presentations, and children's gardening.
Workshops
The Community Garden holds monthly workshops on all areas of organic gardening and sustainable living. Please email us to sign up for a class!
Plant Propagation
DATE: next workshop in fall, TBA
LOCATION:Community Garden, Jarboe Park
COST: $10
PAYMENT: in advance; at Green Market or by mail (see contact info on webpage). Cash or Check.
Checks made to: SEE/BLFN
This hands-on class demonstrates how to propagate vegetable and herb plants from both seeds and cuttings. We explore techniques for a variety of plants. Take home a flat of plants that you propagate! Materials included.
Composting 101
DATE: next workshop in fall, TBS
LOCATION: Community Garden, Jarboe Park
COST: $8
PAYMENT: in advance; at Green Market or by mail (see contact info on webpage). Cash or Check.
Checks made to: SEE/BLFN
Composting and soil quality are the most important aspects of long-term sustainability for the organic gardener. This how-to class will make it easy for you to recycle nutrients at home, replenishing the soil rather than sending "garbage" to the landfill.
Organic Fertilization and Pest Control
Next Class TBA
This class demonstrates a variety of pest control and fertilization techniques for organic vegetable gardeners, specific for our area's typical soil quality and insect issues.
Harvesting and Saving Seed
Date: next workshop in fall, TBA
LOCATION: Community Garden, Jarboe Park
COST: $8
PAYMENT: in advance; at Green Market or by mail (see contact info on webpage). Cash or Check.
Checks made to: SEE/BLFN
Seed
saving is an incredibly important skill in its ability not only to save
you money but to protect the biological heritage of the foods that
provide us sustenance! Did you know that 6 companies control 98% of
world seed sales? And they patent these seeds just to get rid of them
(between 1981 and 1998 we lost 80% of our vegetable varieties!). It's
up to us to learn to save seeds!
Canning and Pickling Workshop
Date: November 1st, 2009
Location: Turtle Island Natural Foods
Cost: $45, includes all supplies & instructional book that you get to keep
Payment: in advance; at Green Market or by mail. Limited to 15 people. Checks payable to: Simple Specialties
We
will be using seasonal produce, and we ask that gardeners bring in
whatever fresh stuff they wish to process! Also, bring you favorite
chopping knife and clean cutting board!
Guided Garden Tours
Our garden tours are a great way to learn a little bit about organic gardening while observing many different approaches taken by members of our community. We offer this to individuals and groups for a suggested donation of $2/person. During the tour, we get to taste and smell different herbs, learn a few native plants and a bit about composting, see the way the community garden functions, and learn what vegetable crops are doing well during particular seasons. For school groups, you can also bring a bag lunch or snack and enjoy it at the picnic tables in the Garden. Please contact us to make an appointment.
"Good Food" Presentations
Schedule a presentation at your school, church, organization, or place of employment and help spread knowledge about local food, sustainable agriculture and home gardening! Our presentations can be customized for any age level and time period and can include a gardening/seeding activity if desired. Donations are appreciated.
Beaches Children's GardenOne of the group plots at the Beaches Organic Community Garden is dedicated to Children's Gardening. For 2008/09, there are two different Girl Scout Troops learning to garden in this plot. 
