Morton Arboretum's edible garden series returns in March
Morton Arboretum's popular Edible Gardening Workshop series returns in March to showcase unique ideas, resources and techniques for incorporating edible plants and trees into landscapes and home gardens.
The five-part series takes place Saturdays throughout March and April and is led by top gardening experts, including Bill Shores, manager for Rick Bayless' organic garden, and "Kiss My Aster" author Amanda Thomsen.
"The workshops got off to a great start in 2014, and we're looking forward to helping even more people create healthy and flavorful dishes with fruits, vegetables and herbs grown from their own gardens," said Megan Dunning, manager of adult programs at Morton Arboretum.
"You don't have to be a master gardener or have a lot of outdoor space to take away useful tips and tricks for edible gardening in this series."
Classes in the series include:
• "Fearless Food Gardening in Chicagoland" from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7. Learn the basics of vegetable gardening with LaManda Joy, founder of Chicago's Peterson Garden Project and author of "Start a Community Food Garden." Joy has taught hundreds of beginners the art of food gardening. Participants will be able to buy the book and have it signed.
• "Keys to Organic Gardening Success" from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Get strategies for a bountiful organic vegetable garden from the designer of the Edible Garden at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Jeanne Nolan, founder of The Organic Gardener business and author of "From the Ground Up: A Food Grower's Education in Life, Love, and the Movement That's Changing the Nation," shares five keys to designing a productive organic vegetable garden. Copies of her book are for sale.
• "Keeping it Weird in the Vegetable Garden" from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21. Amanda Thomsen, garden writer and author of "Kiss My Aster," brings her offbeat approach to edible gardening with tips on how to create a space that is truly one-of-a-kind. Participants will be able to buy the book and have it signed.
• "Designing Edible and Ornamental Kitchen Gardens" from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. Get expert insight into designing a garden that is both beautiful and productive from Bill Shores, garden manager for the Rick Bayless Organic Garden in Chicago. Shores knows how to get the most out of any space, growing salad greens, herbs, tomatoes and chili peppers for Bayless' restaurants.
• "Small is the New Big - Growing More Plants in Surprising Places!" from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11. Attendees can learn creative ways to grow organic herbs and vegetables - from front lawn vegetable gardens to living walls for balconies and patios - from nationally-recognized garden blogger Shawna Coronado. The program includes an opportunity to purchase Coronado's books, "Illinois Getting Started Garden Guide" and "Grow a Living Wall."
Participants can sign up for the entire Edible Gardening Workshop series or purchase workshops a la carte. Each course costs $35 for members, $43 for others. The cost to attend the entire series is $160 for members, $188 for others. All fees include admission to the arboretum.
Workshops, which include coffee and refreshments, are limited to 50 participants and meet indoors in the Sycamore Room at the Arboretum Visitor Center.
For information or to register, call (630) 719-2468 or visit mortonarb.org/calendar.