Garden Hotline Classes and Events

Come join us for a class, or peruse an information table and ask us your gardening questions. We are out and about in King County all year-round sharing natural gardening advice and resources. Call or email to ask questions about any event.

AUGUST

Growing Houseplants Naturally

Thursday August 8, 2024  4-5 pm

King County Library – Kent  

212 2nd Ave. N  Kent, WA 98032

Houseplants can help keep the air in your home free of contaminants, relax us and beautify our environment. Learn about best soil, pot, plant choices for your home and practice potting up small starts into a larger container to take home with you.  Buying small starts saves money and gives you the fun of growing plants in your home!

Please register: Kent Library – Link Coming Soon

Composting at Home

Wednesday August 14, 2024  5-7 pm

King County Library – Woodmont

26809 Pacific Highway S.  Des Moines, WA 98198

The foundation of a beautiful and healthy garden is good soil. Adding compost to your garden enriches the soil and provides the nutrients your plants need to grow well and produce good vegetables, flowers, herbs and healthy shrubs. The compost pile is really a small ecosystem teeming with life. This workshop will teach you about the different methods of food and yard waste composting, the soil food web, what materials to add and which to avoid and why compost is important.

Please register: Woodmont Library

Composting at Home

Saturday August 17, 2024  2-3:30 pm

King County Library – Des Moines

21620 11th Avenue S.  Des Moines, WA 98198

The foundation of a beautiful and healthy garden is good soil. Adding compost to your garden enriches the soil and provides the nutrients your plants need to grow well and produce good vegetables, flowers, herbs and healthy shrubs. The compost pile is really a small ecosystem teeming with life. This workshop will teach you about the different methods of food and yard waste composting, the soil food web, what materials to add and which to avoid and why compost is important.

Please register: Des Moines Library

Composting at Home

Wednesday August 28, 2024  6-7:30 pm

King County Library – Sammamish

825 228th Avenue SE.  Sammamish, WA 98075

The foundation of a beautiful and healthy garden is good soil. Adding compost to your garden enriches the soil and provides the nutrients your plants need to grow well and produce good vegetables, flowers, herbs and healthy shrubs. The compost pile is really a small ecosystem teeming with life. This workshop will teach you about the different methods of food and yard waste composting, the soil food web, what materials to add and which to avoid and why compost is important.

Please register: Sammamish Library

SEPTEMBER

Growing Oyster Mushrooms at Home

Friday September 6, 2024 12:00-1:30 pm

King County Library – Valley View

17850 Military Road S., Seatac, WA 98188

Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow on your kitchen counter! Learn about the fabulous world of fungi including what benefits they have to a sustainable world. Make a kit to take home and sprout some you can eat! We bring the materials and teach you how to grow. 

Please register – Valley View Library

Registration is FULL – get on the waiting list

Putting the Garden to Bed – Autumn and Winter Care

Saturday September 7, 2024 10 am – 12 pm

Marlene’s Market – ONLINE

Prepare your garden for the winter rains! Gain expertise in selecting the right mulch for various garden zones, discover optimal cover crop seeds, and master techniques to safeguard your soil. Join us for a vital lesson in sustaining garden health through the changing seasons.

Please register – Marlene’s Market Online

New Start Community – Shark Garden Fall Open House and Bake Sale Fundraiser

Saturday September 7, 2024 12:00 – 3:00 pm

614 SW 120th St. Seattle, WA 98146

The annual fundraiser bake sale and open house for the most fabulous Shark Garden! Join us for gourmet goodies from the garden, from jams and jellies from our vast berry collection to herb salts and baked goods. Help support our programs and get some early holiday shopping in! Garden Hotline will staff an info table with free seeds and plant starts! Join us. (Volunteers are need to make things for the sale, help set up and take down, and help folks shop. Contact Shark Garden to help out!)

