Friday, April 27, 2012

Seed starting workshop by Long Beach Grows at Center Space

Center Space Long Beach in Admiral Kidd Park is back again this Saturday April 28 after its successful debut last weekend. Tomorrow’s free Growth & Learning Space activities include an 11 A.M. workshop on seed starting offered by Long Beach Grows, a local organization that promotes food security through urban agriculture. Steve Passmore, the Farm Coordinator of LBGROWS Unity Farm, will be the instructor.

The best food that you know and can trust is home grown or grown by you in one of our Long Beach community gardens. Long Beach Grows’ seed starting workshop will help you get started.

Starting your vegetable garden from seed is much more economical than buying plants from a retail store. In addition, you get to choose the exact varieties of zucchini or other vegetables to grow, compared to the small selection that is available at even the most well stocked of garden centers.

Steve will talk about preferred sources and the different types of seed, including heirloom seed, genetically modified or GMO seed, open-pollinated seed, F1 hybrid seed, and which of these are compatible with sustainable organic gardening. 

The discussion will cover the advantages and disadvantages of direct seeding compared to preparing sets that will need to be transplanted, and the utility of greenhouses.

Your choice of seed depends on the season and where you live. Steve will discuss which plants are appropriate to grow now in Long Beach given our temperate climate. Considerations to be covered include the effects of temperature on germination and on time of emergence.

Workshop participants will go home with a souvenir, seeds they have sown for their home gardens.

Other Center Space activities this Saturday include a 1 P.M. workshop on preparing for green career opportunities with Stella Ursua. The seed starting workshop and the green careers workshop will be held beneath the trees on the north side of the Boys and Girls Club building.

Recurring Center Space events include the Greener Good Farmers Market, hot food vendors, zumba, yoga, live music, and a soccer clinic. Center Space is a project of the Catalyst Network of Communities.

Enjoy this? Then share the link and comment below, even if only to say "Hi!"
 

You might also be interested in Donna’s other work as Long Beach Urban Agriculture Examiner, and founder and director of Long Beach Grows™.

Copyright © 2012 Donna Marykwas; All rights reserved.

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