I had a blast learning how to keep bees last week, but the how-to on keeping chickens will have to wait.  Chicken 101 was sold out by the time I went to register.  It’s not surprising since the city passed an ordinance in January allowing residents to keep up to four chickens per backyard.  But no roosters allowed!  They can’t keep their beaks shut. 

Chicken 101 is being offered through the Sarasota County Extension office so expect more classes to be scheduled.  The four-hour class costs $15; I’ll post an update on Facebook and Twitter when they schedule another one. 

For now, check out a free class at Phillippi Mansion.  The mansion itself is a gorgeous and historic setting, but take some time afterward to walk the hammock trail, let the kids explore the exceptionally cool playground and/or shop the farmers market.  Even if you’re not local, it’s worth a day trip. 

Class Schedule

March 30, 2011 at noon
The Healthy Home
Betty Alpaugh, Education Specialist

Americans spend more than 90% of their time indoors where air quality is often ten times more polluted than outdoors.  Fortunately, this is one health risk that we can reduce by learning how to improve the environmental quality inside our homes.  This class will discuss how families can make their homes safer, healthier and more comfortable by choosing more sustainable materials and maintenance methods.  (1 hour class)

April 6, 2011 at noon
Herb Gardening
Robert Kluson, Ph.D., Extension Agent
 
Florida vegetable gardening includes many potential herb crops. Learn which herbs are best suited to Sarasota County and seasons. (1 hour class)

April 13, 2011 at noon
Irrigation Display and Demo
Angela Antonucci, Program Specialist
 
Do you know how your irrigation system works? If you did, you would know about the water savings you could have each and every month by becoming a “water wizard.” Learn how to calibrate and set your time clock and fix problems. (1 hour class)

April 20, 2011 at noon
Fruit Trees for Sarasota County
Robert Kluson, Ph.D., Extension Agent
 
Florida food gardening includes many potential fruit crops. Learn which fruits are best suited to Sarasota County and seasons. (1 hour class)

April 27, 2011 at noon
Turf Alternatives
Angelo Randaci, Extension Agent

Florida Friendly Landscaping means using low-maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. We will explore options to turf that will create a beautiful landscape, while helping to protect Sarasota County’s natural resources.  (1 hour class)

Useful Links:

• Sarasota County Extension Education Calendar
• Google map of Phillippi Estate Park
• Phillippi Farmhouse Market Blog

Call the Sarasota County Extension at 941-861-9900 if registration is required.

• February 2, 2011:
  • Attracting Beneficial Insects to Your Garden
    • 12-1pm at Phillippi Mansion
  • Introduction to Insects
    • 1-2pm at Twin Lakes Park, Registration required
• February 3, 2011:
  • Creating Wildlife Habitat In and Around Stormwater Ponds
    • 2-3pm at Shamrock Park, Registration required
• February 4, 2011:
  • Florida Snakes
    • 1:30-2:30pm at Gulf Gate Library
• February 5, 2011:
  • “First Saturdays” Class on Organic Vegetable Gardening
    • 1-2:30pm at Orange Blossom Community Garden
• February 8, 2011:
  • Composting Workshop
    • 4-5pm at St. Wilfred Episcopal Church
• February 9, 2011:
  • Composting Workshop
    • 12-1pm at Phillippi Mansion
  • Household Pests
    • 1-3pm at Twin Lakes Park, Registration required
• February 12, 2011
  • Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Creating Your Florida Yard
    • 10:30-11:30am  at Longwood Park
• February 16, 2011
  • The Healthy Home
    • 1–2pm at Twin Lakes Park, Registration Required
• February 17, 2011
  • Chinch Bugs and White Grubs
    • 2-3:30pm at Shamrock Park, Registration Required
• February 19, 2011
  • “First Saturdays” Class on Organic Vegetable Gardening
    • 10:30-12:00pm at Laurel Community Garden
• February 22, 2011
  • Florida Yards & Neighborhoods: Nine Landscape Principles
    • 10-11am at Elsie Quirk Library
• February 23, 2011
  • Storm Protection: Hurricane Shutters
    • 12-1pm at Phillippi Mansion
  • Invasive Insects
    • 1-2:30pm at Twin Lakes Park, Registration Required
  • Stretching Your Food Dollar 
    • 4-5pm at Twin Lakes Park, Registration Required
      

