Liberty Gardens Fall Class Schedule

TOMATOES AND NOTHING BUT

If you’re tired of just putting up 50 jars of spaghetti sauce every year and want to try something different, come and taste some great ways to preserve tomatoes that are easy and fun to prepare and will keep all winter. We’ll prepare something during class for everyone to take home. All supplies and recipes will be provided. Vicki will share lots of other tomato secrets. $45.00 (3 hours)

Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 1:00 -- 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 1, 2009, 6:00 -- 9:00 p.m.


GARLIC
Aaaahh—garlic.... When to plant, how to plant, when to harvest? Questions I hear. Answers I will give and much more including a sensational way to make your own fresh garlic powder! You simply must come and try this and all the other garlic treats to be tasted. You haven’t lived until you grow your own garlic and the time to plant is now! $30.00 (2 hours)

Thursday, October 8, 2009, 1:00 -- 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 10, 2009, 9:00 -- 11:00 a.m.

ASSEMBLE YOUR COMPOST PILE NOW FOR SPRING
There are so many ways to enhance the quality of your compost pile right now. There will be lots of biomass at this time of year from the vegetable garden and there will be the added bonus from heaven—LEAVES! By doing it now we afford ourselves the additional luxury of time. All the time that the weather is good this fall and all the time that the complex workings of your pile are waking up next spring in late February and March and April, your biology will be hard at work while you are indoors resting. You can work on composting, crop residues, leaf composting and much more and by next year, you will have a bonanza of material to improve on your 2010 crops. $35.00(2 ½ hours)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 9:00 -- 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 24, 2009, 9:00 -- 11:30 a.m.

GOT WORMS?

I don’t mean to be personal but, if you don’t have worms, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to create a garden amendment that has no equal. Its availability to plants is even greater than finished compost and therefore, not as much quantity is needed per plant to give superb benefits. Fortunately, a homeowner only needs a small indoor space that stays above 55 degrees in the winter and a steady supply of leftovers from everyday meals to keep a worm bin going all through the winter season. Vicki will show you everything you always wanted to know about keeping a friendly little herd of worms around And your home and garden will be glad for it. $30.00 (2 ½ hours)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 1:00 -- 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24, 2009, 1:00 -- 3:30 p.m.

Garden is located at: 907 Summit Street, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 (1 block north of 55th street, 2 blocks east of Main Street, ½ block west of Washington, 1 ½ blocks south of Maple)


For information or to register call 630-852-5263 or email vnowicki@comcast.net

Fall Fairs

A few fall fairs to be aware of:

Cantigny Green Fair on September 26

Preparing the Fall Garden for an Edible Spring at Vie Restaurant

September, October, November

We hope you were able to sample Kathy Vitalo's various vinegar creations on Sept. 9. The sampling will continue on Oct. 14 when we gather for our annual Harvest Festival. Bring recipes, snacks, and your gardening stories and questions. Email any photos of your 2009 garden to Carol Morency at midway117@worldnet.att.net.

On Nov. 11, we welcome Patricia Hill, author of Design Your Natural Midwest Garden, to talk about Shade Gardening Beyond Hostas. As always, the meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Downers Grove Public Library. The DGOG board meets at 6:30 p.m.

Garden Study Course

Click here to view a flyer on an upcoming gardening study course at the Cook County Farm Bureau.

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Expert Brings the Flavors of Herbs to Sept. Meeting

Join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, September 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Kathy Vitalo will present "Extending the Summer Bounty of Herbs in Your Garden" which focuses on tasting, smelling and identifying herbs depending on the season. Vitalo is an owner of Herbally Yours, a family-owned and operated herb vinegar farm. Its artisanal basil-oregano vinegar was a 2006/2007 finalist in the Gallo Family Vineyards Gold Medal Award competition. Kathy is a 19-year member of the Pleasantdale Garden Club and of Slow Food USA.

We meet at the Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss Street.