See below for full announcement. Enrollment, payment, and refund policy appears below course announcement.
Call or email Darren Butler to sign up:
allnet@pobox.com
818.271.0963
Edible Landscaping and Perennial Food Gardening
With food and energy prices rising steadily and humanity straining Earth’s resources and systems, landscaping with edibles is more important than ever for personal, community, and global sustainability.
In this six-part course suitable for both landscape professionals and homeowners, Ecological Landscape Designer Darren Butler will cover the basics of designing, planning, and installing edible landscapes.
Topics are expected to include introduction to sustainable landscaping; landscape design principles; aesthetics of edible-landscape design; practicalities of edible-landscape design; site analysis; soil, testing soil, and preparations for planting; planning; watering methods; installing drip watering systems; planting and seeding methods; suitable species for Southern California; annuals in the edible landscape; innovative approaches to maximizing food production in perennial plantings; sources for materials, seeds, and plants; managing weeds and pests; maintaining the edible landscape and its fertility; and permaculture approaches to managing edible landscapes. Some hands-on work preparing a landscape, seeding, and installing plants is expected. Note that the course WILL NOT include information on aspects of running a landscape-design business (such as marketing, business practices, and working with clients).
I hope to leave students with new ways of looking at the potentials of landscapes, deepened understanding of natural systems at work in residential yards; useable ideas that can be applied to their or their clients’ landscapes; and practical methods for increased sustainability in their communities and individual lives.
Course difficulty: 3 to 4 out of 10. This course will be moderately challenging. Gardening experience, basic understanding of organic gardening methods, and basic knowledge of biology and ecology are recommended but not required. Attendees without organic gardening experience should expect difficulty.
Course dates: Six Sundays 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM with short breaks only, Mar 2, 9, 16, 30, Apr 6, 13(arrival encouraged by 9:00 AM). No class on Mar 23 (Easter).
Course location: Pasadena near North Allen and the 210 freeway.
Course fee: $220 for early registration through Feb 22; $245 thereafter or on the day of. There will be an additional $50 fee for certification. Space permitting, attendance will be allowed to single classes for $50 per class.
Reading List (required for a certificate only): To be announced by mid February.
Assistance is needed for video or audio recording of the sessions. Free tuition available in trade.
Darren Butler is a Consulting Arborist, Ecological Designer, and Landscape Specialist. He has appeared on several episodes of "Weekend Gardening" for a large international television audience as an expert horticulturist and landscaper, on NPR radio, and in local newspapers. He has taught Sustainable Landscape Design and Diagnosing Plant Problems for the University of California Master Gardener Program in Los Angeles, and holds many landscape- and plant-related certifications and licenses. He currently serves on a statewide advisory committee for all University of California Master Gardener programs, and is a speaker at the upcoming 2008 University of California Master Gardener Conference. He has been gardening since childhood, and developing expertise in Southern California gardening since 1996.
Comments from prior students:
"Darren is just so knowledgable. This is a crucial part of the
owner's manual for Planet Earth."
"Darren is an outstanding teacher. He integrates real life to
gardening. He's down to earth, full of laughs and personality. His
enthusiasm is infectious."
"Wow! The idea that so many things are just soil in another temporary
format is pretty powerful. Darren has thought more than any other
person I have ever met. The class was awesome."
"I got so much out of this! Packed full of information that was
immediately usable to me. I love listening to this guy! He knows so
much and is so humble about sharing what he knows. He knocks my socks
off."
"If you want to change your perspective on the world and get deeply
in touch with the Earth, come to this class!"
Enrollment, payment, and refund policy:
Half tuition must be sent to reserve enrollment, with the remaining half due by the first day of class. If full tuition is not paid by the third class, attendance is expected to stop until payment is completed. Full refunds less $50 will be available until seven days before the first session. No refunds thereafter except for cancellation by the instructor. If tentative details change after enrollment has been paid, full refund is available until three days
before the first class if cancellation is based upon the change(s).
Payment is by check, cash, or money order and should be sent to Darren Butler, PO Box 920434, Sylmar CA 91392-0434. Contact me if you prefer to pay with a credit card via the internet.
Courses are rated as to my best guess about difficulty from 1 to 10
with 1 being appropriate for absolute beginners and 10 for
accomplished experts.
Courses not guaranteed to carry. Some courses fill up quickly. To avoid
disappointment, please do not delay.
A certificate in Edible Landscaping is available. Specific requirements for
completion will include required reading, minimum attendance of
four of the six sessions with makeup for missed sessions, a
project, and additional fee of $50.
