Learn & Grow with educational workshops, parent/child workshops and hands-on work-learn parties!
Scroll down to view the new 2009 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 gardening.
In addition to these workshops we also hold Work-Learn Parties in our backyard garden in NE Portland for the public. Those who come get to help with projects in our demonstration plot and learn helpful tips and techniques to take home.
We also offer a series of Parent-Child Workshops designed to spark creativity and learning in young and old alike.
2009 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Click on a link below to quickly access the section you are looking for or scroll down to view all offerings.
Download a PDF verson of the 2009 workshop schedule here.
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! 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 or work-learn party, you can sign up via email, or call the office at 503-284-8420. We'll give the exact address and directions when you sign up. Thanks!
Workshops are held throughout North, Northeast, and Southeast Portland and are taught by experienced volunteers.
Shop for & Prepare Healthy Foods on a Budget at People’s Coop
Wednesday, January 21st, 6:00-8:00pm (SE)
Grow Your Own Vegetable Starts FULL
Wednesday, February 25th, 6:00-7:30pm (SE)
Learn why, when and how to affordably start your own vegetable plants indoors from seed at this hands-on demo.
Intro to Urban Chicken Keeping FULL
Tuesday, March 17 th, 6:00-8:00pm (SE)
ChickenCoopBuilding & Design FULL
Saturday, March 28th, 10:00am-2:00pm (SE)
Learn what is necessary to build your hens a happy home, then enjoy a short walking tour of neighborhood coops.
Gardening Basics
Thursday, March 12th, 6:00-8:00pm (SE) FULL
Thursday, April 23rd, 6:00-8:00pm (N/SJ) FULL
Saturday, May 16th, 2:00-4:00pm (NE)
Learn to plan, implement and care for a healthy, affordable, and sustainable veggie garden.
Healthy Soil for Healthy Plants
Wednesday, May 20th, 6:00-8:00pm (SE) FULL
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.
Container Gardening FULL
Tuesday, May 26th, 6:00-8:00pm (NE)
Get inspired to grow your own food in containers and locations of all kinds during this hands-on demonstration with local expert Marc Bouchet Colbert.
Smart Water Use in the garden FULL
Wednesday, June 3rd, 6:00-8:00pm (NE)
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.
Composting & Worm Bins
Wednesday, June 10th, 6:00-8:00pm (SE)
Visit an incredible Metro compost demonstration site to learn the many ways of turning your home kitchen scraps and yard debris into rich food for your garden!
Slugs & Bugs;Naturally managing your garden pests FULL
Tuesday, June 16th, 6:00-8:00pm (NE)
Learn safe, effective & long-terms solutions for controlling pests at a productive Portland home garden.
Sign up via email, or call the office at 503-284-8420
Learn by doing! Free and open to everyone! Come help out our backyard garden in exchange for gardening education. We'll demonstrate gardening techniques and then put them to use in Growing Gardens' backyard in NE Portland.
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Fruit Tree & Berry Pruning
Saturday, February 21st, 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn the basics of winter fruit tree care and practice pruning techniques on a variety of trees and bushes. .
Planting Techniques & Methods FUll
Thursday, May 28th, 6:00-7:30pm
Direct seed and transplant veggies into our garden and learn to conserve space with trellising and bio-intensive & square-foot gardening methods.
Edible Container Gardening Full
Saturday, May 30th, 10:00am-12:00pm
The hands-on how-to of planting vegetables in containers; From balconies to bathtubs, you can garden anywhere!
Summer Fruit Tree pruning
Saturday, June 13th, 10:00am-11:30pm
Planting for Winter Harvests FULL
Saturday, July 18th, 10:00am-12:00pm
Learn how and what to plant now for continuous harvests into the cool season.
Sign up via email, or call the office at 503-284-8420
Get the garden ready for winter. We’ll do some clean-up, sheet mulching, cover cropping and build a cloche (mini greenhouse) to keep the winter crops warm & cozy
Parent - Child workshops are designed to spark interest in children aged 6 to 12 in gardening by providing fun ways for parents (aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors) and children to grow gardens together. All Parent - Child workshops are free for gardeners enrolled in our programs and are open to the community for a sliding scale fee of $5-20.
Planting the seeds for your garden
Thursday, April 16th, 5:30-7:00pm
Monday, April 27th, 5:30-7:00pm
Parents and children will learn the basics of how to start seeds, care for them and when to transplant starts to have a summer full of fresh vegetables.
Planning a DinnerGarden; Pizza, Salsa, Salad, & Taco Gardens!
Monday, May 4th, 5:30-7:00pm (SE)
Saturday, May 16th, 10:00am-12:00am (NE)
Parents and children will get fun ideas and supplies to grow their own food, in gardens specially designed for making pizza, salsa, salad, or tacos!
Wondrous Worms!
Saturday, July 18th, 10:30am-12:00pm (NE)
Parents and children will learn about red wiggler worms; the worms famous for transforming food scraps into fertilizer for plants and gardens. Participants will learn what makes these worms so special through fun hands-on activities, stories and more.
Bugs & Insects
Wednesday August 5th, 5:30pm-7:00pm (SE)
Meet common bugs & insects in the garden. Go on a bug hunt and learn how to create a healthy balance of helpful critters in your garden!
Munch and Crunch
Thursday August 13th, 6:00pm-7:30pm (NE)
Learn how to harvest, store, and care for vegetables as well as how to enjoy them while tasting fresh veggies
from the garden. We’ll also talk about easy recipes and how to encourage kids to eat fresh veggies.
