El Corazon Compost Facility

Home Grown Community Gardening Series

Learn how to garden and grow food in your own backyard, or even in your community garden! We are offering free monthly community gardening classes with NEW topics for 2016. Master Composter, Diane Hollister, leads classes on the fourth Saturday of every month at 10am. Diane holds an Ecological Horticulture certificate from the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden Program. El Corazon Senior Center 3302 Senior Drive Oceanside, CA 92056 No Reservations are required! For more information call (760) 439-9920 or visit us online at www.agriserviceinc.com.

January: Starting with a Seed Learn why and when to start with seeds, seed starting mixes, and the difference between seeds vs. transplants. We will show you how to make your own seed starter mix. Bring your own container to take some home! We will also discuss planning your 2016 garden and techniques to reduce disease and insect damage.

February: Fruit Tree Planting & Care, Perennial Fruits and Vegetables Increase the food you grow yourself by planting for the permanent landscape. We will also discuss how common diseases of deciduous fruit trees and how to control them with dormant sprays.

March: Growing in Beds and Containers Soil mixes and soil building, fertilizer. We will discuss key soil characteristics needed to turn your dream garden into a reality. In this class you will learn how to build a simple garden bed.

April: Water! Tomatoes! Water is the greatest challenge to Southern California gardeners. Drip systems, soaker hoses, and knowing when and how much to water. Special focus on growing great tomatoes.

May: Worms and Worm Tea The greatest way to get free fertilizer for your garden. Housing, feeding and care for these little workhorses, plus take home your own free worms. Cucurbits, including pumpkins with be our plant focus this month.

June: Fitting Edibles into a More Sustainable Landscape Unusual edibles including planting beneficial flowers designed to do well in our area. We will also discuss the second planting rotation.

July: Summer Care of Fruit Trees, plus Treating Plant Pests and Diseases the Organic Way Learn the basics of summer pruning to keep trees small and use less water. Explore the organic arsenal for treating plant pests & diseases.

August: Compost DIY and an overview of the products that are available from El Corazon How to turn your garden and kitchen waste into gold. Become familiar with the various products for your garden offered by El Corazon.

September: Recipes for a Fall Garden Ideas for using the wonderful vegetables that grow all throughout fall and winter to encourage starting a fall garden. Grow carrots, beets, parsnips, lettuce, kale, chard, spinach, peas and more for delicious healthy meals.

October: Preparing the Garden for Winter Grow cover crops, mulch beds and protect your garden through the winter. Start dreaming of next year’s garden and soil testing.

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