Master Builders Association Remodeled Homes Tour: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17, Seattle. Tour is free, and the Tour Passport, which contains tour information and project addresses, is available in digital format at www.remodeltour.com.
“The Art of Rhododendron Propagation”: Meerkerk’s resident “rhody godmother” Susie Reynolds, 10 a.m. Oct. 17, 3531 Meerkerk Lane, Greenbank, Whidbey. Cost is $10. Reservations requested. Call 360-678-1912 or 360-222-0121 or go to www.meerkerkgardens.org.
Leasing Land For Grazing: Solar-Powered Watering Systems: 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 24, 33101 44th Ave. NW, Stanwood. Tour an old dairy farm near the Skagit-Snohomish county border that recently received a stream makeover with new fencing, native plants and a unique new watering system for cattle. Habitat Restoration staff from the Snohomish Conservation District will be on hand to discuss the programs and incentives available to landowners for restoring stream buffers, including programs about building fences, planting and removing noxious weeds. Local beef producer Cayley Allen will talk about what farmland owners need to rent out pastures to beef producers or for other types of livestock grazing. Free. No registration required. Call Alex Pittman for details at 425-377-7013.
Adopt A Stream Foundation tree planting: Planting of several hundred trees and shrubs next to Catherine Creek from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 24 in a field next to the stream at 2547 Grade Road, Lake Stevens. Work gloves, shovels and snacks will be provided. Call 425-316-8592 to volunteer. More at www.streamkeeper.org.
Hosting Mason Bees in your Backyard: 6 p.m. Oct. 20, Marysville Library; 3 p.m. Oct. 22 Camano Island Library; 6 p.m. Stanwood Library; 11 a.m. Nov. 14 Arlington Library. Do wonders for your garden and help the environment at the same time. Learn how easy it is to host non-stinging, native mason bees in the spring by renting a backyard bee kit. Presented by Missy Anderson of King County Master Gardeners. For all ages. Free.
Green Building Slam: Featuring 10 presenters with sustainable construction by Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 24, Kane Hall, University of Washington, Central Parking Plaza, 1410 NE Campus Way, Seattle. General admission $25; guild members $20. students $10. More at www.eventbrite.com/e/2015-green-building-slam-nw-ecobuilding-guild-tickets-17217295394
Seattle Home Show: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 23 through 25, CenturyLink Field Event Center, 1000 Occidental Ave. South. Hundreds of displays of home and garden products; “Meet the Experts” seminars; the newest in building products and materials; landscape displays; living green; wine tasting; arts &crafts and home decorating. Admission is $12; $8 seniors (60+), $3 ages 7-15; free for under 7. Purchasers of E-tickets also receive $1 parking at CenturyLink Field Event Center Parking Garage and Safeco Field Garage. Visitors can register to return a second day for free. More at seattlehomeshow.com.
Master Gardener training class: Applications are now being accepted for the training class, which starts in January. Training focuses on familiarization and learning how to use resources to research, educate, mentor, and answer horticulture questions for the general public in a collaborative environment. All training is open book and no memorization is expected. Training involves approximately 80 hours of classroom and workshop instruction held once a week daytimes every Thursday January through March. Tuition is $275 plus a volunteer commitment of 40 hours each year for two years working, learning and having fun with other like-minded volunteers on a variety of horticultural and environmental educational projects. Without the volunteer commitment, tuition is $775. For more information and an application, visit the Extension website at snohomish.wsu.edu and look under “News and Announcements,” or call the Extension Office at 425-338-2400.
Growing Groceries Education Series: Series of classes on growing your own food. Classes are 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, WSU Snohomish County Extension’s Cougar Auditorium, 600 128th St. SE, Everett, inside McCollum Park. Nov. 11: Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants Part 2. Interpreting soil tests; making &using compost. Jan. 20: What to Grow in Western Washington. Variety and technique are key to successful harvests. Feb. 3: Small Fruits, Big Harvests. Strawberries, cane berries, blueberries, and other small fruit. Feb. 17: Small Space &Vertical Gardening. No matter how little space you have, you can grow food. March 2: Early Start = Early Harvest. What to plant and how to get a jump on the season. March 16: Good Bugs, Bad Bugs, &Pollinators. Learn who’s who and how to attract the good guys. April 6: Seed Starting &Growing Transplants. Save money and raise the varieties that do best here. April 20: Weeding and Watering. Get smart about weeds and water; save time, harvest more. April 27: Growing the Heat Lovers in the Chilly NW. Learn the tricks to growing ripe tomatoes, peppers, &melons. Cost is $25 per class. Any five or more are $20 each or take all 10 for $175. Register online at GrowingGroceries.BrownPaperTickets.com. For more information visit snohomish.wsu.edu/growing-groceries, call Kate Halstead at 425-357-6024 or email khalstead@wsu.edu.
NURSERY CLASSES
These local nurseries feature gardening classes, guest speakers and special events throughout the year, often for no charge. Check their websites or call for details.
Evergreen Arboretum: July through September monthly gardening classes will be held at Sunnyside Nursery, 3915 Sunnyside Blvd., Marysville, noon to 1 p.m. instead of at the arboretum. Call 425-257-8597.
Christianson’s Nursery and Greenhouse: 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon; 360-466-3821; www.christiansonsnursery.com.
Falling Water Gardens: Free classes in creating and caring for a pond, 17516 Highway 203, Monroe; 360-863-1400, www.fallingwatergardens.com.
McAuliffe’s Valley Nursery: 11910 Springhetti Road, Snohomish; 360-862-1323; www.mcauliffesvalleynursery.com.
Molbak’s Garden &Home: 13625 NE 175th St., Woodinville; 425-483-5000; molbaks.com.
Li’l Sprout Nursery: 17414 Bothell-Everett Highway, Mill Creek; 425-482-5276; www.lilsproutnursery.com. Upcoming topics include hydroponic gardening, houseplant propagation, garden clean-up, cooking with herbs.
Pine Creek Nursery: 23225 Sofie Road, Monroe; 360-863-8866; www.pinecreeknursery.com.
Sky Nursery: 18528 Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline; 206-546-4851; www.skynursery.com.
Sunnyside Nursery: 3915 Sunnyside Blvd., Marysville; 425-334-2002; www.sunnysidenursery.net. Classes are free.
Wight’s Home &Garden: 5026 196th St. SW, Lynnwood; 425-775-3636; www.wights.com.
To submit an item for the Home &Garden calendar, e-mail features@heraldnet.com.
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