Get gardening tips from the masters
It’s finally warming up, and the robins and blackbirds are back. Now is a great time to take advantage of some educational opportunities offered by our region’s Master Gardener and Master Composter programs.
If you always wanted to know how to build a compost pile, the Spokane Master Composters have a deal for you. Starting March 24 they will teach you the ins and outs of turning garden and kitchen vegetable trimmings into black gold. In exchange, you will then be asked to donate 40 hours back to the community teaching other people about composting. The class will run for five Monday evenings and two Saturdays, ending with a hands-on practice session at the Compost Fair at Finch Arboretum April 26. Call the Recycling Hot line for more information and to register; (509) 625-6800.
The WSU Spokane County Master Gardeners are offering two class series this spring. Beginning on March 22 and running through April 12, the Beginning Gardening series will introduce new and experienced gardeners to reading the local climate, understanding and preparing soils for planting, growing all kinds of flowering plants and vegetables and how to care for a lawn through the season. The classes are $35 for the series. There will be a Youth Gardening class available to introduce children to the joy of gardening for an additional $10.
There is nothing more satisfying than picking your own food fresh from the garden. In their second class series, the Spokane County Master Gardeners will show you how easy it is even if you only have a small space or just a patio. The series will start Thursday April 17 and run until May 8, and cover choosing the best varieties of vegetables including heirlooms, soil preparation, frost protection, building and growing in raised beds, dealing with pest problems, growing and harvesting fruits and berries, growing and using culinary herbs and the use of companion planting and the use of beneficial insects. The classes are $10 each. For more information and to register, call the Spokane County Extension Office at (509) 477-2048. Both classes will be held at the WSU Spokane County Extension Office, 222 N. Havana St.
The Bonner County Master Gardeners will kick off their offerings with their Home Horticultural Series at the Bonner County Extension Office in Sandpoint. The evening classes will run through April 30 and cover garden planning, starting seeds, selecting fruit trees for North Idaho, beekeeping, butterfly and fragrance gardening and using pesticides. Each class is $10 and pre-registration is required by calling (208) 263-8511.