Free skills-building classes for Sonoma County gardeners

Sebastopol

Tips for growing garlic

Garlic planting season is late October and early November. Learn the best practices for growing garlic during a workshop today at the Community Seed Exchange and seed library in Sebastopol. You'll learn about the varieties, soil preferences, nutrients, diseases and harvesting requirement. A garlic swap will follow the presentation, so bring in your varieties with good descriptions to share with fellow garlic lovers. You can also peruse the many varieties at the Community Seed Exchange. Varieties are chosen, in part, because of their adaptability to this region and their productivity. 11 a.m. to noon for the presentation and noon to 1 p.m. for the garlic swap, Community Seed Exchange, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 500 Robinson Road, Sebastopol,. communityseedexchange.org.

Straw bale gardening

If you're looking for an alternative to in-ground planting, straw bale gardening is a great option. Master gardener Marybeth Hull will give a free presentation today, explaining the pros and cons of this type of gardening. She will also show examples of straw bale gardens. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. 707-565-2880, mimi.enright@sonoma-county.org.

Garden geometry

Master gardener Paola Tonelli will give a free talk Nov. 3 exploring how geometric shapes can be seen in our gardens. Tonelli will show how Mother Nature actually makes use of geometric forms to give gardeners insight into how they can make their gardens more aesthetically pleasing. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sebastopol Regional Library, 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. 707-565-288, mimi.enright@sonoma-county.org.

GUERNEVILLE

Key to thriving plants

People will learn how soil can benefit their vegetation during a presentation today. A program, put on by the Sonoma County Master Gardeners, will point out soil practices to help your plants thrive. If your plants are withering, it's possible the soil beneath them is the problem. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Road, Guerneville. 707-565-2880, mimi.enright@sonoma-county.org.

ROHNERT PARK

Firewise landscaping

Master Gardener Dennis Przybycien will give a free talk Nov. 3 about how Sonoma County homeowners can benefit from Firewise Landscaping concepts. He will detail the steps to design and maintain a fire-resistant landscape where your home and your plants do not easily spread fire. Przybycien will also explain how defensible space can reduce the risk of wildfire damage to structures on your property. Firewise landscaping is the result of a task force of Sonoma County Master Gardeners who sifted through information on fire resistant landscaping, gleaning the best practices, coupling them with sustainable strategies. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park. 707-565-2880, mimi.enright@sonoma-county.org.

Windsor

CPR for your orchids

A free program on Nov. 3 will talk you through how to revive your precious orchid. Master gardener Ann Chambers will demonstrate how to save orchids that are past their prime. She encourages people to bring in their unhealthy orchids for hands-on practice in reviving them. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Windsor Library, 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 100, Windsor. 707-565-2880, mimi.enright@sonoma-county.org.

Healdsburg

Get your soil healthy

Giving back to your garden is as vital as taking from it, and on Nov. 3 Master Gardener Lyle Bullock will explain why. Bullock will share best practices for composting and why it is so nurturing for your garden. In addition, you'll learn how to create a home composter and turn household waste into great nutrients for the garden. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Healdsburg Library, 139 Piper St., Healdsburg. 707-565-2880, mimi.enright@sonoma-county.org.

You can send Home and Garden news to Staff Writer Peg Melnik at peg.melnik@pressdemocrat.com. Send items at least three weeks in advance.