All classes are held on Saturdays at the Huntington Botanical Gardens. Classes for elementary school teachers will be held from 9:00-12:00. Classes for secondary school teachers will be held from 1:30-4:30. The first class in the series is on May 12th. For more information, to view the whole series of offerings, and to get the application, visit the Huntington website.

Did I mention classes are free? What a great opportunity. Sign up today!

See the two photos below. The first is a zucchini plant without eggshells. Notice how the leaves have been chewed off the stems. The second is a zucchini plant with a ring of eggshells around it. Perhaps you can conduct your own experiment.

Without Eggshells

With Eggshells

Attracting birds to your garden is a good way to keep away harmful insects. A good project for pre-school and elementary school students is to make your own bird feeder. Its so simple…

1) Recycle toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls
2) Smear on peanut butter generously
3) Roll it in bird seed and press bird seed into peanut butter
4) Place tube on sturdy branch

Photo courtesy of Green Renaissance

The Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative helps new gardeners start their own gardens quickly and easily in a container, in the backyard or at a community garden. Participants are able to turn their interest in gardening into successful, productive gardens that will generate positive changes in their homes by helping to lower grocery bills and enhance opportunities to eat healthy food.

The GLAVG classes are organized and led by UC California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners. Those who complete the 4-week training will become UC-Certified Victory Gardeners.

Place:
Hami Garden, Hamilton High School
2955 South Robertson Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Entrance on S. Canfield Ave (Between Cattaraugus and Kramerwood Pl)

The 4-week session is every Sunday for 3 hours.
Dates: April 29, May 6 May 13, May 20
Time: 1:00PM – 4:00PM

List of topics include the following:
Week 1: Planning, tools, containers, raised beds, seed starting, plant selection (what to grow and when to grow it)

Week 2: Soil preparation, soil properties, organic fertilizers, transplanting, irrigation, and mulching

Week 3: Composting, pest management (weeds, diseases, insects), beneficial insects, organic pesticides.

Week 4: Harvesting, pollination, seed saving, fruit trees, recipes, review, graduation

The cost is $20 per class or $75 for the entire session. Only those taking all 4 sessions will be eligible for certificates. Part of the proceeds will go to supporting the Hami Garden.

Payment is available through Paypal.com or by check. My paypal account email address is gp305@yahoo.com. You will be confirmed registration once payment is received. Classes are always a sell-out, please register early.

Contact:
Master Gardener George Pessin
Tel: 310-779-8816
Email: gp305@yahoo.com

Mailing Address:
834 Huntley Dr #4
Los Angeles, CA 90069

The 2012 Mayor’s Day of Service in Los Angeles aka Good Food Day LA is a citywide event focused on strengthening and celebrating our local food system.

On Saturday, March 31, volunteers throughout Los Angeles will be working together engaging in activities in support of good food at nearly forty different event sites including many community gardens and school gardens.

To find an event location near you, click on the Good Food Day map or download the PDF List of Activities from the Los Angeles Food Policy Council.

I’ll be volunteering at the Los Angeles Leadership Academy HS Urban Farm Project, 234 East Avenue 33, Los Angeles, 90031 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.

The Network for a Healthy California will be holding bi-lingual nutrition education classes and healthy food tastings. UC Master Gardeners will be giving workshops in seed starting, transplanting and container gardening.

Come join us as a participant or come join us as a volunteer. Either way come out and support Los Angeles by helping to create a more healthy, fair and sustainable food system.

Hope to see you there.

How to Enter
Are you with a school or do you know of a school that has a garden program and could benefit from some garden tools for the students?

If so, just send us an email from the school’s email system and tell us about your gardening program and how you’re school and the kids could benefit from winning these tools. (One entry per school please and schools located in the United States)

Send your email to: schools@gardentoolcompany.com

On April 1^st, 2012 we’ll pick three lucky winners and contact them via their email address.

Pop quiz: When we’re eating celery what part of the plant are we consuming?

A celery stalk, the part of the celery plant we eat, is a special part of the leaf structure called a petiole. A petiole is a small stalk that attaches the leaf blade of a plant to the stem.

Can you name any other edible petioles?

If you said rhubarb, you are correct.

What about stems?  What are the tastiest stems on the planet?

Arguably asparagus.

For more info see Edible Leafs: Spinach, Celery, and Artichokes