Shark Garden Fall Open House

Picnic in the Park – Lake Forest Park

Saturday September 7, 2024 2:00- 6:00 pm

Pfingst Animal Acres Park 17435 Brookside Blvd. NE Lake Forest, Park, WA 98155

Come join the fun! The City of Lake Forest Park is once again sponsoring the free and fun Picnic in the Park family friendly event chock full of food trucks, kid activities, a petting zoo, and concerts for an end of summer celebration. Join the Garden Hotline to take home some microgreens growing kits and learn how to produce these tasty and nutritious treats for yourself. Ask your fall gardening questions with our live educator ready to assist.

Picnic in the Park

Renton Farmers Market

Tuesday September 10, 2024 3:00 – 7:00 pm

Piazza Park – 233 Burnett Avenue S. Renton, WA 98057

Join us to get your gardening questions answered in person with our fabulous educators! We will be showcasing cover crop information – ways to protect and enrich your soil this winter while your food garden rests. The Renton Farmers Market has a wonderful selection of produce, gifts, honey, seasonings, food trucks, ice cream and so much more and will be featuring some instrumental jazz music this week.

Renton Farmers Market

Community Resource Fair sponsored by Seattle-King County Public Health

Wednesday September 11, 2024 12:30 – 4:00 pm

Skyway Library – 12601 76th Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98178

Public Health of Seattle and King County is sponsoring a health fair for the community sharing resources, free cell phones for those who qualify, medical info including about TB, utilities and legal resources. Join us to get your fall gardening questions answered with our Garden Hotline educator! We will be sharing microgreens kits to take home with you – learn about growing these nutritious and delicious starts to add to your meals. Fun for kids too!

Community Resource Fair

Microgreens for the Space Challenged Gardener

Wednesday September 11, 2024  5:00 – 7 pm

King County Library – Woodmont

26809 Pacific Highway S. Des Moines, WA 98198

Microgreens are nutritious, delicious and easy to grow, even on a balcony or windowsill. All you need is a container, some potting soil and a packet of fast-growing edible seeds. Learn about container choices, seeds and how to tend them for a delicious addition to your dinner salads or sandwiches. Sponsored by the Friends of the Woodmont Library.

Please register: Woodmont Library

Growing Oyster Mushrooms at Home

Thursday September 12, 2024 1:00-2:30 pm

King County Library – Renton

 8016 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103

Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow on your kitchen counter! Learn about the fabulous world of fungi including what benefits they have to a sustainable world. Make a kit to take home and sprout some you can eat! We bring the materials and teach you how to grow. Sponsored by the Friends of Renton Library

Please register – Renton Library

Registration is FULL – get on the waiting list

Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands Farm Stand

Thursday September 12, 2024 2:00 – 6:00 pm

Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands

5513 S. Cloverdale Street Seattle, WA 98118

Come join us for one of the last farm stands at the urban farm this summer! We will be featuring soil health for the winter information including cover crop seed examples, mulching and winter crops education. Stop by for a fall plant start to add to your overwintering garden.

Relish in locally grown and procured produce, some of it from BIPOC farmers in the area. If you need to stretch your grocery budget the farm stand offers $20.00 in free produce and also accepts payment methods which include cash/credit/debit, EBT, Fresh Bucks, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits and they offer SNAP Market Match

RBUFW Farm Stand

Bat Night!

Friday September 13, 2024 6 pm – 8 pm

Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands

5513 S Cloverdale Street Seattle, WA 98118

Ooooh! SPOOKY! Join the whole Garden Hotline team at this Tilth Alliance sponsored event featuring bat experts from Bats Northwest and the Woodland Park Zoo to learn about and appreciate our local bats and how they benefit our local environment. Get involved with citizen science programs aimed at protecting our northwest fauna and spend a few hours as dusk falls enjoying this premier wetlands farm site and the bats that inhabit it. The Garden Hotline will be present with an info table aimed at providing education about pesticide free gardening and building wildlife habitat! Wear sturdy shoes for a walk on the farm and arm yourself with mosquito repellent and a headlamp or flashlight.

