Close up of an artichoke flowering mid-June in Fresno

artichoke flowering mid-June in Fresno

This 4th class we will cover the very important step of planting. Much of this process is important in setting up your plants for success.

Class will be held at the Collier residence. Please contact us if you would like to attend. We will be joined by a CBS 47 crew that is doing a story on family gardens.

In class we will cover:

Welcome to 4th of 10 Garden Fresno classes

Introductions

Recap of Tools class

Preparing the Bed
Adding soil amendments
Leveling
Layout
Choosing a watering technique

Planting
Layout
Spacing
Sister plants
Non-complimentary plants

Early Watering techniques

Established watering techniques
Trench/flood irrigation
Sprinkler/mist irrigation
Drip irrigation

Protection
Seeds
Seedlings

Q&A

Homework
Plant your garden
Take photos of process

After the 3rd Class – tools and breaking ground, I took the roto-tiller home to attack the next patch of grass on my side-yard. The goal is to grow twice as much corn as last year.

Though, to my dismay, the roto-tiller was not working. So, I did it the old fashion way. With a quality hoe, some good music, and a whole lot of hard work, I broke up the 400 square foot area of lawn.

I ended up with a few blisters. But in the long run it is well worth it.

Next is to level the area and plant corn, beans, and squash. These are called the three sisters. North American and Meso American farmers have been planting these three crops together for centuries. Each one uses a different balance of nutrients from the soil and offer benefits to the other plants.

So that was the hard part. Now for the fun part!

Welcome to 3rd of 10 Garden Fresno classes

Tools of the trade
Shovels
Hoes
Rakes
Shears and clippers
Other tools
-The Claw (as seen on TV)
-Machete

Power tools
Roto-tillers
Chippers

Breaking ground
Establishing new planting areas
Grass to garden
Existing planting areas

The Double Dig technique
Yes it as hard as it sounds

Preparing the soil
Physic characteristics
Soil amendments
Leveling

Back to planning
Rows
Clusters
Raised beds

Q&A

Homework
Take photos of process

*again, if unregistered, you can jump into any class you feel interesting or useful. There is a $20 fee per class.

If you would like to join the class but have not registered, you can jump in anytime for a $20/class fee. Below is the outline for the 2nd class, which will be held on location in Leo & Liz’s garden.

Recap of Garden Planning class

Seeds vs. Nursery starts
Plants to start from seed
Plants to buy for nursery
How to select nursery plants

Seeds
Heirloom
Hybrids
How much plants or seeds to buy
Seed harvesting & storage

Germination

Pots & 6-packs
Preparing reused pots

Potting Soil

Caring for seeds & sprouts
Watering
Sun
Pests

Review of Garden Plans

Below is the outline for the Introduction and Planning session. If you’d like to check out the class there is still time. I ask for a $20 deposit. Also if you can’t commit to all 10 sessions, you can pick the classes you want at $20 each.

Welcome to 1st of 10 Garden Fresno classes

Introductions

What is urban gardening

What does a garden need
Sun
Nutrients
Water
Time
Biodiversity

Plan your garden around those 5 parameters

Sun path
Full sun
Partial shade

The dirty part
Sandy soils
Clay rich soils
Organic matter rich soils

The water source and delivery
Rain
Irrigation

How much time will garden need
Preparing
Planting
Watering
Weeding
Harvesting

A diverse garden is a happy garden
Animal
Vegetable
Mineral

Mapping your garden plan
Drawing and/or full scale
What to plan for
-Rows and clusters
-Water
-Paths
-Boundaries and barriers
-Potting table
-Compost heap

Host a class sign up

All classes held on Saturday 10am-noon
Classes 1-4 every week of March to get started
Classes 5-9 once a month
Class 10 is a garden party/potluck

Host a class in your garden & reap day’s benefit
Private consultation also available

3/6 – Introduction & Planning
Location: 1405 N. Adoline Ave.

8/28 – Garden Party
Location: 1405 N. Adoline Ave.

I’ve edited the calendar down to 10 classes. We will hold class every Saturday of March. This is important because now is the time to start gardens and there is lots to learn upfront. After March, we will hold 1 class a month on the 1st or 2nd Saturday. Hopefully this is a condensed schedule that will fit with your schedule.

The consequence however, is that if we have a full class, we will not be able to hold a class at everyone’s garden. To still offer everyone equal benefit, those who do not get a class in their garden will be able to schedule an hour one-on-one consult in their garden.

I hope this is a better schedule for those of you interested in learning how to garden. There was also a bug in the registration form. That has now been corrected. And I’ve added a deposit or pay in full option. So feel free to Register Now.

Last year I cataloged the growth of my garden as well as an experiment of growing a small corn field along my sidewalk. This caught the attention of my neighbors and friends on facebook and twitter. From the strong interest and reoccurring questions about urban gardening I decided there was a need to share my knowledge.

The Spring season is coming again. You may have noticed tulip trees blossoming and grasses turning a more lush green. If you have been wishing to start your own garden, then I wish to help remove the knowledge barrier that has kept you from growing your own food this season.

Format

There is plenty of resources out there for gardeners. Among them are websites, books, magazines, and nursery employees. However, what I am offering is a hands on learning experience built around a community of Fresno gardeners. While a few key classes will be held at my home garden in the Tower District, all the other classes will be held at the home gardens of you and your classmates. The class demonstrations of the day will benefit that gardener. Check out the Calendar of classes.

Community

It is my intention to help foster a gardening community in urban Fresno. This will start as a interactive learning environment. Experimenting and sharing ideas will be encouraged as well as sharing of surplus harvests. The triumphs and spoils will be journaled here for the community at large to learn from. The class will culminate with an awesome garden fresh potluck. Hopefully this community will stay connected after the class is over and will continue to share knowledge and tomatoes.

Class Fee

The two options for registration available are individual and household. A household may include a couple or family. Not all members of a household are required to attend every session but they must be registered as a household for them to participate.

To be part of this unique experience there is a fee of $150 for an individual and $200 for a household, payable through PayPal or personal check. This registration fee grants you attendance to the 15 sessions of class including one class session held at your garden and leaning materials. It does not include any expenses needed to start a home garden including seeds, plants, tools, and soil.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. If you would like to discuss payment option please email me at kiel at spaciodesignstudio.com I can be flexible in-order to get you in the class.

Register Now

abe lincoln hybrid tomatoes

The Spring of 2009 mark my wife and I’s second spring in the 1940 minimal-traditionalist Tower District home we have purchased. The first spring we planted a relatively small area of our back yard with herbs and vegetables.

I like to do more that the year before, so we planted a second small strip in the backyard. In the backyard we grew: greens, rosemary, oregano, lavender, chocolate mint, spicy globe basil, eggplant, jalapeños, and 5 varieties of tomato. The fruit trees we planted were: lime, nectarine, and pomegranate

We also conducted one experiment. With the left over lumber for an archop installation, I built a terraced planter along the sidewalk of our side yard (we live on a corner). We planted the sidewalk planter with sweet corn, crookneck squash, purple basil and artichokes.

harvest of crookneck squash & corn

Overall the garden was a great success. The corn sparked many conversations and even inspired two neighbors to plant corn on their parkway. I really enjoyed being out there, watering or tending the plants, while neighbors walked by with their children or family dog.

The one thing that stumped me was a fungus that grew on the soil at the base of my eggplants and prevented them from producing. I hope to understand that problem and prevent it this year. I also hope the double my corn production.

Who know what else we can grow or discover this year. I know I’m excited. Want to join me?