South Whidbey Tilth Food Growing Series

Get Growing the Best Vegetable Crops for Whidbey

Thursdays March 13, 20 and 27, 4 to 6 p.m.

Freeland Library, 5495 S. Harbor Avenue, Freeland

South Whidbey Tilth is offering a three-class series on growing food taught by Anza Muenchow. All classes will be held at the Freeland Library on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.

Anza Muenchow, formerly a WSU Extension educator, has been teaching and promoting growing and eating local food, to children and adults, through programs in Seattle and Whidbey Island for over 30 years. She is a farmer who has sold fresh produce at the Tilth Sunday market for many years and is currently a member of the South Whidbey Tilth council.

March 13 – Getting Started 

Enjoy organic greens this season fresh from your garden. In this class we will discuss soil preparation, the best varieties for our climate and the best cool season crops. March is the time to plant out many kinds of vegetable starts and sow your peas, parsley, favas and arugula.

March 20 – Grow your Food and Save Money 

We’ll discuss selecting crops. What do you and your family love to eat? What is easy to grow in our climate? Do you know your micro-climate? Learn how to get started with transplants, row covers, tunnels and cloches.

Mapping your garden can help make gardening fun, accessible and successful. We’ll talk about using raised beds, managing crop rotation and avoiding pests and pathogens by not stressing plants.

March 27 – Warm Season Crops

Learn the best varieties and how to maximize harvests. We’ll learn about these families of crops: Solanaceae (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, groundcherries and tomatillos). Cucurbits (cucumbers, summer and winter squash and pumpkins). Summer beans (pole or bush, edamame).

Classes are free. Donations to Tilth can be made online at www.southwhidbeytilth.org/donate.