Free Home & Garden Workshops

Like a lot of Tacoma, the warm and sunny weather last Saturday had us pulling on our mucking boots, and getting out into the yard to get a start on spring clean up, and plans for planting. It turns out that it’s a great time for garden planning – and learning – in Tacoma. The City of Tacoma’s EnviroHouse and Gallucci Learning Gardens both are offering free classes on topics from composting to keeping urban chickens. It’s not too early to start dreaming about garden fresh tomatoes, is it?

City of Tacoma EnviroHouse

All workshops are open to Tacoma and Pierce County residents. Schedule is subject to change.

• Residential Lighting & Design March 16, 10:30 a.m.
• Backyard Chickens: Getting Started March 23, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• Planning a Food Garden: Soil & Seeds March 30, 10:30 a.m.
• Tree Basics; Right Tree for Right Place April 6, 10:30 a.m.
• Yard Waste & Worm Bin Composting April 13, 10:30 a.m.
• Backyard Chickens: Getting Started April 13, 1:30 p.m.
• Solar Power: How it Works & Incentives April 20, 10:30 a.m.
• Enhance Your Habitat with Native Plants April 27, 10:30 a.m.
• Rain Gardens: DIY Planning to Planting May 4, 10:30 a.m.
• Yard Waste & Worm Bin Composting May 11, 10:30 a.m.
• Residential Drip Irrigation, DIY May 18, 10:30 a.m.
• Rain Barrels: How to Make and Maintain May 19, 1:30 p.m.

Advance registration is required due to limited space and parking. Please include your phone number when registering as schedules are subject to change. For class details and to register, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/envirohouse.

Healthy Homes, Healthy Neighborhoods

Everyone is welcome — you don’t have to live in the Wapato Lake area — so invite your friends and neighbors.

• Edible Gardening and Trees 101 April 27, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Natural Yard Care and Rain Gardens May 4, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Events are free and open to the public at Wapato Lake Park. Register online at www.hhhnworkshops.eventzilla.net. Find out more on the City’s Healthy Homes, Healthy Neighborhoods page.

Gallucci Learning Gardens

Workshops Wednesday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• March 20th: Garden Stewardship Orientation
• March 27th: Beyond Dirt-Soil 101
• April 3rd: Planning Your Garden
• April 10th: Intro to Urban Chickens
• April 17th: Building Your Own Rain Garden
• April 24th: Mason Bees and Garden Pollinators
• May 1st & 8th: Intro to Organic Gardening (two part class)
• May 15th: Annuals and Valuable Non-Edibles

Drop-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged. Please visit: www.guadalupelandtrust.org/gallucci/ to find full description of classes and registration.

Pierce Conservation District

Classes are in Tacoma at the TAGRO offices from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Classes are also available in Lakewood and Puyallup.

• Starting Your Garden from Seed March 16
• Preparing Your Vegetable Garden Soil April 20
• Planting and Maintaining Your Vegetable Garden May 18
• Garden Bugs, Plant Diseases, & Non-Toxic Alternatives in the Garden June 15
• Summer Harvesting Then Planning and Planting Your Fall Garden July 20
• Composting Basics September 21
• Putting the Garden to Bed for the Winter October 19

For class details and to register, visit www.piercecountywa.org