Here are a few things said about this workshop:

"This class is really inspiring to me. Darren shows enough info to get your started and Christy shows you how easy eating well can be."

"If you want to change your perspective on the world and get deeply in touch with the Earth, come to this class!"

"We must learn to connect with nature and her bounty, and this workshop is a start."

Darren Butler is a Consulting Arborist, Ecological Designer, and Landscape Specialist. His recent projects include designing and developing food forests in residential landscapes, which are forest-like systems that produce food with minimal maintenance once established. He has appeared on several episodes of "Weekend Gardening" for a large international television audience as an expert horticulturist and landscaper, on NPR radio, in newspapers, and other media. He has taught Sustainable Landscape Design and Diagnosing Plant Problems for the University of California Master Gardener Program in Los Angeles, Small-Space Food Gardening at Descanso Botanic Gardens, and is working with the Getty Villa to develop and teach gardening-related workshops. He holds many landscape- and plant-related certifications and licenses. In 2007 and 2008 he developed curriculum for and taught certification programs in Sustainable Biointensive Gardening and in Edible Landscaping. 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.

Christy Morgan trained at The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts, specializing in vegetarian and macrobiotic cuisine. Her successful meal delivery business, Eat Your Veggies, sold last year to make way for her new business concept called Viva la Greens. Viva la Greens is a vegan macrobiotic meal delivery service with clients like actress Alicia Silverstone. She also consults, teaches cooking classes, and gives private cooking instruction on healthy, well-balanced cooking and eating. Visit www.vivalagreens.com for more information. Christy is featured on ExpertVillage.com and FunnyDeli.com. You can read her article, “My Way of Eating Green”, at The Macrobiotic Guide UK website. Christy is dedicated to promoting a sustainable lifestyle and teaches others how to "green" their life with food and activities that nourish the body, mind, and spirit. She also volunteers at schools around Los Angeles through the Master Gardener Program teaching kids how to garden.

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."

For Christy:

"I just tried the macrobiotic food you prepared for me and it is absolutely delicious! Everything is so fresh - I just love it."

"Eating your food is a unique experience that goes beyond the physical and into the spiritual. Your private tutoring has been incredibly instructive, eye-opening, and valuable. I'm better prepared now not only to cook delicious meals, but to feed myself in ways that help sustain the earth and its species."