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Community Corner

Free Spring Gardening Classes Coming Soon

Complimentary courses in planting fruits and generating higher yields of plants will be offered through March and April.

It's time to think about planting tomatoes, tending to rose plants and harvesting citrus. Spring in Calabasas is afoot.

Free information and advice for the novice to experienced gardener will be offered in the form of courses courtesy of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District.

The schedule of free spring garden classes are designed to help area residents enjoy growing fruits, vegetables and attractive landscapes with the added knowledge of better water conservation, too. 

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The classes will be held at the water district's headquarters at 4232 Las Virgenes Rd. in Calabasas. You must register in advance. Preference will be given to water district customers. A complimentary light meal will be provided at each class.

Classes for this session are:

Vegetable Gardening in Raised Beds and Containers
– taught by Christy Wilhelmi. Discover a variety of bio-intensive techniques and methods for successful organic vegetable gardening in any size space. Wednesday March 16, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Edible Landscaping in the Conejo Valley
– taught by Darren Butler
Learn the basics of integrating perennial edibles including fruit trees, berries, edible foliage and flowers into existing gardens. Wednesday March 24, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Ecofriendly High-Yield Food Gardening
– taught by Darren Butler
Learn how to produce abundant yields in our climate using methods that ‘go beyond organic.' The class will be taught on four Saturdays; March 26, April 2, 9, 16 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Sustainable Landscaping: A Case Study and a Look at Future Gardens – taught by Owen Dell. Dell reveals how to create stable, beautiful gardens that work with your home and the local environment. Wednesday March 30, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

To make a reservation for any free of charge class, call 818-251-2100 during business hours.

Walk-ins will not be admitted.

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About the instructors:

Darren Butler has been gardening since childhood, and developing expertise in Southern California gardening since 1996.  He has appeared on several episodes of Weekend Gardening for a large international television audience as an expert horticulturist and landscaper, on NPR radio, in newspapers, in other national media, and as an arborist expert witness.

Christy Wilhelmi is the driving force behind Gardenerd.com. Her obsession with gardening began in 1996 on the balcony of her Los Angeles apartment. Wilhelmi also wrote, co-directed, edited and hosted a weekly lifestyle television show, The Garden of Life. Wilhelmi said she believes that gardening unifies both physical activity and healthy food choices, while providing a grounding spiritual and creative outlet.

Owen Dell is the principal of Santa Barbara-based Owen Dell & Associates, which specializes in sustainable landscape architectural services. He is an award-winning landscape architect, author and educator. He is the author of How to Start a Home-Based Landscaping Business and Sustainable Landscaping for Dummies.

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