I'm amazed that this year's rain has lasted so long. Then again, it isn't unheard of that the rose festival is held under gray, stormy skies. Our yard used to turn into a bog under the kind of hail and hard rain we've seen this weekend, but then my gardening master of a housemate created a simple rain garden. He dug a hole in a low part of the yard, away from the house and in the berry garden. Then he lined the bottom with some rocks and a little concrete. Now the rain all gathers there, and it turns into a lovely mini pond.  If you're looking for a little more information on rain gardens, check out this series of free workshops from East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District:

Don’t miss the last of this season’s FREE Rain Garden Workshops! Rain Gardens 101: Learn about rain gardens, the critical role can play in urban stream restoration, and how to construct your own. You will learn the how to decide appropriate location and size, calculate impervious surfaces, determine soil suitability, choose... (more)

Personally, I'm ready for spring.  I miss feeling dirt between my fingers. If the wintry weather (and the end of this rather tumultuous year) has you in a slump, check out the City of Portland's Urban Growth Bounty classes. You'll be excited to get going in 2010, since there are over 70 classes this year, three times as many as last year.  Now, in addition to organic gardening classes, you can sign up to learn about cheesemaking, cooking, keeping chickens, raising bees, and more.  

As the year winds on (can you believe The Oughts are already over?) I'll feature nearby Urban Growth Bounty classes. All of them are presented by the City's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.  (Organic, sustainable, and punny?  Gawd I <3 PDX.) The first class I'm showcasing is on turning your lawn into a mini farm with no till methods. This class will be held on Feb. 9th from 6:30-8:30 pm at Lane Middle School (7200 SE 60th). This is the first in a series of nine classes taught by Your Background Farmer-... (more)

Although I've been remiss in writing about it, I had a fantastic time at the last neighborhood association meeting.  I did blog from the meeting, but what I failed to mention was that I WON organic plant food by correctly answering a fauna trivia question posed by Renee from Metro's Natural Techniques Demonstration Garden. I was delighted to learn about this great public gardening resource right in our own backyard!  At the meeting, Renee explained that the Natural Techniques Demonstration Garden educates local gardeners on everything from selecting local, drought-resistant plants to edibles that attract birds and bees.  I had been to the area once before, for a great plant sale that benefited PPS kids, but I had no idea that just across the way, Metro, our regional government, offers such a full array of free programs for local gardeners.  Now that I see how much I can learn for free, I'm determined to go to as many classes there as I can.

Here's a list of their upcoming second Saturday classes,... (more)

I have my hands full with too many summer projects as it is, what with the rock band, the garden, the random fix-up projects from garage sales.  If you're still looking for something to keep you busy this summer, here are two ideas:

Sustainable Homes Professional - Building Science Fundamentals Module 2

This 2-day class provides an exploration of the fundamental laws that govern the dynamic flows within a building in order to understand the interconnectedness of house systems. These fundamentals are necessary tools to use when making design, construction, and operation decisions that affect the sustainability of projects. This class enables you to: comprehend the natural laws that drive the thermal, air, and moisture flows within a house; develop strategies for analyzing how dynamic flows affect the performance of a house; and explore the importance of place and its impacts on building performance, occupant health, well-being, and resource efficiency. The second day of class includes site visits that... (more)