RBUFW BAT NIGHT

Community Resource Fair sponsored by Seattle-King County Public Health

Saturday September 14, 2024 11:30 – 2:30 pm

Tukwila Library – 14380 Tukwila International Boulevard Tukwila, WA 98168

Public Health of Seattle and King County is sponsoring a health fair for the community sharing resources, free cell phones for those who qualify, medical info including about TB, utilities and legal resources. Join us to get your fall gardening questions answered with our Garden Hotline educator! We will be sharing microgreens kits to take home with you – learn about growing these nutritious and delicious starts to add to your meals. Fun for kids too!

Community Resource Fair

Microgreens for the Space Challenged Gardener

Saturday September 14, 2024  2:00 – 3:00 pm

King County Library – Skyway

12601 76th. Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98178

Microgreens are nutritious, delicious and easy to grow, even on a balcony or windowsill. All you need is a container, some potting soil and a packet of fast-growing edible seeds. Learn about container choices, seeds and how to tend them for a delicious addition to your dinner salads or sandwiches.

Please register: Skyway Library

National Clean Up Day – Beacon Hill

Saturday September 21, 2024 9 am – 12 pm

Jefferson Park – 3801 Beacon Ave S Seattle, WA 98108

Join us to talk gardens and fall plant care – centered around keeping our environment healthy and clean! Volunteer to help clean up the neighborhood and come back to chat. We will be sharing native plant seed kits for you to take home and plant. Native plants need fewer pesticides because they are adapted to our climate in the Pacific Northwest. They also provide food and shelter for our native wildlife. Embrace the outdoors in this celebration of care for the environement.

National Clean Up Day – Beacon Hill

National Clean Up Day – West Seattle

Saturday September 21, 2024 10 am – 1 pm

High Point Community Center – 6920 34th Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98126

Join us to talk gardens and fall plant care – centered around keeping our environment healthy and clean! Volunteer to help clean up the neighborhood and come back to chat. We will be sharing native plant seed kits for you to take home and plant. Native plants need fewer pesticides because they are adapted to our climate in the Pacific Northwest. They also provide food and shelter for our native wildlife. Embrace the outdoors in this celebration of care for the environement.

National Clean Up Day – West Seattle

Putting Your Garden to Bed

Friday September 27, 2024 2:30 – 4 pm

King County Library – Kent Panther Lake

20500 108th Avenue SE Kent, WA 98031

Prep your garden beds for rest! Adding mulch in the fall and growing cover crops on unplanted garden beds will help protect soil. Plant health starts with soil health and fall is the time to set your garden up for success.

Registration not required – Kent Panther Lake Library

Delridge Farmers Market

Saturday September 28, 2024 10 am – 2 pm

Hope Academy – 9421 18th Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98106

Join us at the African Community Housing and Development sponsored farmers market featuring BIPOC farmers and vendors. Representing so many cultures from across the world you will find some tasty foods, fresh organic produce and some great craft items too. We will be sharing cover crop seed samples for you to take home and try in your garden plus have some live samples showing you what they look like! Let’s talk healthy gardens!

Delridge Farmers Market

Sustainamania

Saturday September 28, 2024 10 am – 2 pm

Bothell City Hall – 18415 101st.Ave. NE Bothell, WA 98011

Come and celebrate at the City of Bothell’s 12th annual sustainability festival! Bring your family and friends to learn about everyday sustainable actions you can take at home, work, school, and in the community for lasting change. The free event will feature:

• Touch-a-Truck
• Local artisans and businesses
• Live music
• Community booths
• Repair Café
• Food trucks
• Games, crafts, and activities
• and much more!

The Garden Hotline will be present with fall soil health information and cover crop education. Protect your soil this winter while building habitat for wildlife.

A safe, quiet, calming room for attendees who might be feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated will be available. Assistive listening devices will be available upon request at the information booth

Sustainamania

OCTOBER

Putting Your Garden to Bed

Tuesday October 01, 2024 1:00 – 2:30 pm

King County Library – Southcenter

1386 Southcenter Mall Tukwila, WA 98188

Prep your garden beds for rest! Adding mulch in the fall and growing cover crops on unplanted garden beds will help protect soil. Plant health starts with soil health and fall is the time to set your garden up for success.

