Edible Landscaping and Perennial Food Gardening
Mar 2, 9, 16, 30; Apr 6, 13, Pasadena

See below for full announcement. Enrollment, payment, and refund
policy appears below course announcement.

Call or email Darren Butler to sign up:
allnet@...
818.271.0963
www.ecoworkshops. com

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 their 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 garden ing 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.