March 19th - Fruit Trees: Tess Hoke of YardFood, Richard Murray of Twisp River Organic Apples and Kate Posey of Classroom in Bloom discuss fruit tree site selection, choosing Methow hearty fruit trees, quality tools, soil amendments and pruning. Various pruning styles and techniques will be demonstrated. At the Classroom in Bloom Garden. Completed!
April 16th - Fermented Foods: Local fermentation mentor, Kari Bown, will demonstrate traditional lacto-fermented saurkraut, beet kvass and beyond. Taste kraut, kvass and kimchi at different stages and try your hand at making a new class batch. This traditional preservation art is not only delicious but supports a healthy digestive biome. Location will be at the Methow Valley Community School in the basement of the Community Center in Twisp. Completed!
May 21st - Composting Systems: Barb Preston and Betsy Cushman share their strategies for overwintering worms at your home garden (update: Barb and Betsy may not be able to be here for the class due to an unexpected out of town trip). Classroom in Bloom director, Kate Posey, will delve into our worm system basics and the science and assembly behind effective carbon/nitrogen layering compost systems. At the Classroom in Bloom garden - 18 Twin Lakes Road, on the NE side of the HS. Completed!
June 18th - Soil Health for Fertility and Natural Pest Control: Sam Lucy of Bluebird Grain Farms will explore soil vitality as the foundation to growing healthy and healthful crops. Sam keeps his fields nutritionally balanced and teeming with beneficial microbes so that Bluebird Grain Farms reap highly nutritious grains. Learn how you can do the same with your home garden. At the Classroom in Bloom garden. Completed!
July 16th - Bees and Pollinators: Alexa Whipple shares her pollinator playground at her home farm with guest beekeeper Susie Kowalczyk. Learn about natural beekeeping, pollinator forage crops, and top bar and standard Langstroth beehive systems. Alexa's 12 Moons Farm is located at 576 East County Road just north or the smokejumper base. Completed!
August 13th - Seed Saving: Anaka Mines (CiB co-founder and former director) of Twisp River Seed presents the basics of home seed saving. Come learn the basic anatomy of a flower, how each flower makes seed, and tips and techniques for collecting and cleaning them. We will discuss what crops are easy to collect seed from, and which ones are more challenging and why. Seed saving: It's free, it's fun, it's revolutionary! Class held at Twisp River Seed - 47 Bond Lane (on the Twisp River flats). Completed!
September 17th - Preserving the Harvest: Visit Chef and farmer, Cameron Green’s amazing “Willowbrook Farm” in Carlton, where Cameron will share her culinary skills in preparing and canning roasted tomato sauce from start to finish. At the Willowbrook Farm kitchen in Carlton. Completed!
October 22th (date changed from 10/15 due to weather forecast) - Wood-fire Cooking: Explore the art of baking breads and pizza, roasting roots and meats in our wood-fired cob oven with Kate Posey and CiB staff. At the Classroom in Bloom garden. 18 Twin Lakes Road on the NE side of LBHS.