Registration not Required – Southcenter Library

Preparing the Garden for Winter

Friday October 4, 2024 4:30 – 5:30 pm

King County Library – Des Moines

21620 11th Avenue S. Des Moines, WA 98198

How your plants will do during winter snow and freezing temperatures depends on many factors. Learn the guidelines to help you minimize winter plant damage.

Please register – Des Moines Library

Putting Your Garden to Bed

Sunday October 6, 2024 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Seattle Public Library – Wallingford

1501 N. 45th Street Seattle, WA 98103

Prep your garden beds for rest! Adding mulch in the fall and growing cover crops on unplanted garden beds will help protect soil. Plant health starts with soil health and fall is the time to set your garden up for success.

Registration not Required – Wallingford Library link coming soon

Native Plants and Tree Walk and Planting Party

Saturday October 12, 2024 11 am – 1 pm

High Point Commons Garden / West Seattle Bee Garden – 3108 SW Graham Street Seattle, WA 98126

Join us for a short neighborhood walk and talk about native plants in this magical neighborhood in West Seattle, Full of native plantings and stormwater retention facilities High Point was built to be a healthy landscape for its residents. We will be learning about native plants on site and planting some in the West Seattle Bee Garden after our excursion.

West Seattle Bee Garden

Putting Your Garden to Bed

Saturday October 12, 2024 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Seattle Public Library – Broadview

12755 Greenwood Avenue N Seattle, WA 98133

Prep your garden beds for rest! Adding mulch in the fall and growing cover crops on unplanted garden beds will help protect soil. Plant health starts with soil health and fall is the time to set your garden up for success.

Registration not Required – Broadview Library link coming soon

Growing Oyster Mushrooms at Home

Tuesday October 15, 2024 6:30-7:30 pm

King County Library – Skyway

12601 76th. Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98178

Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow on your kitchen counter! Learn about the fabulous world of fungi including what benefits they have to a sustainable world. Make a kit to take home and sprout some you can eat! We bring the materials and teach you how to grow. 

Please register – Skyway Library

Putting Your Garden to Bed

Wednesday October 16, 2024 5:00 – 7:00 pm

King County Library – Woodmont

26809 Pacific Highway S., Des Moines, WA 98198

Prep your garden beds for rest! Adding mulch in the fall and growing cover crops on unplanted garden beds will help protect soil. Plant health starts with soil health and fall is the time to set your garden up for success.

Please register – Woodmont Library

Choosing the Right Plants

Saturday October 19, 2024 9:30 – 10:30 am

Master Gardener Demonstration Garden Online Class

When adding trees, shrubs, and other ornamentals to your garden, it’s important to use the “Right Plant-Right Place” decision making process.  This workshop will teach you how to get to know your site, create a garden plan, choose appropriate plants, and give them a good start with proper planting and mulching techniques.

King County MG Demo Garden Class Series

Green Seattle Day

Saturday October 26, 2024 11 am – 3 pm

Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands

5513 SW Cloverdale Street

Join in on the restoration work for Green Seattle Day at the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands – help remove noxious weeds and plant native plants and peruse the Garden Hotline’s educational offerings about building healthy wildlife habitat in your own garden. Sponsored by the Green Seattle Partnership and hosted by Tilth Alliance and the Friends of the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands at RBUFW.

Green Seattle Partnership

NOVEMBER

The Importance of Evergreens

Saturday November 2, 2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Marlene’s Market – ONLINE

 Explore the diverse advantages of evergreen shrubs and trees, particularly conifers. Uncover their contributions to enriching wildlife habitats, offering windbreaks, cooling your garden in summer, establishing microclimates, and warding off frost. Acquire expertise in the principles of sustainable stormwater management, enhancing your understanding of the vital role evergreens play in a thriving garden. Explore how to add them to your landscape and how to trim appropriately this time of year to bring their beauty indoors for the season.

