Upcoming classes, plus more home and garden events

Learn how to build a permaculture garden

N.C. State University professor Will Hooker will teach an eight-week course at Raleigh’s JC Raulston Arboretum on how to build a permaculture garden.

The class is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, starting March 1, plus optional garden tours March 5 and April 16.

“Permaculture is a sustainable living methodology based on ethics and principles which allow us to meet many of our needs for food, water, shelter and energy – all within the context of our home gardens,” according to the course description. “In this course, you will learn the basics of starting a permaculture garden and emerge with the confidence to begin transforming your own home environment into a useful, sustainable habitat.”

The cost is $200 for arboretum members and $250 for nonmembers. Enrollment will be limited to 24 students. To register or for more information, go to jcra.ncsu.edu/events/details.php?ID=1277.

Master gardener program coming to Chatham County

The N.C. State Cooperative Extension master gardener volunteer program is expanding to Chatham County.

More than 4,000 master gardeners actively volunteer with local extension programs in 85 of the 100 North Carolina counties. They provide advice and educational outreach on sustainable gardening to homeowners. No previous formal training is necessary to become a master gardener volunteer, just a passion for both gardening and volunteer service.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, there are three upcoming information sessions: 10 a.m. Feb. 23, 2 p.m. Feb. 24 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Chatham Agriculture Building, 65 E. Chatham St., Pittsboro. Pre-registration is required; call 919-542-8202 or register online at go.ncsu.edu/2016emg-info-session.

Blueberry bush pruning demonstration

The Chatham County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension is offering blueberry pruning demonstrations in Pittsboro.

Bill Cline, a blueberry specialist from N.C. State University, will discuss and demonstrate proper pruning techniques for blueberries, which are needed to control height and increase yields.

The event is open to the public and appropriate for commercial growers and home gardeners. The event is free, but preregistration is required. Info: go.ncsu.edu/2016-blueberry-pruning.

An initial demonstration filled up quickly so the organizer added three more: 1-3 p.m. Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. March 2. The demo will be at Howard’s Farm: 7393 U.S. 64 West, Pittsboro.

There is a fruit tree pruning demonstration March 12. Details: go.ncsu.edu/2016-fruit-tree-demo.

Scrap Exchange offers workshops

Durham’s Scrap Exchange has several beginner classes for crafty and gardening types:

▪ Beginning Sewing, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 21. Cost: $30.

▪ Introduction to Tapestry Weaving, 2-5 p.m. Feb. 27. Cost: $30.

▪ Worm Make-and-Take Bin (learn how to make a compost bin), 2-4 p.m. March 6. Cost: $37.

▪ Basic Serger Sewing (learn how to use overlock sewing machines), 12:30-3:30 p.m. March 20. Cost: $30.

Registration is suggested. Space is limited.

The Scrap Exchange is at 2050 Chapel Hill Road, Durham.

Info: 919-688-6960, scrapexchange.org.

Save $5 off tickets for edible and medicinal tree walk

Herbalist Kim Calhoun is offering a “Spring Equinox Tree Food and Medicine Ramble” in Chatham County, 1-5 p.m. March 20.

Calhoun will guide students through tree identification, safe and sustainable harvesting, as well as food and medicine preparations and uses.

Tickets cost $40 if bought by Feb. 20 or $45 after. Anyone age 14 or older is welcome. Participants need to be able to walk on uneven surfaces. The walk will happen rain or shine.

Buy tickets online: abundancehealingarts.com.

Calhoun is also teaching a class that meets 3-7 p.m. Thursdays, March 31-April 28, on wild edible and medicinal plants through Central Carolina Community College.

The five-week course costs $99. Register in person or by phone at 919-545-8044.

Reminder: Plant Delights’ open house weekends

Wake County’s Plant Delights Nursery, home to well-known horticulturist Tony Avent, is having its winter open house weekends starting next weekend.

Feb. 26-28 and March 4-6, you can purchase plants as well as tour the nursery’s 10-acre Juniper Level Botanic Garden with more than 22,000 plants in southern Wake County.

Open house hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 26-27 and March 4-5, and 1-5 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 6. The nursery is at 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh.

Info: plantdelights.com

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Upcoming classes, plus more home and garden events."