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EDUCATION: Learn & GROW! Gardeners Guide 2020

Every opportunity to learn more will make you a better gardener. From learning which soil amendments work best for your kind of soil, to how to collect seeds, grow plants from cuttings, when and how to prune, etc. There are classes on rainwater harvesting and graywater systems that will allow you to garden during drought years. So much to learnā€¦hereā€™s a list of local venues to learn something new. (Listings in Bold with #s are our ADVERTISERS. Please support the businesses who make this guide possible - THANK YOU!)

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Beekind Honey & Beekeeping - 34 (Advertiser - THANK YOU!)
921 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol
707-824-2905
beekind.com
M-S 10aā€“6p Sun 10aā€“4p
Take a class on how to raise bees to help keep Sonoma County bee populations healthy. TASTE or locally produced Honey, and find gifts if beeswax Candles, Soap, Lotions, Gifts, Bees & Supplies - Everything BEE!

Cal Fire ā€“ Sonoma, Lake, Napa
135 Ridgeway Ave., Santa Rosa
707-576-2275
fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/fhsz_maps_sonoma
Contact your local CAL FIRE Station for questions on defensible space. Also, visit the CAL FIRE website: www.fire.ca.gov and ā€œThe Ready for Wildfireā€ website www.readyforwildfire.org. for wildland fire tips. Both websites offer information regarding what to do before, during, and after a wildland fire such as if you are requested to evacuate your residence, how to develop an evacuation plan, and be prepared to get out of harmā€™s way.

Daily Acts
P.O. Box 293, Petaluma
707-789-9664
dailyacts.org
Check website for complete listing of community projects, opportunities to volunteer, and workshops on topics like greywater installation, rainwater catchment, and landscape transformations.

Ethnobotany Library - Botanical Dimensions
3830 Doris Murphy Ct, Occidental
707-874-1531
botanicaldimensions.org
Tuesā€“Thur 11aā€“4p & first Tues of each month 5aā€“7p
Unique literary collection of over 2000 volumes on the human use of plants. Topics include food, fibers, dyes, art, tools, medicine, ecology and spirituality. Kathleen Harrison, Co-Founder and Program Director, is the main teacher of ethnobotany at our site and is available for consult by appointment. Classes taught year-round, see website.

Gardening by the Moon
gardeningbythemoon.com
707-869-3974
There is always something to do in the garden, and this easy to read planting calendar shows you the best days for planting by the phase and sign of the moon. Each month shows garden activities based on your growing season and tells you when is the fertile time to plant. By working with the forces of nature you can have a more abundant harvest.

Greywater Action - For a Sustainable Water Culture
greywateraction.org
We are a collaborative of educators who teach residents and tradespeople about affordable and simple household water systems that dramatically reduce water use and foster sustainable cultures of water. Through hands-on workshops, presentations, and our books weā€™ve led thousands of people through greywater system design and construction. We work with policymakers and water districts to develop codes and incentives for greywater, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets. We believe that decentralized conservation measures can play a critical role in drought resilience, climate adaptation, and the return of healthy stream ecosystems. Our teaching tools include interactive models of composting toilets and greywater systems, presentations, and design and installation workshops.

iGROW SONOMA
igrowsonoma.org
We provide information and encouragement for people to grow their own fruit and vegetables ā€“ inspire people to create neighborhood garden groups and new community gardens, and help people find local sources of healthy food. See BLOG postings by Wendy Krupnick and Sara McCamant on seasonal garden topics at igrowsonoma.org/blog, as well as the garden-related events calendar.

Permaculture Skills Center
2185 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol
707-824-0836
permacultureskillscenter.info
Office Hours: MF 9aā€“ 5p
We are a 5-acre demonstration site and educational institution dedicated to sharing regenerative land development and management practices. We offer diverse programs for everyone, from our online Eco-Landscape Mastery School (ELM) for those interested in starting or growing their own ecological landscape business to students interested in home gardening, farming, landscaping or land management. We are empowering land tenders with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to create regenerative and resilient ecosystems, communities and economies. We strive to align passion, purpose & prosperity in partnership with the planet.

Quarryhill Botanical Garden
12841 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen
707-996-3166
quarryhillbg.org
Open Daily 9aā€“4p
One of the largest collections of scientifically documented, wild-source Asian plants in North America and Europe, many of which represent ancestors of horticultural favorites found throughout the western world. The 25-acre wild woodland garden has grown into a world-renowned botanical institution, providing other botanical gardens, arboreta, researchers, conservationists, students, and the visiting public with living examples of the beautiful and threatened temperate flora of East Asia. Quarryhill is not only a modern-day ark of rare and beautiful plants, but also a place where education and conservation are at the heart of its mission and run as deep as the tranquil ponds and seasonal waterfalls that surround it.

Sonoma County Herb Association
Barbara Jean (BJ) Avery, Director, 707-824-1447
sonomaherbs.org
We are a group of educators, practitioners, medicine makers, growers, and students whose mission is to foster respect for the green world and our community through the responsible use and sustainable cultivation of herbs. SCHA hosts the Sonoma County Herb Exchange, a clearinghouse of top quality, locally grown medicinal herbs. All herbs are grown according to organic protocol. We hold FREE educational events monthly (3rd Wednesday of the Month Speaker Series) and host plant sales and other plant-based gatherings throughout the year. Follows us on Facebook and Instagram, and/or join our mailing list for updates on events and seasonally available fresh medicinal herbs.

Sonoma Marin Watersaving Partnership - 36 (Advertiser - THANK YOU!)
404 Aviation Blvd, Santa Rosa
707-547-1900
savingwaterpartnership.org
The Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership represents 11 water utilities in Sonoma and Marin counties who have joined together to provide a regional approach to water use efficiency. Our website includes a number of programs focused on drought tolerant plants and low water use garden practices including:

A regional approach to water use efficiency
A regional approach to water use efficiency

ā€“ Eco-Friendly Garden Tour: Sat, May 2, 2020 10aā€“4p. FREE, self-guided, registration is required.

ā€“ Water Smart Plant Label: Look for signs at local nurseries identifying low water use plants.

ā€“ Water Smart Plant Guide: Database of low water use plants.

ā€“ Garden Sense: FREE garden consultations with a master gardener.

ā€“ Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper: Find a water-efficient landscape professional.

The Gardening Tutor
Mary Frost
707-545-6863
thegardeningtutor.com
Contact Mary Frost for garden consultations, drip irrigation and gardening tutoring, pruning services and much more. Find The Gardening Tutor on YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest

UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
133 Aviation Blvd. Ste 109, Santa Rosa:
707-565-2608
sonomamg.ucanr.edu
M-F 8aā€“12p & 1pā€“4p
Master Gardeners are volunteers trained and certified by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in the fields of gardening and horticulture providing information and technical assistance to gardeners. Contact us about our Garden Sense program

UC Cooperative Extension Garden Sense
133 Aviation Blvd, Suite 109, Santa Rosa
707-565-2621
cesonoma.ucanr.edu
Our mission is to sustain a vital agriculture, environment, and community in Sonoma County by providing University of California research-based information in agriculture, natural resource management and youth development.

Yoga for Gardeners
Gail Dubinsky, M.D.
1205 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol
707-829-7596
rxyoga.com
A comprehensive program promoting strength, flexibility, body mechanics, ergonomics and mindfulness with special relevance for gardening.

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