Posts Tagged "sustainable"

Get Growing Portland!

The first day of Spring officially arrives this month, and gardeners are starting to gear up for the growing season. One of the best things about living in Portland is enthusiasm that many locals share for healthy organically grown foods. For many Portlanders, the best way to ensure the quality of their fruits and vegetables is to grow them at home. There is no better place to live if you’re looking for the resources and guidance to grow an amazing garden. Local publisher, Timber Press, has a number of gardening titles that will inspire and inform any gardener.With book titles like, High-Impact, Low-Carbon Gardening: 1001 Ways to Garden Sustainably and Big Gardens in Small Spaces: Out-of-the-Box Advice for Boxed-in Gardeners there is something for every interest, skill level, and outdoor space. Here’s a locals only tip: visit the Timber Press lobby in old town to peruse all their titles and take in the beauty of the historic Haseltine Building. Growing healthy organic foods in your home garden often starts with good, quality seeds. Dedicated seed savers are preserving traditional vegetables and plants through heirloom seed banks. Locally, a group of Oregonians have started The Seed Ambassador Project a group dedicated to providing  information and classes about seed saving. Attend their free Spring Propagation Fair on March 23rd for speakers, workshops and plant swapping. Grow Portland, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Portlanders to grow healthy food, offers a number of affordable classes to get the novice gardener started. They also offer organic seeds to home gardeners at an affordable price through their seed club. Need to bring in an expert? Local company, Verdura Culinary Gardens, will build a custom garden in your yard. They also sell their cedar raised garden beds that come without or without a seat to make gardening even easier. If you’re a do-it-yourself type, they sell plans that let you make your own raised beds. Finally a shout out to Portland’s local government agency, Metro, for providing loads of online resources for all aspects of sustainable gardening. Learn how to enhance your soil with composting, or find options to safely get rid of garden pests. Stumped? They even have a hotline to speak with a Master Gardener for expert advice on your particular garden...