Home and garden workshops and events around Sonoma County

GUERNEVILLE

Put worms to work for you by starting your own worm composting operation.

Master Gardener Jennifer Roberts will show people how to get started in vermiculture during a free workshop Jan. 24 at the Guerneville Regional Library. Roberts will explain how work composting works, what is needed,how to take care of your worm workers, how to troubleshoot problems, how to use worm castings and where to go for materials and worms. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 14107 Armstrong Woods Road. For information visit sonomamastergardeners.com.

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SEBASTOPOL

Learn how to graft a mini-orchard of different varieties onto a single tree during free grafting workshop Jan. 17 at Harmony Farm Supply in Sebastopol.

Patrick Schafer will lead the talk. Free budwood of many varieties, including antique apples, will be available for grafting.

Participants are encouraged to bring budding knives or a sharp pocket knife. If they have budwood to share they’re encouraged to label it and bring it with them to the workshop. The 90-minute talk starts at 10:30 a.m. at 3244 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol. Call 823-9125 or visit harmonyfarm.com.

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SANTA ROSA, SONOMA & HEALDSBURG

There is an art to pruning roses. Gardeners have their choice of several workshops coming up to learn how to do it from the experts.

On Jan. 24 Master Gardener Jim Lange will cover the process, from types of tools to the best techniques for various kinds of roses depending on their growth patterns, at a free workshop at the Rincon Valley Library, 6958 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa.

Master Gardener Ellen Swenson will offer her take on the art of rose pruning, including techniques for pruning all types of roses from hybrid teas and floribundas to grandifloras, climbers, standards, shrubs and old species roses, during a workshop Jan. 24 at the Sonoma Valley Library, 755 W. Napa Street.

Both Master Gardener workshops run about 2 hours and begin at 1:30 a.m. For information visit sonomamastergardeners.com.

For a different and deeper experience join “Rosy Jan” Tolmasoff, owner of the Russian River Rose Co., for a day-long rose pruning and propagation class on Jan. 24 and 31.

Tolmasoff will offer an indoor class on pruning techniques of all types of roses, followed by a hands-on experience in the garden. Participants will also learn how to sharpen their own shears and be treated to refreshments, muffins, hand-outs to take home and a 10 percent discount on nursery plants.

Cost is $35 or $10 for the propagation class only. Advanced registration is required. For information or to register visit russian-river-rose.com for call 433-7455. 1685 Magnolia Ave., Healdsburg.

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SEBASTOPOL

David Beazlie will lead an all-purpose review of pruning, cover both fruit trees and other garden plants, during a workshop Jan. 24 at Harmony Farm Supply in Sebastopol.

Beazile will cover a variety of techniques, with an emphasis on the simple, the high-yield “central leader” style pruning. Participants should dress warmly and bring their own hand or lopping shears. The 90-minute talk starts at 10:30 a.m. at 3244 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol. Call 823-9125 or visit harmonyfarm.com.

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SONOMA

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a novice, your helping hands are welcome at the Nathanson Creek Preserve on Jan. 19.

The Sonoma Ecology Center is calling for volunteers on Martin Luther King’s Day of Service to join a work party at the preserve and Native Plant Demonstration Garden.

Volunteers are needed to help plant native plants, spread mulch, prune, weed and do other maintenance chores at the preserve.

Bring work gloves,layered comfortable work clothing and rain gear, just in case, as well as a water bottle and a reusable mug if you like coffee. But gloves were be available if you don’t have a pair.

Work will begin at 9 a.m. and knock off at 12:30 p.m. for a light lunch and celebration.

The Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service is a national holiday that calls on Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to the country’s most pressing social and environmental problems. The day aims to empower individuals, strengthen communities and knock down the racial, socio-economic, age and gender barriers between different people.

Volunteers should meet at the Native Plant Demonstration Garden at the corner of East MacArthur and Second Street East in Sonoma. For information contact Jemma Williams at 996-0712 or email jemma@sonomaecologycenter.org.

You can direct home and garden news to Staff Writer Meg McConahey at meg.mcconahey@pressdemocrat.com or 521-5204.