17 Jul Learning Opportunities at The Natural Gardener

We have three new classes, two of which are brand new and never been presented before at The Natural Gardener! 

 All classes are about 1 hour long, except where noted. Classes are subject to change.  Please call first to confirm. Classes are held outdoors under an open air canopy (“The Revival Tent”) – please dress for the weather. Arrive early for best seating. You are welcome to bring your own chair. If possible, please park on Bell Drive, adjacent to the Tent.

If you would like sign language interpretation, please contact rosina@naturalgardeneraustin.com at least one week in advance. Volunteer interpretation provided courtesy of ACC students and others.

July 19 at 9 am – Mark Bradley of Austin Honey Company teaches us all about “Bees!” Mark Bradley, along with his father-in-law Raul Vergara, formed Austin Honey Company in the spring of 2012, after his hobby turned into a profession. They originally partnered with Green Gate Farms to provide pollination to their agricultural operation, while harvesting honey for sale. Now Austin Honey Company has expanded to seven local organic farms, and they sell their honey at five farmers markets: Cedar Park at Lakeline Mall, Downtown Austin, Dripping Springs, Sunset Valley, and HOPE Farmers Market. Mark will share with us why bees and other pollinators are important and give us a current report on the health of our pollinators in the U.S. Mark will let us know why bees are so fascinating and what we can do to help bees and other pollinators thrive.

July 26 at 9 am – Denise Delaney, of the Grow Green program, presents “Choosing Plants for a Waterwise Garden.” Plants can’t get up and run away to a new environment, so they have adapted to whatever luck-of-the-draw place where they grew up. Central Texas native (and well-adapted) plants face many challenges in our environment. We have widely fluctuating temperatures, harsh soil types, along with precipitation ranging from drought to flood. Find out which plants have outsmarted these conditions. In this free class, you’ll use the Grow Green resources from the City of Austin to learn how to choose the perfect plants for your property. Learn how to be more successful with your landscaping adventures. Denise Delaney has been with the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department’s Grow Green Program (www.growgreen.org) since 2004. She is a horticulturist in Central Texas with more than 20 years of experience, including a decade with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center during its early development, and the UT Biological Sciences Department.

August 2, 9, and 16 – SUMMER BREAK – No Classes

August 23 – Tim Miller, Local organic dryland farmer, presents “Water Conservation for Vegetable Gardeners.” Many Texas gardeners make an exception to water conservation when it comes to their vegetable garden. After all, we’re growing food here! Get this: In 25 years of being a certified organic farmer, Tim Miller of Millberg Farm has never pumped any water from the aquifer for his growing needs! He is uniquely qualified to teach us how to grow luscious veggies, while making the most of the water that we have. Learn how to use trench composting, furrows and dikes, mulching, cover cropping, and even weeds to conserve our most precious resource – water!

8648 Old Bee Cave Road | Austin, Texas 78735 | Phone (512) 288-6113  www.naturalgardeneraustin.com