Orchardist Richard Murray, right, demonstrates pruning techniques at Classroom in Bloom’s pruning workshop, as participant Jon Albright listens.
Classroom in Bloom, the garden on the Methow Valley School District campus, is offering a series of monthly workshops from April 16 through October on gardening and food preservation. Current and aspiring gardeners, chefs and beekeepers can take individual classes or sign up for the entire series.
The classes are geared toward adults. Locations vary by topic.
April 16: Fermented Foods. Learn about fermenting sauerkraut, beet kvass and beyond with Kari Bown.
May 21: Composting Systems. Barb Preston and Betsy Cushman share strategies for overwintering worms and effective compost systems at your home garden.
June 18: Soil Health for Fertility and Natural Pest Control. Sam Lucy of Bluebird Grain Farms will explore soil vitality as the foundation to growing healthy and healthful crops.
July 16: Bees and Pollinators. Learn about natural beekeeping, forage crops for pollinators, and beehive systems from beekeepers Alexa Whipple and Susie Kowalczyk.
August 13: Seed-Saving. Anaka Mines of Twisp River Seed presents the basics of home seed-saving, with tips and techniques for collecting and cleaning seeds.
September 17: Preserving the Harvest. Chef and farmer Cameron Green will share her culinary skills in preserving the harvest.
October 15: Wood-fire Cooking. Learn to bake breads and pizza and to roast roots and meats in the wood-fired cob oven at Classroom in Bloom with Kate Posey.
All classes are Saturday mornings from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuition is on a sliding scale from $10 to 30 per class, or $160 for the full series.
Visit www.classroominbloom.org for more information or to register, or contact director Kate Posey at kate@classroominbloom.org.
Classes are co-sponsored by the Methow Conservancy.
