Columbia Springs Earth-friendly gardening and Native Plantclasses

Protect our Salmon Habitat and Climate with Earth-friendly Gardening Practices!

Columbia Springs, an environmental education center located along the Columbia River in Vancouver, will present a series of classes on Native Plants and on Earth-friendly Gardening Practices. Classes can be taken individually or as a four-week series.

The Earth-friendly Gardening Practices class series will take place on Tuesday evenings between July 19th and Aug 9th from 6:30-8:00 pm. Participants will learn how to grow food and ornamental plants in ways that benefit the environment. Classes will introduce people to practices that utilize the natural characteristics of soil processes, plant relationships, and beneficial organisms to increase output and decrease damage. Class topics will include: Designing Gardens for Natural Success (July 19th); Mulching and “Lasagna Gardens” (July 26th); Identifying and Accommodating Beneficial Species (Aug 2nd); and Soil Amendments (Aug 9th). The cost is $95 for the series or $25 for an individual class.

The Native Plants of Western WA class series will take place on Thursday evenings between July 21st and Aug 11th from 6:30-8:00 pm. Participants will be introduced to the remarkable green residents of the western Cascades. Class topics will include: Great Trees (July 21st); Lowland Forest Communities (July 28th); Plants from Extreme Environments (Aug 4th); and Plants that are Well-suited for Gardens and Landscapes (Aug 11th). The cost is $95 for the series or $25 for an individual class.

Classes will be presented by Columbia Springs Sustainability Educator Kenneth O’Brien. Mr. O’Brien has a masters degree in Natural Resources and has previously served as coordinator of the Naturally Beautiful Backyards Program at Columbia Springs and as environmental education coordinator for programs in Olympic National Park as well as Alabama, Colorado, and New York.

Classes will take place in the Cordwood Classroom on West Biddle Lake at Columbia Springs, located at 12208 SE Evergreen Hwy. People are asked to pre-register through the website at www.columbiasprings.org, by phone at (360) 882-0936 x225, or by email at kobrien@columbiasprings.org.

Please feel free to print, post, and forward the attached flyer and workshop information in your newsletter, on your list-serve, at your workplace, and on your webpage. Thank you!

Location