And this mid-week market just keeps getting better!  In addition to the blog, they have partnered with the Sarasota County Extension to offer free gardening classes from 12 – 1, January through April.  Tomorrow’s class is Container Gardening.  And what’s even better than taking a free class is taking said free class in a historic mansion overlooking a rose garden and Phillippi Creek.  Built in 1916, the Edison Keith mansion is an Italian Renaissance-style beauty surrounded by a 60-acre park complete with a nature trail and playground.      

summer-schedule

If you want on their mailing list, email pporchey@scgov.net.  My picks for this summer are Partnering with Pollinators, Creating Your Florida Yard and the Rain Barrel Workshop, which is also a freebie because you don’t have to buy a rain barrel.  It’s a demonstration on how to construct and use them.  If you want to make your own you can, or you can buy one from the county for $37 after class. 

It may still be a little chilly, but the sun will be shining all weekend.  Get out and enjoy it!  There’s been a long, loud statewide groan over this cold weather lately, but the news is reporting that this could be the end of it.  Before we know it, we’ll be shoving our faces in front of AC vents again, panting from the humidity.  Enjoy the cool weather while you still can!   

Here are some garden-related activities going on around town:

Environmental Art Workshop at Clair M. Mitchell Gallery in Towles Court ~ Free ~ Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. ~ (941) 706-1308

Rainforest Masks 2010: Meet the Artists at Work at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens ~ Adults $17, $15 with this coupon & Kids under 11 are free ~ Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. ~ (941) 366-5731

Organic Vegetable Gardening Class at Orange Blossom Community Garden ~ free ~ Saturday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. ~ (941) 861-9900

Here’s the tip: When picking up compost in an open-air vehicle, bring some sort of cover.  This is what the front seat looked like when we got home.

We looked far worse.  I couldn’t turn my head to either side or compost would fly in my eyes! 

I’ve never tested my soil before, but it never really seemed like soil before.  When we dug up the side yard to convert it into a garden, it was nothing but sand.  When we planted, we always added Black Kow; it’s a brand of composted cow manure.  It helps sandy soil hold moisture.  John’s dad is a long-time Floridian home gardener; it’s what he uses.   Over the past two years, we’ve continuously rotated squares always using one as a compost area to bury kitchen scraps and yard waste.  We’re finally seeing a real difference.  The earthworms haven’t made a home here yet, but the soil is much darker and a lot less sandy.   

The results of the pH test are in; the soil gets an 8.0 for alkaline.  It was so easy – just add soil, the contents of the capsule, and water.  Shake it all up and match up your color.  In our case, we need to start burying more yard waste to lower the pH.  Pine needles, leaves and sawdust will all add acid to soil.  For now, I’m going to grab some free compost from Longwood Park.  Sarasota County compost is made from their yard waste collection, so it should help.  Butler, Laurel, Nokomis, and Shamrock parks also offer free compost and mulch. 

• Soil Management
• Crop Management
• Pest Management
• Water Management
• Cover Crop & Compost Management

After the organic gardening overview, I walked around the Laurel Park Community Garden.  It’s smaller and sunnier than the Orange Blossom garden, but it has everything you need.  The hoses are conveniently located in a line down the center aisle. 

Here’s a peek inside the shed…

and at the compost pile.

Preparing for the fall garden has me searching for inspiration.  Don’t look at the weather widget, it’s back in the nineties again.  I started to sweat a little carrying my groceries in from the car this morning.  Instead of doing any planting of my own, I headed over to the Orange Blossom Community Garden to see what other people were doing.  I’m already feeling better about my late-September start.  I didn’t find any seedlings, but there were a few leftover crops from summer. 

Watermelon

Peppers

Pineapples

There aren’t any pineapples left, but I love the way this person designed their plot.  Someone else has a miniature white picket fence around theirs.  It’s fun to walk around and see the different garden personalities.  No one was out today, no doubtedly because of the heat, but it seems like a nice place to gather.  There are benches in the shade and a couple of tables and chairs.  Compost and mulch are ready and waiting.

There are four community gardens in Sarasota County – two are in the city and two are in South County.  The plot sizes vary, but an average size is about 12′ x 12′.  They’re priced right.  It only costs $20 a year plus a fully-refundable deposit of $30 up front.  All four gardens are full right now, but there’s a waiting list that apparently moves pretty quickly.  People make other arrangements in the meantime and it’s right on down the list.

http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/Hort/commgarden.shtml