Build your own planter box and grow your own food

$165 person all materials included
April 12th or 26th      10am-4pm    6 hr class
(2 separate classes) 8 students total each class

In this class we will measure, cut and assemble our own wooden planter boxes that we will then fill with soil, fertilizers and vegetable starts and discuss the many varieties of green and vegetables we can grow in this box, over the different seasons.

Included in the class

    ⁃    wood and nails to build 1 box per student
    ⁃    access to tools
    ⁃    1 bag and 1/2 of soil
    ⁃    fertilizers and worm castings (approximately 1 cup each)
    ⁃    up to 8 plant starts (2 packs) ranging from lettuce, kale, peas and spinach (availability)
    ⁃    1 pack of seeds for next planting, peas, lettuce, kale or spinach
    ⁃    discuss succession planting and timing and organics


PLEASE Bring eye protection, ear plugs and gloves if you have any or all of these items, it helps!
I have some to loan you, but it never hurts to have your own!

We will go over basic power tool safety and demonstrations. We will build our boxes together, taking turns on the chop saw, using drills and tools, helping each other along the way.
You will leave this class with a new confidence in using power tools, instructions on how to build this beautiful rustic planter, as well as your own handmade, planted container filled with seasonal greens to take home, nurture and harvest from, as well as a new group of friends to call upon to discuss the progress and planting with.
Bring your own lunch and water bottle.

Community building, connection and creativity. What more can you ask for?

Fall is THE best time to fertilize with organics

I get so many questions about   this topic, so here are some answers    Fall is THE best time to fertilize with organics. First of all, since they are slow release, they are slow to break down and so fall - with its attendant rains -starts the breakdown process.  BUT, due to cooler soil temps and lower N values, the plants don't needlessly convert the nutrients into excessive vegetative growth.  Instead, they plants start building up the storage pantry -- which is what will be needed for the spring flush, when reserves would otherwise be depleted. Also, building up a robust root structure is what will help your plants prevent frost damage.  Our winters have been a bit whacky, but what has been a pattern is a few weeks of super cold weather. You need to freeze proof your plants.  A good fall fertilizing with Hendrikus Organics, which offers an ample supply of beneficial soil microbes will help in this process. Similarly, with all the rains the winter months will bring, a robust root structure will utilize the water better.                            Fall is also the time of year to amend soils and build the best soil structure.  Increase organic matter through compost -- and humate (HuMagic), and food sources that will feed both the plants and the microbes.  HO ferts contain at least 22 different species of beneficial microbes.  The microbes do much of the work in making nutrients available, but they also are the carpenters improving soils "architecture."  Increased pore space and aggregates of soil particles are necessary to drain te heavy rains. Otherwise, you will have soggy soil which can not breathe. The anaerobic conditions lead to death of beneficial microbes -- and root rot!  )= sick plants)    Lastly, fruit bearing plants such as blueberries are setting their fruitbuds now for next year. Fertilize now to get the best yield next year.  Similarly, the berries come out of the winter "starved."  A good fall fertilization will give them the nutrients they need to get producing more effectively during the growing season.  Liquid HuMagic:  Stressed trees & shrubs.  Treat with soil drench all around the drip line.  Do a foliar leaf spray for Non-Conifers. (conifers breathe through their needles so we don't recommend spraying needles). The Humagic contains a mixture of benefical organic acids: Humic, Ulmic, and  Fulvic Acid.  The fulvic acid in particular, has a very low molecular weight -- which enables it to pass immediately through the cell wall where it immediately works to chelate minerals in forms useful to plants. The synergistic effect of the organic acids serves to improve metabolism, nutrient efficiency, and disease resistance.  Japanese & Vine Maples have been particularly stressed by the long drought period.  While they are attractive now, in terms of their characteristic fall color, most maples are still a bit flacid and lack the vigor and pop they usually display. Perk them up and help them build up for winter stresses with applications of Liquid HuMagic:  They will respond quite happily to soil & foliar drenches.  Mix at rate of 2oz/gallon, apply every two weeks -- or for more immediate perk up and improved appearance, root enhancement and disease resistance.   The difference will be noted in leaf branch stem, vigor, and leaf thickness. Sometimes more intense color.   Community supported, Supporting community Sincerely, Vera Johnson Village Green Perennial Nursery

Perennials Sale

As the summer comes to a close, and we begin the return to cooler temps, shorter days and and colorful changes that fall brings, we realize some plants are more sleepy than others...so...            We're having a 'Sleeping beauty' sale.  Spring bloomers, trees and shrubs will be so much more vigorous and floriferous in the spring if you plant in the Fall.    Why you ask?  They are dormant.  Strong root development can take place over the winter, resulting in less spring maintenance/watering, and stronger healthier plants.            The same things apply to Fall planting...     The success of healthy, well developed plants is                                IN THE SOIL.  Amend soil with manure/homemade compost and organic fertilizers break the roots up-this is very important soak the rootball- up to an hour if necessary pour at least a gallon or more of water into the planting hole,  backfill and water again...                            Sleeping Beauties SALE  50%off sleeping/resting plants Sept 22nd-30th  Perennials on sale  Daylilies  Dahlia's  Foxtail lilies  Hardy Geraniums  Columbine  Geum  Hellebores  Lady's mantle  Iris  Hosta's-going to sleep soon (excludes Guacamole)  Taro  Lilies  Shasta daisies   Carnation  Monarda  Daffodils  Tulips  Uvularia  Filipendula  Yarrow  Alliums  Veronica  Eryngium  Penstemon   Bowles golden grass  Scented geraniuims-houseplant or outside in summer  Devil's club- a NW native Impatiens- noli-tangere, NW native  and more... Shrubs on sale  Indian Plum  Ninebarks  Barberry  mystery azalea's  Gooseberry  Vines on sale  (excludes hops and honeysuckle)  All clematis  Climbing hydrangeas   and more...  Select Roses on sale...  York and lancaster (overstock sale)  Complicata (os sale)  Sissinghurst castle (os sale)  Evangeline   Everest Fragrance  Cardinal Richelieu  Margarets Rambler  Golden Showers   and more... The only West Seattle source for Hendrikus Organic Fertilizer and soil mycorhhyzza. Give your plants the right start. Family owned and operated. 35 years in business. Community supported. Sincerely, Vera Johnson Village Green Perennial Nursery