Buy Local Food In Kitsap

Classes Offered For Urban Gardeners and Small Plot Farmers

For anyone out there who is considering planting their own vegetable garden during this period of economic stress, here’s an opportunity to learn everything from A – Z about planting, raising and harvesting some of your own food.  In a series of seven classes, gardeners will learn how various environments and conditions can impact their garden, the needs of vegetable families and methods to improve sites for growth and how to take into consideration individual resources to come up with a garden plan as well as the preparation for planting, growing, and harvest.

Anne Burkhardt and Gayle Larson at a recent KCAA meeting

Landscape designer and garden consultant Gayle Larson and produce farmer and certified nursery grower, Anne Burkhardt will be teaching the course, titled Urban Vegetable Gardening Classes in Kitsap County.  All sessions will be held at Pheasant Fields Farms in Silverdale.  Courses are on either Saturdays or Tuesdays – they commenced on March 7th and 10th, but the pair will allow students to enter this week on a pro-rated basis on either March 14 or March 17.  Class entry might be allowed on a pro-rated basis after this but it would be determined on an individual basis. To register, call Gayle at (360) 981-7127 or e-mail:

dancingravendesign@comcast.net or Anne at (360) 649-3907 or e-mail: alb32759@embarqmail.com Cost is $175.00 which includes materials.

Anne and Gayle met while the pair was studying horticulture at Edmonds Community College a few years ago and both subsequently went to work for the same landscaping firm in Everett but were laid off.  Gayle, who also has an art background, obtained her Professional Horticultural designation from the Washington State Landscaping  and Nursery Association and specializes in vegetable garden consultation.  Anne, who has B. S. in biology, has a Nursery Growers certificate from Edmonds Community College, owns a 5.5 acre farm near Sequim and sells produce at the Kingston and Keyport Farmers markets.

At a recent KCAA meeting, Larson gave a fascinating presentation on the course they will be offering

The first session will involve bringing lists of favorite vegetables you want to grow and pictures of the yard you want to use.  There will be reference lists and handouts involving vegetable value charts and work will be done involving garden layouts, scenarios, and soil sample directions.  Gardening goals will be set taking such things into consideration as time, space, materials, enhancement methods and resources.

The second session involves soil and planting bed styles. Students will learn about components and soil types – they will test their own soil to determine the type, PH and nutrient levels as well as ways to improve their soil. Determination will be made on crops to plant, crop plans drawn up, hydration, nutrient, sun, drainage and other needs discussed and information given on preparation of the garden such as weed removal, mulch, and compost.

Session three will be centered around the garden layout grid and pupils starting vegetable transplants from seed.  Gardeners will start a flat of plugs and/or six-packs and continue garden preparation such as looking for signs of pests.  They will also learn about water pressure testing and taking soil temperature. The fourth session continues with more details about water and fertilizations needs and different methods of irrigation and fertilizing.  This session also includes measuring out any raised beds and checking directly seeded crops.

Session five will involve learning about different types of structures gardeners may want to use and it will include direct seed of more crops.  Session six includes learning about common weeds and pests, tolerance levels and methods of their management in a sustainable manner. Fertilization for transplants will be an important part of this meeting.

The seventh and final session brings it all together – gardeners will learn how to transplant plugs into pots or directly into the garden and factors for strong growth for their main crops along with the timing and maturity size for harvest.  Education for preserving excess harvest and recipe sharing will be included.

A bonus from these two excellent gardening instructors will be an opportunity for class members to follow up with e-mail questions they may have following the class. And they will want to hear their pupils’ stories.  Throughout the class sessions and on through growing into harvest, Anne and Gayle suggest new gardeners take pictures of their work.

This is an opportunity not to be missed for beginning vegetable gardeners or even those who might need a little brushing up or have had difficulty growing crops in the past. It will be well worth the time and expense involved to be able to grow your own healthy, sustainable crops now and in the future.