New this year: Seattle Tilth brings its 30 years of organic gardening to Issaquah.  Programs will include monthly classes on seasonal organic gardening topics, an Edible Plant Sale on May 31, children’s programs and clinics with The Garden Hotline. Tilth staff will also plant a new organic vegetable garden on part of the Pickering Barn grounds. Known as the trusted “go to” source for information on sustainable gardening and conserving natural resources, Seattle Tilth has presented educational programs throughout Seattle and King County; this will be the first demonstration garden outside of Seattle.

“Seattle Tilth is excited about partnering with the City of Issaquah Resource Conservation Office to bring the full diversity of our organic gardening programs to the Eastside, “ said Executive Director Karen Luetjen. “We have tailored our offerings to the needs of the community and the site, and we look forward to building upon these new relationships over time.” The Manager of Issaquah’s Resource Conservation Office (RCO), David Fujimoto, said, “The agricultural heritage of the Pickering Site, which is also the home of the Issaquah Farmers Market, makes it the ideal location to teach city residents how to garden and grow food without the chemical pesticides and fertilizers that can be damaging to our sensitive watersheds.”

Programs will kick off with a May 20th class called “Get Growing Organically” from 7 pm to 8:30 pm taught by Seattle Tilth Garden Coordinator Sarah Cassidy. The class is free but participants must pre-register by calling (425) 837-3428. Organic techniques for soil preparation will be presented along with tips on what and when to plant, planting techniques and crop rotation.

Seattle Tilth is holding a new Edible Plant Sale in Issaquah on Saturday, May 31 from 9 am to 2 pm --  an event that has been wildly successful in Seattle for many years.  We are offering the largest selection of locally grown, certified organic vegetable and herb starts on the Eastside for the discerning vegetable gardener.  The sale features plant varieties that are hand-selected by the Seattle Tilth experts to perform well in the Pacific Northwest climate including tomatoes, peppers, squash, salad greens, melons, and cucumbers, culinary herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary, some heirloom varieties, and more.  A full plant list will be available on the Seattle Tilth website at www.seattletilth.org. 

Programs begin Tuesday, May 20th, and last through October in 2008 at the Pickering Barn, 1730 10th Ave. N.W., Issaquah, WA  98027.  Many programs are free and others have fees.

Contact: Liza Burke 206-633-5045x1; lizaburke@seattletilth.org