Great Park’s Fall Gardening Workshop Series Begins October 6

Free workshops provide inspiration and instruction for backyard gardeners and green thumbs on sustainable home gardening practices

IRVINE – The Orange County Great Park invites all aspiring backyard gardeners and green thumbs to take part in the 2012 Fall Gardening Workshop series beginning October 6 at the Great Park’s Farm + Food Lab. The Fall Gardening Workshop series, presented with support from Whitney Farms^® and developed in cooperation with the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County, features instruction from gardening experts on sustainable home gardening practices. All workshops are free to the public and run through November 3, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Each workshop features a raffle with a chance to win organic Whitney Farms^® gardening products from ScottsMiracle-Gro. The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Composters of Orange County (UCCE) will also be on hand during each workshop to answer your composting questions.

The 2012 Fall Gardening Workshops include:

Square-Foot Gardening: Gardening for the Future

Saturday, October 6, 2012, 10 – 11 a.m.

No space? No problem! Square-foot gardening is an easy, fun and economical way to grow plenty of produce for your whole family in small spaces. UCCE Master Gardener Mark Fierle will teach you how to make your own square foot garden and soon you’ll be on your way to making the most of your vegetable varieties. A little planning today can reap a bountiful harvest in the future.

The Scoop on Soil

Saturday, October 13, 10 – 11 a.m.

Why is soil important? Dr. Jim Hruskoci from ScottsMiracle-Gro will discuss the properties of our native soil and how it can be improved. You will also learn about organic matter, compost and the addition of mineral components, proper soil compositions for raised beds, the differences in the variety of soil mixes and how to use the right soil for the right condition or situation.

Garden of Eatin’

Saturday, October 27, 10 – 11 a.m.

One of the benefits of living in a Mediterranean climate is year-round produce grown in your own garden! UCCE Master Gardener Kay Havens will teach you what to plant and how to incorporate edibles into your gardening repertoire. Grow roots, shoots and fruits to liven up your plate, plus bountiful berries, fresh herbs and healthy greens fresh from your Garden of Eatin’.

Colorful Flower Baskets for the Cool Season

Saturday, November 3, 10 – 11 a.m.

Banish the winter blahs! Kathy Moine, an Advanced Certified Nursery Professional from Green Thumb Nursery will teach you how to make your garden an oasis of color and your home a floral retreat. Discover which annuals and perennials to grow and how to create a beautiful, bountiful basket of cool season color for your home.

The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways.

For more information, visit, please visit www.ocgp.org or call 866-829-3829.

About the Orange County Great Park

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Southern California enjoy the Orange County Great Park’s current array of recreational and educational opportunities, including views from the iconic Great Park Balloon that rises 400 feet in the air and provides a panoramic view of Orange County. Other Great Park features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Historical Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. The Great Park also hosts a variety of special events that provide unique experiences for the entire family, including the Growing the Park Anniversary Celebration, annual Pumpkin Harvest, Great Night! Family New Year’s Eve, Flights & Sounds Summer Festival and the weekly Great Park Farmers Market. The Great Park, with its approximately 1,300-acre master plan, is the centerpiece of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. For more information, please visit www.ocgp.org.