gardening/farming

Garden Tool Maintenance & Repair Workshop with Portland Fruit Tree Project
Tuesday March 24th, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
NE Portland, Vernon neighborhood

During this workshop, we will be going over the essentials for tool maintenance: rust removal, sharpening, oiling and proper storage. Our instructor will also address handle repair and/or replacement options. This workshop will allow the participants to learn about these techniques through visual demonstration and direct participation . We will also be going over similar techniques that can be applied to most garden tools, such as shovels, trowels, pruners, rakes, and hoes.

Instructor will provide: eye, ear, and respiratory protection; abrasives and finishes for maintenance and repair, and info packets for participants. Participants are encouraged, but not required to bring a garden tool(s) they would like to restore (no more than 3).!

<< Click here to register >>

About the instructor: 
Brian "Huts" Hutsebout is an MFA candidate in the Applied Craft and Design program at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Huts moved to Portland from Nashville, TN almost two years ago to start his quest as a graduate student in the arts. As an artist, he is interested in the impact that mass production and consumption has on the environment. It is through his profound connection to tools that Huts desires to empower individuals to make an ecological difference within their communities.

Registration for this workshop is priced at $15. Sliding scale options are provided for those who feel unable to contribute at that level. In addition, a limited amount of full scholarships and work-trade scholarships are available.

The location, address and other details will be provided after you register.

Click here to register now

 Workshop contribution & cancellation policy (click here)

Young Fruit Trees & Berries: Planning, Selection, Planting, & Care
Saturday March 14th, 10am - 1pm
Portland, location TBA

March is one of the best months to plant fruit trees and berries.  Learn which types are the best to grow in the sun, shade, and containers.  Emphasis on: organic methods, easiest to grow, most productive varieties and techniques, sustainability.

In this informative workshop you will learn the basics of fruit tree and berry selection in order to choose an appropriate variety for your space. This fun workshop will be an opportunity to gain a basic understanding of the various factors one should consider when selecting a fruit tree or berry plant for a given site. We'll do some hands-on planting together and participants will also learn some basic steps for young (0-4 yrs) tree and berry care.

<< Click here to register >>

About the instructor: 
Jeffrey Harrison holds an M.A. in literary theory and has tutored writers of all ages at Street Roots, PCC - Rock Creek, and in online services.  His landscape contracting company is in its 7th year of providing consultation and building services to enhance native ecology, beauty, and sustainability.  He has also provided education and leadership to volunteers at Portland Fruit Tree Project for the past 4 years through the Tree Care Teams program.  He enjoys writing poetry and songs to sing and play on his guitar.

This workshop has a standard workshop fee of $25. Sliding scale options are provided for those who feel unable to contribute at that level.  In addition, a limited amount of full scholarships and work-trade scholarships are available.

The location address and other details will be provided after you register.

Click here to register now

Workshop contribution & cancellation policy (click here)

Pollinators Workshop
Sunday February 22nd, 1pm - 4pm
NE Portland, Vernon neighborhood

Pollinators serve an important role in our local food web. More specifically, we need them in order for our fruit trees to produce bountiful fruit sets! In this hands-on workshop, you will gain a basic understanding of bee-keeping, learn about the life of bees, how to construct mason bee habitats, and which plants are favorable for attracting pollinators. For the hands-on portion of this workshop, we'll be cleaning mason bee cocoons and assembling mason bee habitats that will be installed at our 2015 Community Orchard sites.  Additionally, every participant will get to take home cocoons, paper tubes for starter bee homes, and pollinator friendly flower seeds. 

 << Click here to register >>

About the instructors
Jen Davis lives in Portland with her two kids and husband. She is an artist, writer, filmmaker and urban farmer. She grows 16 kinds of fruit, and nearly one half of her family's vegetable supply. She also keeps ducks, and has raised Mason bees for ten years. She teaches Mason bee workshops from home and at schools throughout the region.

Madelyn Morris is a Portland-based educator and co-owns Mickelberry Gardens, LLC with her husband. The start-up company is developing a product line based on locally harvested herbs, raw honey, beeswax, and other hive products from the couple's steadily growing honeybee apiary in southeast Portland - where humane, ethical, and organic beekeeping methods are always utilized. Madelyn is happy to share her enthusiasm for honeybees and other pollinating insects, and promotes deepening our relationship with these fascinating and helpful creatures.www.mickelberrygardens.com

This workshop will be hosted by one of our registered tree owners in NE Portland, in the Vernon neighborhood. Exact location details will be provided after you sign up.

This workshop has a standard workshop fee of $25. Sliding scale options are provided for those who feel unable to contribute at that level.  In addition, a limited amount of full scholarships and work-trade scholarships are available.

Click here to register now

Workshop contribution & cancellation policy (click here)

Winter Pruning
Saturday January 31st, 10am - 1pm
NE Portland, Hazelwood neighborhood

In this hands-on workshop you will learn the basics of winter pruning in order to increase the health and abundance of local fruit trees! This fun workshop will be an opportunity to gain a basic understanding of the different types of pruning cuts and when these cuts should be used. You'll also be able to gain some practice pruning under skilled supervision.

Click below to register:
http://civi.portlandfruit.org/civicrm/event/register?cid=0&reset=1&id=1260

About the instructor: 
Brian French is a Portland-based certified arborist/tree risk assessor and trainer that has worked with top-notch researchers of our time here in the US and abroad. He is the Oregon State Coordinator for the Champion Tree Registry and Co-founder of a "Big Tree" advocacy non-profit called Ascending the Giants. Brian climbs and documents the largest trees of many species, and then shares the information with the public as a non-confrontational approach to better tree awareness and protection. Practicing for 17 years, he now shares his experience on the Portland Urban Forestry Commission and chairs the Heritage Tree Program.

The location address and other details will be provided after you register.

This workshop has a standard workshop fee of $25. Sliding scale options are provided for those who feel unable to contribute at that level.  In addition, a limited amount of full scholarships and work-trade scholarships are available.

Click below to register:
http://civi.portlandfruit.org/civicrm/event/register?cid=0&reset=1&id=1260

Come join art, garden, mill, and locks enthusiasts for a great day of family-friendly fun at West Linn's beautifully restored historic McLean house and garden.