2009 Class Schedule

Gardens of Babylon will offer to the public a series of 14 Saturday morning classes on various gardening topics. Our classes are held in the shade green house and begin at 11:00 a.m. and finish at 11:30. Classes are free to members of the Gardens of Babylon Gardening Club and $10.00 to the general public. Space is limited - If you are interested in attending, please sign up on the class sign-up sheet either on-line or at the Garden shop.

We look forward to seeing you!

Online Class Signup

May 2nd - "Cultivating relationships - how the Personal Farmer helps you have gardening success"

Instructor: Peter Anderson

This class will cover the general concepts and installation of raised bed gardening. Join us and learn helpful tips about:

  • Why raised beds
  • Soil Science
  • Vegetables and light
  • Fundamentals of Planting designs
  • Pests and fertilizers
  • Success stories

May 9 - "Garden Splash with Annuals & Good Ol' Reliable Perennials"

Instructor: Judith Cornelius

  • Learn our secrets about high-benefit and low-effort and easy to maintain flowers
  • Learn about under-utilized plants that can make your garden wonderfully unique
  • Consider newly developed break-through plants for both sun and shade
  • Expand your choices with reliable xeric (heat resistant) plants
  • Use the WOW Factor of unique planting of flowers in your landscaping and vegetable garden
  • Peek at Rodney Dangerfield's list - a fun twist for this summer's planting season!

May 23 - "Herbs - Earth's Spices and Medicines"

Instructor: Celeste Holliman

This class will teach you about both culinary herbs and medicinal plants:

  • Learn where these various herbs & plants originated
  • Learn what our ancestors used these plants for
  • Learn which herbs can be used in which kinds of foods
  • Learn more about teas,tinctures & poultices
  • Learn how to plant and process your herbs
  • Learn about our native herbs as well as oriental plants

Sign up now for this fascinating class - space is limited...

June 6 - "Hey Kids! - Grow Your OWN Green Thumb!" - (Our Future Young Master Gardeners) This class is open to all gardeners, including teachers, parents, grandparents and KIDS of any age, who would like to have fun learning something new and exciting. Sign up now and reserve your space for this fun class!

Instructor: Judith Cornelius

In this class, you will learn:

  • tips on how you can garden all year round
  • how to make toilet paper seed strips
  • the secrets of Buffalo Bird Woman's garden and why "old is new"
  • where ketchup (and other processed foods) really come from
  • about kid-friendly and safe pesticides
  • about the "3 sisters" and how to plant them
  • how to take good care of our environment - it is your Earth

Class Project: Plant your own RED corn-on-the-cob to take home and grow! This unusual corn was grown and passed down for hundreds of years by the Mandan native American Indians on the northern prairie that was explored by Lewis & Clark.

The class project will be to plant and take home Mandan Bride corn (which has bright red kernals). This corn was grown by the native American Indians on the northern prairie during the Lewis & Clark expeditions.

June 20 - "Vertical Gardening - Nature's Art Gallery"

Instructor: Mark Kerske

Founder of Gardens of Babylon, Mark Kerske, attends gardening conferences across the U.S., and share the best ideas about various aspects of organic gardening. This June 20th class will feature amazing ways to garden in small spaces. Come and learn about :

  • the fascinating history of nature's "art gallery"
  • the WOW factor of green roofs and green walls
  • unique ways to grow food vertically
  • from vines to putting greens and everything in between
  • how to lower your utility bill and improve air quality
  • the psychological benefits of gardening

As part of this class, Mark will build a green wall and teach us how to easily create our own work of art!

July 4 - "Composting - The Sweet Smell of Success!"

July 18 - "Hobby Farming & Sustainable Living - Get Off the Grid!"
August 15 - "Rain Gardens Made Easy!"
August 29 - "Grandma's Secrets to Preserving Your Harvest!"
September 12 - " Native Plants - Meet the Locals!"
September 26 - "Container Gardening - A Little Piece of Paradise!"
October 10 - " Landscape Designs"
October 24 - "Landscape Tips and Techniques"



People and the class they are teaching:

April 25 - (Peter) Cultivating relationships, how the personal farmer helps you have gardening success.

May 9 - (Liz Rashkover or ?) "Garden Splash with Annuals & Good Ol' Reliable Perennials"

May 23 - (Celeste) "Herbs- Earth's Spices"

June 6 - (Judith) "Hey Kids! - Grow Your Own Green Thumb!" or "Young Master Gardeners"

June 20 - (Mark) " Green Walls - Nature's Art Gallery"

July 4 - (Sizway or Marcus) "Composting - The Sweet Smell of Success!"

July 18 - (Peter) "Hobby Farming & Sustainable Living - Get Off the Grid!"

August 1 - ? Farm Trip to Mamushi Farm in Franklin ?

August 15 - (Judith or Patty Ghertner) "Rain Gardens Made Easy!"

August 29 - (Judith) "Grandma's Secrets to Preserving Your Harvest!"

September 12 - (Judith) " Native Plants - Meet the Locals!"

September 26 - (Cricket or Matt) "Container Gardening - A Little Piece of Paradise!"

October 10 - (Peter) " Landscape Designs "

October 24 - (Peter) "Landscape Tips and Techniques"