ECO announces edible garden workshops

Press Release

ECO, Environmental and Conservation Organization

ECO’s Sustainable Living Workshops and annual Home Tour are taking on a new, exciting focus in 2014 by highlighting edible gardens as well as green home features. Coordinating the workshops and tour will provide more opportunities for the community to learn and see sustainably source their own food. The workshops will be sequenced to follow the gardening cycle from winter through spring, summer, and fall. The 7th home tour will be held August 9, 2014 to showcase what homeowners have done with their gardens. Workshops require advanced registration and cost $15 per person. Grab your seat online at www.eco-wnc.org or by calling 828-692-0385 and stay tuned for upcoming workshops and information about the home tour this summer.

ECO Sustainable Living Workshops for February and March 2014

Growing Fruits and Nuts in the Home Garden
Join us on Thursday, February 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Biz611 on North Church Street as Debbie Lienhart of Useful Plants Nursery introduces you to growing fruit and nut trees in home gardens. She will discuss locating, selecting, planting, and maintaining productive trees and shrubs at home, including transitioning from ornamentals to edibles, and growing more food in small spaces. This workshop is coordinated with ECO’s annual heritage fruit tree sale, December through late January. Trees can be ordered until January 24th by visiting ECO online at www.eco-wnc.org. Tree pick-up will take place on February 8, 2014 from 9 til noon at Biz611. Debbie Lienhart is a lifelong gardener and is a co-owner and manager of Useful Plants Nursery near Black Mountain, NC. Debbie lives with her husband, three cats, and hundreds of fruit and nut trees and berry bushes at Earthaven Ecovillage. She works with the Buncombe Fruit and Nut Club on community gardens and is on the boards of Organic Growers School and the Blue Ridge Horticultural Association.

Designing Your Edible Garden
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at NC Cooperative Extension in Jackson Park. Kerrie Roach will take gardeners through the steps to designing your very own edible garden. This class will be geared toward new or novice gardeners, but will also be a great refresher for seasoned gardeners. Kerrie will discuss many topics, including planning and locating your garden, the size of your garden, what type of garden will suit you and your lifestyle, soil requirements, plant preferences, and much more. Kerrie Roach is a Henderson County Horticulture Extension Agent for Commercial and Consumer Horticulture and is responsible for the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program.

Vermicomposting with the Mystics – 101
Wednesday March 26, 2014 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the ECO office, taught by Diane Rhoades. Understand the expansive and vital role that worms play in soil health, human health, and in our mindful consideration of what is worth cultivating. Diane will walk you through the dynamics of successful composting with worms. Raising worms is a gateway activity to enlightenment, vitality, and combating cultural ridiculousness. Class limited to 12 – advanced registration is required (additional materials fee may apply). Diane Rhoades, author of Garden Crafts with Kids, has been raising worms for over 25 years and credits her senior athleticism to the worms.

Contact ECO by phone at 692-0385 or visit their website at eco-wnc.org.

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About Carrie Eidson
Multimedia journalist and Green Scene editor at Mountain Xpress. Part-time Twitterer @mxenv but also reachable at ceidson@mountainx.com. Follow me @carrieeidson

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