Oregon Food Bank's Learning Garden Saturday morning series

http://www.oregonfoodbank.org/news/news_releases/view.html?id=106

PORTLAND, Ore.(Feb. 14, 2006)- Oregon Food Bank's Learning Garden, 7900 N.E. 33rd Drive, will offer a series of free gardening workshops on a variety of topics.

Hands-on workshops are on the third Saturday of every month, April through October, from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn about a specific topic and practice the skill in the Learning Garden.

* Garden trellises and supports - Saturday, April 15

Learn which plants grow best on a trellis or support and how to build simple trellises. Participants will create trellises and plant supports for use at Oregon Food Bank's Learning Garden.

* Planting and garden maintenance - Saturday, May 20

Learn the basics of establishing a successful vegetable garden. Participants will plant, thin and mulch Learning Garden beds at Oregon Food Bank.

* Protecting your garden from pests - Saturday, June 17

Learn organic ways to control pests in your garden. Participants will identify common garden insects, discuss pest control strategies and create pest control concoctions.

* Planting for winter - Saturday, July 15

Learn which plants can withstand the cold and how to plant them this summer to ensure a bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables throughout the fall and winter. Participants will plant Oregon Food Bank's winter garden.

* Problem solving: A question and answer session - Saturday, August 19

Wondering what kind of bugs are on your broccoli or how to use all of those tomatoes? Join experienced gardeners for a round-table discussion about solutions to common garden problems.

* Healthy soil: Composting and cover crops - Saturday, September 16

Learn to compost, plant cover crops and rotate crops to create fertile soil in your garden. Participants will build a compost pile and plant cover crops in Oregon Food Bank's Learning Garden.

* Extending the season: Cold frames and cloches - Saturday, October 21

Learn to build cold frames and cloches to protect plants from harsh winter weather. Participants will construct cold frames and cloches in Oregon Food Bank's Learning Garden.