Workshops and Courses on Farming and Gardening in Southern California
Free Workshops
Ten Trees in One: Grafting Citrus and Avocados
LA Garden Show at the LA Arboretum
Saturday, May 1, 1:00 PM
Free with admission to the Arboretum
Grow multiple varieties of oranges, mandarins and tangerines, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and other citrus all on the same tree. May and June are the best months in Southern California for grafting many citrus and some avocados. Includes a demo of a simple grafting method with a high rate of success for beginners. Darren Butler is a Consulting Arborist, Horticulturist, and Ecological Landscape Designer. See EcoWorkshops.com.
I do not have any further information about the LA Garden Show. Please see the LA Garden Show Webpage for more information.
50% Food Initiative and Small-Space Food Gardening
Westwood Library Earthday Workshop
Thursday, Apr 22, 6:15 – 7:45 PM
Free to the public
Darren Butler will read and briefly discuss the 7th Congress 50% Food Initiative and then discuss small-space food gardening, giving highlights from his workshop that has been featured in the LA Time, Fox 11 News, Good Food on KCRW, and many other local media. To contact the library for more information, please see the LA Library – Westwood webpage.
Course Scholarships for Free and Half-Price Tuition
Scholarship and Reduced-Price Attendance to:
Edible Landscaping and Perennial Food Gardening Certification Course
Ecofriendly High-Yield Food Gardening Course
(see below for dates, time, and location)
Half-price attendance ($110) is available to two low-income people for each course. To receive half-price attendance, you must meet the following qualifications:
1- Be an LA County Master Gardener or Trainee, or currently be on Darren Butler’s emailing list.
2- Earn less than $25,000 gross income per year for an individual, $35,000 gross income per year for a couple, or $45,000 gross income per year for a family.
3- To apply, contact Darren Butler at butlercdarren@gmail.com, stating that you are low-income, which course you want to attend, and that you are requesting half-price tuition.
Free scholarship attendance is available to two people for each course. To receive the scholarship attendance you must meet the above qualifications and be an active volunteer or have projects that benefit others. To apply, contact Darren Butler at butlercdarren@gmail.com, stating that you are low-income, which course you want to attend, and that you are requesting free tuition. Include a paragraph describing your volunteer work or projects for which you will apply the skills and knowledge gained in the course.
Deadline to apply for free tuition is Wed, Apr 7. Deadline to apply for half tuition is Friday, Apr 9. Courses begin on Apr 11. Scholarships and half-tuition enrollment may be awarded before the deadlines.
This is expected to be the last run of both courses in Southern California this year.
Space remains available for full-price attendance as of Apr 4.
Edible Landscaping and Perennial Food Gardening Certification Course
Introduces Darren Butler’s living-systems methods for edible landscaping and covers basic-to-intermediate design, planning, planting, and growing edible landscapes. Certificate available.
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Tarzana near Tampa and Oxnard
$220 early registration until Apr 5, $245 thereafter or day-of if available; $400 for one person to attend both Edible Landscaping and Ecofriendly Gardening. Send payment to Darren Butler, PO Box 589, Topanga CA 90290.
Difficulty: 4 out of 10. Not an introductory gardening course. Beginners should expect to be challenged. Time will be spent on basics.
Suitable for homeowners, landscape professionals, community activists, volunteers, chefs, kitchen gardeners, and foodies .
Ecofriendly High-Yield Food Gardening
2:30 – 6:30 PM
Tarzana near Tampa and Oxnard
$220 early registration until Apr 5, $245 thereafter or day-of if available; $400 for one person to attend both Edible Landscaping and Ecofriendly Gardening. Send payment to Darren Butler, PO Box 589, Topanga CA 90290.
Difficulty: 2 out of 10. Gardening experience recommended but not required. Basic topics will be covered thoroughly.
Your Privacy Choices
I am interested in both of these courses but am not available in April. Will you be offering them in May, June or July?
Thanks,
Dee Dee
@DeeDee – You need the contact the folks offering the courses (their contact info will be in the post). I am not offering the courses, simply relaying the message that they exist.
Will there be any courses offered in 2017? I am extremely interested in embarking on farming coursework and learn all the basics in this field. Please advise on any opportunity for a potential learning experience this upcoming year.
Not sure Christopher. This post is from 2010. Try contacting the County Extension Office to see if they are running a Master Gardener Program and to find out if they are hosting workshops this year.