Wow, I can't believe it is almost time. February 21 at 2pm is the Worm Composting Workshop. Click on Calendar Click on the date Click on the link Here is the prep work video. It will be included in the classroom with the replay.

Many years ago, when I was just starting to learn how to use herbs, I picked up a book called 20,000 Secrets of Tea by Victoria Zak. It is a beautiful little paperback that I picked up at a discount at my local Barnes and Noble book store. That may have been one of the best investments that I ever made. I now have many books in my library on herbal medicine, but I still start with 20,000 Secrets of Tea. It is an excellent thumbnail view of a range of widely available herbs and their safe use. If you are looking for a quick reference to get you started, check it out. I can still find it if I look for it. Start with second hand book sellers. New copies are available from a number of outlets. A quick Google search will lead you to several sellers.

We did the filming for the Garden Planning and Design Workshop in the fall of 2025. The whole workshop is in the Classroom section. I am currently working on a ebook guide. I plan to have it in the workshop and in the resource section by the end of January 2026.

On Saturday February 21, There will be a live Worm Composting Demonstration/Workshop. I will be using Christina Hansen's method for Apartment scale worm composting to set up my worm composting to transform kitchen waste into beautiful fertility for my container gardens. Watch live by clicking on the Calendar in the menu, then the listing on the calendar for February 21. Click on the link. I go live at 2pm Eastern. To make your own worm bin, you will need: one plastic tote that with a top that is about 1 square foot and about 8 inches or so deep. I am using an old milk crate with solid sides. If it doesn't drainage, it is best to make drainage holes. Old vinyl window screen or other screening Bedding: brown cardboard, black and white newsprint, brown packing paper, peat moss or coir. A small amount of material to feed the worms: spent coffee grounds, squash trimmings, vegetable scraps, banana peels, apple trimmings, etc Chemical free water. Come and enjoy my mess!

Wow! Bay Laurel is notorious! It is temperamental at best. Cuttings are difficult and slow to develop roots. The propagation tray works for this plant. I normally get 20% of my bay cuttings to take root. This batch, I got 3 out of 5 and the other 2 may still root. Here is the video. Check out the Propagation Tray Workshop in the classroom