Please register – Marlene’s Market

Growing Oyster Mushrooms at Home

Wednesday November 13, 2024 5:00-7:00 pm

King County Library – Woodmont

12601 76th. Avenue S. Seattle, WA 98178

Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow on your kitchen counter! Learn about the fabulous world of fungi including what benefits they have to a sustainable world. Make a kit to take home and sprout some you can eat! We bring the materials and teach you how to grow. Sponsored by the Friends of the Woodmont Library

Please register – Woodmont Library

Growing Oyster Mushrooms at Home

Friday November 15, 2024 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

King County Library – Des Moines

21620 11th Avenue S. Des Moines, WA 98198

Oyster mushrooms are easy to grow on your kitchen counter! Learn about the fabulous world of fungi including what benefits they have to a sustainable world. Make a kit to take home and sprout some you can eat! We bring the materials and teach you how to grow. 

Please register – Des Moines Library

DECEMBER

The Importance of Evergreens

Thursday December 5, 2024 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

King County Library – Valley View

17850 Military Road S. SeaTac, WA 98188

Evergreen conifers are a familiar presence in the Pacific Northwest landscape. They provide year-round structure and beauty in the garden, but that’s not all. Learn about how important evergreens are to our environment and the services they provide. Join a short lecture on these wonderful plants. Make a seasonal evergreen decoration to take home.

Please register – Valley View Library

The Importance of Evergreens

Saturday December 7, 2024 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

King County Library – Southcenter

1386 Southcenter Mall Tukwila, WA 98188

Evergreen conifers are a familiar presence in the Pacific Northwest landscape. They provide year-round structure and beauty in the garden, but that’s not all. Learn about how important evergreens are to our environment and the services they provide. Join a short lecture on these wonderful plants. Make a seasonal evergreen decoration to take home.

Please register – Southcenter Library

The Importance of Evergreens

Sunday December 8, 2024 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Seattle Public Library – Wallingford

1501 N. 45th Street Seattle, WA 98103

Evergreen conifers are a familiar presence in the Pacific Northwest landscape. They provide year-round structure and beauty in the garden, but that’s not all. Learn about how important evergreens are to our environment and the services they provide. Join a short lecture on these wonderful plants. Make a seasonal evergreen decoration to take home.

Please register – Wallingford Library – link coming soon

The Importance of Evergreens

Tuesday December 10, 2024 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

King County Library – Skyway

12601 76th Avenue S. Skyway, WA 98178

Evergreen conifers are a familiar presence in the Pacific Northwest landscape. They provide year-round structure and beauty in the garden, but that’s not all. Learn about how important evergreens are to our environment and the services they provide. Join a short lecture on these wonderful plants. Make a seasonal evergreen decoration to take home.

Please register – Skyway Library

The Importance of Evergreens

Wednesday December 11, 2024 5:00 – 7:00 pm

King County Library – Woodmont

26809 Pacific Highway South Des Moines, WA 98198

Evergreen conifers are a familiar presence in the Pacific Northwest landscape. They provide year-round structure and beauty in the garden, but that’s not all. Learn about how important evergreens are to our environment and the services they provide. Join a short lecture on these wonderful plants. Make a seasonal evergreen decoration to take home.

Please register – Woodmont Library

The Importance of Evergreens

Wednesday December 11, 2024 5:00 – 7:00 pm

King County Library – Kent Panther Lake

20500 108th Avenue SE Kent, WA 98031

Evergreen conifers are a familiar presence in the Pacific Northwest landscape. They provide year-round structure and beauty in the garden, but that’s not all. Learn about how important evergreens are to our environment and the services they provide. Join a short lecture on these wonderful plants. Make a seasonal evergreen decoration to take home.

Please register – Kent Panther Lake Library

The Importance of Evergreens

Sunday December 8, 2024 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Seattle Public Library – Broadview

12755 Greenwood Avenue N Seattle, WA 98133

Evergreen conifers are a familiar presence in the Pacific Northwest landscape. They provide year-round structure and beauty in the garden, but that’s not all. Learn about how important evergreens are to our environment and the services they provide. Join a short lecture on these wonderful plants. Make a seasonal evergreen decoration to take home.

Please register – Broadview Library – link coming soon