Gardening the green way

Devon Dietz passed along the following about four classes the Linn County Master Gardeners will be presenting - on gardening the green way - at the Kirkwood Community College Training & Outreach Center on Armar Drive in Marion. 

 Gardening the Green Way

Gardening with the green twist! Join the Linn County Master Gardeners to learn how to use environmentally safe ways to garden and help do your part in saving our planet. Sign up for the entire series and receive a 20 percent discount on the tuition. Classes are held at the Kirkwood Training & Outreach Services Center, 3375 Armar Drive, Marion, IA. Classes include: Rain Gardens; Composting; Organic Vegetable Gardening; Get Rid of Pests the Green Way.

Call Kirkwood Community College to enroll in the series for $80 or in the individual classes for $25 each.  Call 319-398-1022 or 800-332-8833 or visit www.kirkwood.edu/ce

Rain Gardens – Tuesday, October 20 – 6 to 8 PM

Rain gardens keep the rain that falls on your yard in your yard. Learn how to prevent runoff from your yard by creating beautiful rain gardens. Rain gardens are not ponds and not bog gardens. Also, learn other water conservation techniques for your yard.

Composting – Tuesday, October 27 – 6 to 8 PM

Join Linn County Master Composters, Wil Carew and Glen Babinat as they explore the mysteries of composting. Learn different options for home composting.

Organic Vegetable Gardening – Tuesday, November 3 – 6 to 8 PM

Enjoy vegetable gardening using proven organic techniques and companion plants to maximize the gardening experience. Ellen Skripsky will provide techniques to help you maximize the production of your garden, without spending a lot of time or using harmful chemicals. This class is recommended for gardeners of all levels of experience who want to enjoy the healthful benefits of organic gardening.

Get Rid of Pests the Green Way – Tuesday, November 10 – 6 to 8 PM

What is a green pesticide? This presentation reviews and describes the "greenest" pesticides available based on research and how to use them. It also will give tips on how to decipher labels and choose products that provide adequate protection against those "pesky" pests (including aphids, beetles, mites, scale, mealybugs, slugs and others). You can have a beautiful garden that's safe for you, your kids, pets and all the wildlife that live nearby!