The Julia V. Morris Garden is operated by the WSU, Snohomish County Master Gardeners and gardeners of all ages from Monroe and surrounding communities. Produce harvested in the garden is donated to the Sky Valley food bank. There is MAGIC in the garden. It is a place of love and sharing and generosity, a place to learn and make new friends. Join us in the garden. Get directions
For more information on the garden or classes or to volunteer, contact Monica Novini (360) 793-8757 monica@monicanovini.com
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WORKDAYS
Workdays are pieces of time set aside to do upkeep and maintenance in the garden. Work will include clearing beds for the next planting, spreading compost, planting the next crop, building trellises, weeding, etc. We will also do the harvesting and take our bounty to the food bank. There are not official classes being taught those days but there is always something to learn in the garden. Dress appropriately. Bring your favorite hand tools.
Workdays are Saturday after the class. There are gardening classes taught at the Morris Garden most Saturday mornings starting at 10am. After class which lasts about an hour, we use the class lesson to learn by doing in the garden.
Starting Sunday, March 22nd, workdays will also be on Sundays from 2-5pm.
If you would like to be added to the garden email list, send an email asking to be added.
CLASS INFORMATION
Classes are taught by Monica Novini, WSU, Snohomish County Master Gardener
Classes start at 10am and are held in the Morris Garden, Monroe, WA. click here for directions
MARCH 2009
MARCH 7
GARDEN PLANNING AND DESIGN Dont know how to get
started? This is the place.
Come with your ideas and maybe even a drawing of your area.
We will be discussing what to plant and where.
Sun, shade, water, soil, what you like to eat, how much time you have to
invest, these things all affect your gardening experience.
Join us to learn the basics and set up a plan to make this a successful
growing season.
After the class, we will be planning the layout for the Morris Garden. In future classes, we will be building raised beds, adding structures like trellises and a gathering table and installing sprinklers so we need to determine their whereabouts. We could use your input. Share your ideas and help us accomplish them. It is a fabulous process to watch. We get together and decide to accomplish something. We breath life into it and it happens!! It is amazing! Come watch, be a part of, participate in the legacy.
MARCH 14 TIME FOR SEEDS catalog ordering, seed starting, gardening on the cheap and seed exchange. This is gonna be a fun class. Catalogs from several local nurseries will be available at class. We will discuss making the most of the growing season, plant spacing, how to translate seed information, which plants to start from seed, which to get as transplants, how to start your own and how to do it without spending a lot of money. Participants will be going home with a mini garden planted in recycled materials and we will be planting early vegies in the garden. If you have seeds to share, bring them. Hopefully, you can go home with some new ones!
MARCH 21 RAISED BEDS the advantages of raised beds are numerous. They allow the soil to get warm and dry out earlier in the season so you can plant earlier, the soil isn't walked on so it stays fluffy so plants grow better, improved drainage, easier on your back, etc. This will probably become a weekend project. We will be building several raised beds from a variety of materials including broken concrete, wood and possibly sand bags. Come check out the possibilities.
APRIL 2009
APRIL 4 - SOIL - The health of the soil determines the quality of anything growing in it. A healthy soil is full of life and very active. In class we will be looking at soil composition and learning more about that stuff on the ground and how it works with your plants. If you would like, you can bring a shovel full of your garden soil. Disturb it as little as possible.
APRIL 11 - TOOLS - Bring your favorite tool for show and tell. There is such a variety of tools out there. Here is a chance to see what is available and which ones people like. We will be focusing on the care and sharpening of tools. Roger, our tool guy, will be doing a demonstration and you can learn how to sharpen your own tools.
ideas for upcoming classes
If you have a special interest you would like to share, an interest in teaching or an idea for a class topic, please contact Monica Novini 360-793-8757 or monica@monicanovini.com We welcome volunteers with special talents and ideas.
Another Herb class but this time we will be propagating and folks can take starts home with them.
INSECTS, the good, the bad and the ugly. Sharon Coleman, WSU, Snohomish County Master Gardener and Entomologist has agreed to teach this class when the bugs come back in spring.
FUNKY VEGETABLES cooking class. We will be growing some pretty unusual vegetables and herbs this spring. Most of them will be unfamiliar to many people. We can tour the garden and see food growing on the plants. We will harvest our food and cook and eat it in the garden.
MOSAIC TILE party to build a place to for FUNKY VEGETABLE cooking classes. Come in grungy clothes and be part of a project that will be a permanent fixture in the garden.
wildlife gardening - Find out what to plant to attract wildlife to your garden. Not only are they fun to watch but there are benefits to having them in your garden. Birds eat insects, as do frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes and other critters.
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