Our gardening practices can support the health of our local environment. We can help to improve air quality, manage rain run-off, support diverse pollinators, grow healthy food, and lift our spirits.
The East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD) provides educational opportunities for those who want to improve the health of our communities through gardening practices to benefit soil, water, and wildlife. Take a look at the EMSWCD website for the upcoming spring class offerings. Managing rainwater, gardening with native plants, and supporting diverse pollinators are among the topics offered. The classes are offered throughout the city from February through May.
Beaumont-Wilshire is sponsoring an EMSWCD class on “Attracting Pollinators to the Urban Garden” on Saturday, May 12, from 9:00-11:30 a.m. The class will be held at the Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) Coalition office at 4415 NE 87th Avenue, between Prescott Street and Sandy Boulevard.
Some of the earlier spring classes are already full, so be sure to go online to the EMSWCD website as soon as possible to register for the free class.
The class description of the BWNA-sponsored workshop is as follows:
Gardens are pollinated by a variety of insects that help flowers set seed and help fruit and vegetable plants produce an edible harvest. Mostly familiar with European honeybees, few of us are aware of the many flies, beetles, moths, and butterflies at our doorsteps that also provide critical pollination services. In this workshop you will learn about the different kinds of pollinators that might be living in your garden, discover a plant palette to help attract and support pollinators, and go beyond the bloom to consider ways to provide shelter, water, nesting, and overwintering sites.
The EMSWCD website is definitely worth a look. You’ll find supplemental written materials to increase your knowledge about supporting your local environment and instructions on best practices gardening techniques.
For more information, see https://emswcd.org/workshops-and-events/upcoming-workshops/