Can You Dig It!
A monthly gardening workshop
Can You Dig It features expert growers from the Monterey Bay area who give workshops throughout the year, April through November. Learn how to garden like a pro!
When: Third Saturday of each month, April through November, 10 – 11:30 AM
Where: Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
Classes & Schedules:
DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2008, 10 – 11:30 AM, APTOS FARMERS MARKET
Featuring: FEATURING: PAMELA MASON OF COLE CANYON FARM
WORKSHOP: HOW TO GROW HERBS SUCCESSFULLY IN YOUR GARDEN
Pamela Mason, co-owner of Cole Canyon Farm, will share her herb growing expertise with the home gardener. Whether you plant in large row gardens, raised beds, patio containers or small balconies, Pamela will teach you how to select and grow a wide variety of fresh kitchen herbs in your own garden.
Cole Canyon Farm offers an excellent selection of vegetable and herb seedlings year round, all grown from organic or untreated seeds, including a substantial number of heirloom plant varieties. In addition, they have beautiful herb boxes and salad bowls available that can also be made to order. See their website for a very useful herb compendium (www.colecanyonfarm.com) and to sign up for their gardening newsletter.
DATE: SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2008, 10 – 11:30 AM, APTOS FARMERS MARKET
FEATURING: SARA OF UPSTARTS ORGANIC SEEDLINGS
WORKSHOP: VEGGIE STARTS—WHEN, WHERE AND HOW!
Planning a vegetable garden this year? Looking for some interesting new veggie varieties to grow? Sara will discuss how to successfully transplant vegetable seedlings and help you create a flourishing vegetable garden this season.
Upstarts Organic Seedlings has been providing quality gourmet vegetable starts to the Greater San Francisco Bay Area since 1987 and certified organic by CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) since 1990. For more information, see www.upstartsorganicseedlings.com.
DATE: SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2008, 10 – 11:30 AM, APTOS FARMERS MARKET
FEATURING: CYNTHIA SANDBERG OF LOVE APPLE FARM
WORKSHOP: TIPS AND TRICKS TO GROW BETTER TOMATOES
Discover the tomato-growing secrets of Cynthia Sandberg, owner of Love Apple Farm, our local “go-to” expert on heirloom tomatoes. She grows and sells over 100 different varieties of tomatoes at her farm in Ben Lomond, both as plants in the spring and fruit at her farm stand in the summer. Love Apple Farm is also the exclusive kitchen garden for Chef David Kinch and his well-renowned Manresa restaurant of Los Gatos.
Cynthia gives a number of fun and informative gardening classes at her farm year round, including “How to Grow Better Tomatoes,” “Tomato Master's Class,” “Summer Vegetable Gardening,” “Compost and Vermiculture,” “Keeping Chickens,” “Drip Irrigation,” and “Winter Vegetable Gardening.”
For more information about her classes, tomato plants or fruit sales, see her website www.growbetterveggies.com.
SATURDAY JULY 19, 2008, 10 – 11:30 AM, APTOS FARMERS MARKET
FEATURING: OZZIE PARNIANFAR OF OZZIE’S ORCHIDS AND DAHLIAS
WORKISHOP: WHY YOU SHOULD LOVE DAHLIAS—DAHLIA VARIETIES AND HOW TO GROW THEM!
According to Ozzie (also fondly known as “Dahlia man”): “If you want to live longer—grow dahlias!” Ozzie has been growing show quality dahlias for sixteen years. He planted his first dahlia garden in 1992 in front of his former business, The Cheese Factory. Since selling his business in 2002, he began growing dahlias commercially and selling them at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets. He has also been an active member of the Monterey Bay Dahlia Society since 1992.
“I like sharing my experience with those who like to grow show quality dahlias in their garden,” Ozzie beams. If you love dahlias, come enjoy an hour with one of the most knowledgeable (and charming!) experts in our area.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2008, 10 – 11:30 AM, APTOS FARMERS MARKET
FEATURING: PAMELA MASON FROM COLE CANYON FARM
WORKSHOP: HERB BOXES—CREATING GREAT GIFTS AND TABLE CENTERPIECES
Pamela Mason, from Cole Canyon Farm, returns to show you how to assemble a beautiful herb box or table centerpiece for your own table or as a unique gift, and how to care for them.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008, 10 – 11:30 AM, APTOS FARMERS MARKET
FEATURING: OZZIE PARNIANFAR OF OZZIE’S ORCHIDS AND DAHLIAS
WORKISHOP: GROWING AND CARING FOR YOUR CYMBIDIUM ORCHIDS—HOW TO GET THEM TO FLOWER AGAIN AND AGAIN!
Ozzie the “Dahlia Man” is back to discuss the other hat he wears at the markets as “Ozzie’s Orchids.” Come visit with Ozzie and learn from an expert how to grow and care for orchids year round. If you want your cymbidiums to flower year after year, Ozzie is the man to talk to!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2008, 10 – 11:30 AM, APTOS FARMERS MARKET
FEATURING: WILLIAM R. P. WELCH
WORKSHOP: NARCISSUS — KNOW THEM, GROW THEM AND LOVE THEM!
Come enjoy a visit with “Bill the Bulb Baron” and learn about his love of the harbinger of spring—narcissus! If you are looking for a gopher resistant, fragrant sign of spring you’ll enjoy this workshop and learn about the many varieties of narcissus that Bill grows and created. Yes, you read this correctly—Bill has created many of his own species with special names, color combinations and fragrances! For a complete listing of the varieties of bulbs he sells, be sure to visit his website at www.billthebulbbaron.com.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2008, 10 – 11:30 AM, APTOS FARMERS MARKET
FEATURING: MICHEAL ASTONE OF ASTONE’S PROTEA
WORKSHOP: GROWING AND PRUNING PROTEA AND OTHER AUSTRALIAN NATIVES
Michael and Bettina, of Astone’s Protea in Aptos, have been growing a wide variety of Protea and Australian native plants since 1981. Primarily a cut flower farm, they also offer these interesting plants for landscaping.
Protea and Australian natives are unique for their exotic beauty and flower at all times of the year except during the middle of summer. In addition, they are hardy and drought resistant. Michael will explain how to incorporate these almost care-free beauties in your own garden.