Programs
For more information on classes, or to reserve a spot, please contact info@cngf.org.
The California Native Garden Foundation offers a series of classes on how to design, build, and maintain a California native garden yourself. These classes introduce you, the do-it-yourself native gardener, to creating a sustainable, low-maintenance, and water-conserving garden around your home.
Watch for a repeat of the fun and well received series of cooking classes using California native edibles. Sponsored by the California Native Garden Foundation, the series features cooking demonstrations by John Farais, a veteran chef who specializes in cuisines of the West and indigenous edibles. As Alrie Middlebrook says, "It is our attempt to look at food in a more sustainable way."
At CNGF's Hope for a Green Future event earlier this year, attendees exclaimed over savory native edible foods from these recipes.
Mark Your Calendar!
Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour at various home gardens throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties
Sunday, May 3, 2009, 10am - 3pm
Plant Sale companion event, the Native Plant Sale Extravaganza on the weekend of May 2 and 3 at several East Bay nurseries, some not usually open to the public. Click the link for locations and hours.
Contact: Kathy Kramer
Healthy Soils, Healthy Gardens!
Saturday, May 9. 2009, 1 - 4pm Join Theresa Lyngso and Alrie Middlebrook as they discuss ways to greatly boost your garden's health through increasing biological life. There is a whole universe of living organisms under your feet, essential life you can either support or undo through your gardening practices. Learn how to increase and nurture the aerobic organisms that make fertile soil and how to garden with California native plants to regain soil health. When you have a healthy soil food web, the plants in your garden will be much healthier and the food more nutritious for you and your family.
Theresa Lyngso, president of Lyngso Garden Materials, Inc. for 20 years, understands that life in the soil may hold the answers and solutions to current challenging situations.
Alrie Middlebrook, of the California Native Garden Foundation and Middlebrook Gardens, has been using native California plants to bring beauty and native habitat to the garden for over 20 years.
For more information, contact Friends of Guadalupe River Parks & Gardens.
Water-Efficient Landscaping Classes
Saturdays, April 4 through May 28
Sponsored by BAWSCA in various Bay Area cities.
E. O. WILSON: Biodiversity And Our Future, Healing Mother Earth
Sunday, May 10, 2009, 4pm
Sponsored by CANOPY. Contact: anwyn@canopy.org
Spangenberg Auditorium, Gunn High School, Palo Alto
Widely considered the father of the modern environmental movement, scientist E. O. Wilson shares insights on the race to save Mother Earth's dwindling biodiversity in a unique talk benefiting Canopy's Bay Area urban forestry work.
Named one of America's 25 Most Influential People by TIME magazine, and considered Darwin's "natural heir," Wilson comes to Palo Alto to share visionary ideas on environmentalism.
Donald Kennedy, President Emeritus of Stanford University, will chair the event and KQED's Forum host Michael Krasny will emcee the event.
Trek with Botanist Glenn Keator into the Foothills & Mountains of the South-Central Sierra
Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 (drive to Sanger, CA, on Friday, May 15)
Hike with Dr. Glenn Keator and learn more about our beautiful flora than you ever thought possible.
For all the directions and details: Email Dr. Glenn Keator
To sign up: Contact John Rusk
Rush Burden Basket Workshop
Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, 10am - 4pm
Kule Loklo Indian Village, Point Reyes
In northern California and Oregon, whole stem Juncus or rush (Juncus effusus) are used for ornamental small storage baskets and conical burden baskets. Each participant will make a small burden basket, using diagonal twining, and experiment with braided twining, overlay, and false embroidery. Willow or hazel sticks will be used for reinforcing the sides and rim. Beginning and experienced weavers are welcome.
Class fee is $120
For reservations, contact MAPOM.
Straw Beehive-making (SKEP) Workshop
Saturday, May 23, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross
The classic dome-shaped beehives made of straw bound together with split blackberry stems have been used in northern Europe for centuries, and make attractive, although not very practical, homes for bees. Charlie Kennard will demonstrate various materials and tools used in skep-making. We will see finished skeps and a basketry plant garden that Charlie is creating at the center. Each participant will prepare a bundle of straw, and begin weaving a bowl or skep to take home.
Charlie has practiced basket-weaving as an avocation for 20 years, using local materials and a wide variety of techniques. He is a frequent guest presenter at local schools.
This adult class is limited to 14 students. Registrants will receive further details in advance of the class.
Class fee: $70 includes materials and loan of specialized tools. Advanced reservations and payment required.
To reserve your place, contact Charles Kennard at 415-457-1147 or email charleskennard@comcast.net.