Saturday, April 12
Introduction to Ecological Gardening
10:00 am
Learn to garden with nature by mimicking the patterns of ecosystems to create productive and self-sustaining gardens rich in biodiversity and pleasure. In this workshop, we will learn the fundamentals of ecological gardening such as soil building; plant communities; native plants and valuable species adapted to our bioregion; and the use of perennial plants that provide food and habitat for humans and wildlife. We will meet in the Day Riverside Library meeting room at 10 o' clock. email

Saturday, April 26
Arbor Day Fruit Tree Planting
10:00 am
In celebration of Arbor Day, we will be planting several unique fruit trees at the EcoGarden. Come learn the mechanics of successful treeplanting, while exploring new species to bring to your own ecological garden such as American Persimmon, Goumi, Azarole, and Date Plum. email

Saturday, May 10
Rainwater Harvesting: Storing Rainwater in the Soil
3:30 pm
National Water Week Celebration at the EcoGarden
Learn to design your garden and landscape to harvest rainwater for free! Rainwater harvesting is the alternative to designing our outdoor environments to get rid of water. Instead of allowing precipitation to rush over sloped, compacted, unprotected soils, we can design our landscape to welcome and store water in the soil and in plant root zones. We'll discuss building your soil structure, mulching specifics, and how to gently rework the topography of your landscape so you can bolster your gardens natural productivity. email

May 16-18
Introduction to Permaculture Design
All Day
TreeUtah is teaming up with Wasatch Woodsgrown to present a weekend intensive course in Permaculture Design. Permaculture is a design science--based on the observation of natural systems, the wisdom of traditional cultures, and modern scientific knowledge--for creating sustainable landscapes. It empowers people to create systems that are ecologically sound and ecionomically viable which produce food, catch water, and create energy. Course participants will gain the practical skills to create resilient and regenerative landscapes in a variety of contexts. Please visit www.wasatchwoodgrown.org for details, cost, or to register.

Saturday, May 31
Plant Guilds and Compost Tea
10:00 am
Please join us in the EcoGarden for a discussion on two of the secrets for bountiful gardens. Plant guilds are communities of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that form beneficial networks which reduce labor and restore natural cycles in the garden. Compost tea is liquid compost that can be applied to soil around plants like regular compost, but it can also be sprayed directly on leaves as a foliar feed. Application increases the amount of nutrients available to the plant and helps prevent disease. We will go over what you need to brew your own and make a practice batch to spray in the garden. Please meet in the Day Riverside Library meeting room at 10 o' clock. email

Saturday, June 14
Cob Bench Revisited
9:00 am-3:00 pm
Cob is a mixture of native clay soil, sand, straw, water, and human-power from which you can build solid, beautiful, and creative structures (like ovens, benches, even houses). Last year with help from awesome volunteers we built a large cob bench at the edge of our EcoGarden. However, it has suffered frost damage and needs a plaster makeover! Please join us to learn about cob building and finishing while we repair this beautiful creation. Please meet outside in the EcoGarden (just south of the library building). email

Thursday and Friday June 26 and 27
GOATS in the Ecogarden
All Day until 5pm
Please join us for some goat-sitting and learn the valuable ways we can integrate animals into our community garden. Goats are a natural way to curb weeds without harsh chemicals. Not only do they keep the weeds down, they fertilize the soil as they browse eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers as well. This is a family-friendly, goat petting-event, but please no dogs!

Saturday, July 16
Eating Locally with WCG and Slow Food Utah
7:00-8:30 pm
Eating foods that are locally produced and in-season is one of the best things you can do for your health, local farmers, and the environment, not to mention your wallet. It's easier than you may think! We'll be sharing tips and information for doing exactly that in Salt Lake City. You'll be ready just in time for Salt Lake City's Eat Local Challenge. Please meet in the Grateful Tomato Garden, 600 East and 800 South.email

Saturday, August 23
Urban Harvest Celebration!
6:00
Harvest Celebrations are a time to honor, celebrate, and share in the bounty of local agriculture, to encourage people to reconnect to the land and the seasons, and to understand the benefits of having local gardens and eating locally grown food. Please join us for food, music, and lots of fun as we share in the harvest of our food forest garden. email

Saturday, September 13
Beginning Preservation & Root Cellars with Wasatch Community Gardens
9:30 am-12:00 pm
Please join us to learn some of the oldest technologies for preserving your gardens' bounty. Presenter Jane Jenson will discuss drying, pickling, and cold storage with an overview of canning and freezing. She will bring some of her own recipes (developed over many yearsof experimentation) to share with participants. Please meet in the uSU Demonstration Kitchen, 2001 S. State Street, South Building. email

Saturday, October 18
Pumpkin Potluck Party
4:00-7:00
Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin chili, pumpkin pudding, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin bars, pumpkin pie--the list goes on and on for wonderful pumpkin dishes and confections. Bring down your favorite and we will exchange recipes and feast on our creations together. email

Saturday November 8
Sheet Mulching
10:00am
Do you have a weed patch or grassy area that you would like to convert to a garden or perennial landscape? The fastest and easiest way to do this is by sheet mulching. Sheet mulching eradicates weeds/grass and builds soil without chemicals or tilling. By next spring, you will be ready to plant in your rich garden bed. We will discuss where to obtain free sheet mulching materials and practice how to layer- for less work and maximum results. Held offsite. Please RSVP by phone (364-2122)or email