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Searching for a Gardening 101 Class
Sept 2013
We just moved to South Berkeley and have a large backyard with alot of potential. I know next to nothing about gardening but would love install a planter or two and grow a few easy fruits or veggies (strawberries, zucchini, etc). Nothing to complex, but I'd love to be able to eat from my own yard. Can anyone recommend a introductory gardening class in the area? I don't think I will ever be a hard core gardener and currently don't have any interest in trees or flowers, but am hoping there is a Gardening 101 class out there? Novice gardener
The oakland institute of urban homesteading offers exactly what you are looking for. They have classes for the urban gardener and just at the end of this month, there's a class about having an orchard in you yard. Check their classes and calendar here: http://iuhoakland.com/gardening.html Gaby
Try the Institute for Urban Homesteading! They have lots of awesome classes, and are very affordable. www.iuhoakland.com Garden Fan
I took a fantastic Garden Design for Homeowners class at the BUilding Education Center, which unfortunately has closed, that you would have liked. However, I believe that the instructor, Cece Littlepage,, does horticultural consultation and garden 'coaching'. You can reach her at 510-848-4178. Melissa
Although I don't know of a class or series of classes that cover Gardening 101, I do have some tips and recommendations now that we have lived in our new house and had a garden for two summers (and a container garden the year before we bought our house). We are also new to gardening, and have learned a lot from our efforts.
We did attend a good workshop/class at Evergreen Nursery in San Leandro. It was very informative, all about growing tomatoes and we could ask questions from the expert. You can sign up for emails from them to hear about free classes they are offering. Or just check their website for upcoming classes. You might want to check out other garden nurseries to see if they provide classes.
After checking out a lot of gardening books, we most use the Sunset 20 Minute Gardener and the Sunset Western Garden Book (the latter is basically an encyclopedia of plants and useful information on climate zones and some gardening basics. Worth checking out at the library to see how useful it is for you). They produce beautiful books on gardening full of useful tips.
I also got a Garden Problem Solver (rodale) used at a library book sale. Useful when you want to find out what to do about snails or find out what is eating your arugula.
I'm looking forward to hearing what other suggestions you get on BPN! Kirstin
If you take some photos of your plants and their surroundings, the people at Berkeley Horticulture are really nice and love talking to you about your current plants and their care! You can stop almost staff person and they are very knowledgeable, and if they don't know the answer they will bring you to the person that does!
My gardener, Sandra Nevala-Lee, has worked with home-school parents with gardening. She also worked with my grandkids and their parents. Please feel free to call her (I asked her) or email her. She owns a company called Green Thumb Works. She can do in-person or online sessions.
tel. 510.502.0992
greenthumbworks [at] hey.com
It might not be exactly what you're looking for, but if you have specific questions and want to chat with someone about them, the Alameda County Master Gardener Program has a free help desk/email (https://acmg.ucanr.edu/Contact_Us/). I've found them to be really helpful, and it's a cool program.
I'm also curious what others have to say about great local gardening help.
I will be reading your responses with interest and feel you! I too felt I needed a gardening tutor (and maybe still do) when we moved in to our home with a lovely backyard 7 years ago. Things have gotten much much better and I’ve learned a ton (mostly from my mother in law and also lots of trial and error)
Anyways, I was just writing to say August is a tough month in the garden and the plants may just look less happy because it is deep summer. Especially with the drought setting in deeply. We moved into our home in March six years ago and by August of that year I thought I had killed everything - only to see it all perk up in late September. Not sure if this will be your situation…
also I have a bougainvillea - they do benefit from being pruned - taking off the dead non flowering branches… mine had a tough year because I think the temps dipped really low in January and they don’t like to be that cold…but it seems to be recovering now…but both the plants you mentioned (bougainvillea and lily of the Nile)should be pretty low water - so that might not be the issue? Not sure, all gardens are different.
hope this rambling was a little bit helpful!
Good luck!