Home & Garden calendar

Events

Rain gardens: Stacy Aleksich of the Snohomish Conservation District will discuss rain gardens at the Snohomish Garden Club meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Snohomish Senior Center, 506 Fourth St., Snohomish. The meeting is free. Contact club president Crystal Meadows, 206-910-4499, or go to www.snohomishgardenclub.com for information.

The Honorable Farmer: A six-week course covering farming basics, including building healthy soil, permaculture principles, irrigation, pruning, grafting and seed saving. Two-hour sessions on Tuesdays beginning at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at The Open Gate Farm. Classes taught by local farmer, author and speaker Jon Stevens. Fee is $180 and includes all materials. Register now by calling the farm at 360-387-4449. The Open Gate Farm is at 269 Russell Road, Camano Island; theopengatefarm.com.

2012 Country Living Expo &Cattlemen’s Winterschool: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 28, Stanwood High School, 7400 272nd St. NW. Choose five classes from more than 150 sessions on various topics including backyard chickens, organic gardening and preserving food. Early registration for $55 goes through Dec. 31 and includes lunch and an all-day trade show with 60 vendors. After Dec. 31 the cost is $60 per person. See skagit.wsu.edu/Country LivingExpo for a full schedule or call 360-428-4270, ext. 240.

COMMUNITY CLASSES

Beekeeping courses: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays Jan. 9 to Feb. 13 or Feb. 27 to March 26, WSU Snohomish County Extension, 600 128th St. SE, Everett; snohomish.wsu.edu; $70. Register with a credit card at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/179866 or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/179873. To register by check, fill out the form at snohomish.wsu.edu/calendar.htm and mail it in with your check, or contact Karie Christensen 425-357-6039 or christensen4@wsu.edu.

Series

Sustainable gardening lecture series: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every other Friday, Jan. 6 through April 13, Mukilteo Presbyterian Church, 4515 84th St. SW, Mukilteo. Tickets to the full eight-lecture series are $85 in advance. A limited number of single-lecture tickets may be available for $20 at the door. See www.gardenlectures.com to buy tickets and see the speaker schedule and biographies. Call 425-357-6010 with questions. To buy tickets by mail, send a check made out to SCMGF for $85 per ticket to SCMGF, P.O. Box 3126, Arlington, WA, 98223. Please include an email address for a confirmation receipt. For a paper confirmation, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

• January classes are “Great Plants for the Shade Garden” with Richie Steffen, curator for the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden, Jan. 6.

• ”Edible Plants, Eat More, Grow More, Gather More, Share More” with Graham Kerr, author and TV personality, Jan. 20.

Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens 2012 lectures: Noon to 1 p.m. select Saturdays, at the arboretum, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett, either in the indoor classroom or, when appropriate, outside on the arboretum grounds. All the classes are free except for the $30 Mother’s Day basket class on May 12. Seating is limited. Call 425-257-8597 for reservations. See www.evergreen arboretum.com. for more about the arboretum. The series begins with “Clematis Pruning and Care” with master gardener Laura Watson on Jan. 21.

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.

Christianson’s Nursery and Greenhouse: 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon; 360-466-3821; www.christiansonsnursery.com.