Love Apple Farms

Workshop: Winter Vegetable Gardening

 

Learn how to start and tend a winter vegetable garden.  Growing a garden in winter is possible with our mild California climate.  Winter gardens are not just limited to greens and cabbage.  This is an intensive, all-day workshop.  We will discuss over 30 different kinds of winter vegetables.

Sow a flat from our seed bank to take home to tend and transplant.

Learn how to battle the cold temps, bed preparation, winter pest and disease issues, as well as the critical sow dates for winter crops. 

ALL CLASSES ARE HELD RAIN OR SHINE!

ALL CLASSES REQUIRE ADVANCE REGISTRATION, EVEN FOR GIFT CERTIFICATE HOLDERS.

Click on an available date to register:

September 25, 2011 (Sunday) 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
October 15, 2011 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Tuition:  $55
Materials:  $20

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Please read our cancellation policy in case you are not able to attend your scheduled class. 

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If the workshop dates don’t work for you, if the class is full, or if you’d like to request that another class be added, please email us and we’ll do our best to accommodate you!

Love Apple Farms gift certificates can be used towards classes, seedlings, and merchandise.  They are available for purchase here. 

Check out other classes at Love Apple Farms by clicking here.

 

Class Participants Say  

" We've taken your summer veg and winter veg classes.  They were invaluable.  I really can't thank you enough for those workshops.  The knowledge and inspiration you gave us has changed the way we relate to food, the way we eat, and even the way we feel about our home.  Growing and cooking our own food is deeply satisfying and nurturing -- and not just for us.  My co-workers have been treated to a whole lot of pumpkin bread, muffins, and risotto, thanks to that first summer veg class!"  -- Andrea

"Cynthia, I am an experienced gardener and I enjoyed your class immensely.  Other people who know you also appreciate and praise your work and your sharing!  You put a lot of thought into preparing for classes. Thank you for all the materials, suppliers, new veggies, tips!  You are doing a terrific job with the farm and you are an inspiration to me." -- Inani

"Great class! I came away with some great plans for my garden.  Your style is great!  You don't intimidate us and we feel free to ask questions." -- Rick

"I really felt that you had great information on winter gardening.  I feel so inspired."  -- Carolyn

"I thought the class was great. This is now my second class I have taken with you (tomato seed class).  The class moved along in a timely fashion, was interesting throughout and filled with tons of valuable information.  I will definitely continue on with your classes.  Thanks for offering them!" -- Cherie

 

We Got Bees

We got our bees back. Happy day!  We had bees a couple of years ago, but our handsome Italian beekeeper, Luca, had to take them away when my property was being inundated with dust from a construction project (we were filling in my pool with soil). 

After their move, Luca discovered that the bees were just fine in their new home and didn't want to further stress them by moving them back. 

So we waited.  We bemoaned the loss of our beautiful bees.  I loved seeing the flurry of activity in the garden.  It wasn't unusual for me to catch a delirious party of four or five bees inside one squash blossom.  Such pollination going on! 

The chef was stung, I think, four times that season while he snipped edible flowers out of the garden.  Like any experienced chef, his hands are a mess of cuts, burns, and blisters.  He barely complained about the stings; I don't think those bees could harm him more than a 500 degree pan could.  He missed them, though, and when Kathy Niven, culinary professor and master beekeeper, offered to provide us with another hive, we jumped at the chance.

My super fab farm girl apprentice, Rachael Andersen, also jumped at the chance to learn about bees, and along with little sister, Paris, is being taught how to keep bees by professor Niven.  I'm pretty much staying out of it; my work load is maxed out as it is.  But seeing the increased bee activity at the farm is wonderful.  A bee keeper (can't remember who) once told me that if I don't see a bee on every flower, then I don't have enough bees! 

I tell you, it's sure fun to have them around.  When I'm snipping the squash blossoms, and there is a bee inside, it's hard to get them out!  I gently shake them, but the bee is usually so ding dang busy in there, she doesn't even know what's going on.  I've found them so covered with pollen they seem almost drugged, swerving haphazardly away from the flower, failing miserably at maintaining a bee line back to the hive.  The chef says that sometimes the bees make it into his car, still inside the flower.  At some point during his half hour drive to the restaurant, a bee will come flying out, buzzing around inside his Volvo, probably wondering where the heck the garden went.  You know your produce is fresh when the bee hasn't finished with it yet.

We eagerly await our first batch of honey.  And chef, no doubt, eagerly awaits his first bee sting from this new hive.