Gardening in Step with Nature
Getting the Most Food, Flavor and Satisfaction from your Garden

Plants have at least a 300 million year head start on humans. They don’t need us as much as we need them. (And, happily, nature is quite forgiving of our meddling!) With all those years of experience, doesn’t it make sense for home gardeners to turn to nature for advice and guidance? This is your opportunity to learn what nature can teach us…and to fill your kitchen with fruits and veggies that are loaded with flavor and nutrients. And as you will learn, gardening in step with nature is easier and undeniably more satisfying than gardening with artificial inputs.

Please join Glen Andresen, Portland Alliance columnist and host of the K-BOO radio show The Dirt Bag for classes based on his gardening experience and philosophy.

Glen’s “no rules” philosophy:

1. When confronted with a gardening problem, the solution is always to look to nature to see how the problem is solved. The closer your garden is to nature’s naturally complex model, the easier it is to solve your problem.

2. Growing your own vegetables and fruit is extremely fulfilling and is worth twice the amount of time and money you spend doing it—or more! You can’t buy flavor and freshness in produce like what is grown in your own backyard.

3. The key for a successful garden is a healthy soil foodweb, which relies on the use of good compost, cover crops and organic mulch.

4. Organic material that is produced on the property should stay on the property—even diseased and weedy material can be successfully composted in a hot compost pile or right in or on the soil.

5. Plants are only a part of what constitutes a garden. Equally important for the overall health of the garden ecosystem are insects and other wildlife.

6. Healthy gardens need only limited amounts of organic fertilizer.

Class A will be a three-part series for beginning gardeners or more experienced gardeners new to edible gardening. They will be held on the second Saturday on January 13th - and first Saturday on February 3rd and March 3rd from 10:00am to 12:30pm

Class B is for those who have some gardening experience but want to hone or expand their skills by working with nature. This Series to be held the second Saturday in February 10th, March 10th and April 14th from 10:00am to 12:30pm

Classes to be held at the Preserve site at 3033 N.E. Alberta.

Class Fee:  $135 for either three-part series.

To register: Send a check for $70 to Preserve at 3033 N.E. Alberta, Portland, OR 97211.  Please specify series A or B.  Please include phone number or mailing address to receive confirmation of acceptance.  Class space is limited to eight.