Great gardening related events coming up in the Clark County, WA area for August 2023 via the WSU Clark County Master Gardeners!

Master Gardener Events for August 2023

Save Our Seeds Workshop – Dry Seed Process – August 11

Seed saving, as practiced by Indigenous Peoples is “an act of loving resistance and curiosity in the face of great uncertainty.” Michelle Week, founder of x̌ast sq̓it which translates to Good Rain Farm in the traditional language of the Sngaytskstx (Sinixt) The Arrow Lakes People, will present on the dry seed process of seed saving (for lettuce, radish, grains, beans, peas and cole crops). Participants will learn about this process, deepen their relationship with the seeds and learn about their historical and cultural information.

This workshop is a part of a larger effort also entitled Save Our Seed, by Good Rain Farm. The program is a community engagement practice in seed saving and seed rematriation, an opportunity for everyone to gain and build the skills needed to strengthen our region’s food resiliency as we face climate and economic hardships. Part of colonization is the removal of Indigenous peoples, denying food access by burning fields of crops, and the continued destruction and domination over land once cared for as vast food forests and wetland aquaponic cultivation. SOS is Good Rain Farm’s response – in community – to reclaim and revitalize Indigenous food varieties and ancestral teachings.

Space is limited; advanced registration at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/save-our-seeds-workshop-dry-seed-process-tickets-532332389507?aff=oddtdtcreator is required. Regular admission: $20. In solidarity with food justice and food sovereignty for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), we are reserving space for BIPOC community members free of charge. If you identify as BIPOC and would benefit from a free option, select this ticket.

All profits go to this project. Friday, August 11 from 7 to 9pm. This event is indoors. Location: Hazel Dell (Vancouver).  Face coverings are encouraged. Contact: Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu or 564-397-5738.

On the Road Tour – Follow the Trail for a Plant Safari – August 22

Join WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardeners for an On the Road Tour and let us do the driving! We’ll visit three beautiful garden spots on the Cascade Nursery Trail. Tuesday, August 22nd, departing Enterprise Rent-a-Car at 8:00am sharp. Vans return at 4:30pm.

Our first stop is Out in the Garden Gardens, whose motto is ‘Growing Great Gardens One Plant at a Time’! They feature perennials and grasses for sun, shade, and everything in between. Their collection includes foliage in every color imaginable.

The next stop is Secret Garden Growers. They grow 1,000+ varieties of perennials, woodies, ferns, vines and ornamental grasses. Rare, unusual, heirloom and hard-to-find-plants is their specialty!

After lunch (on your own at Backstop Bar & Grill in Canby, OR), our last stop along the trail is Miller’s Manor Garden, a small retail-wholesale nursery. They carry 150 varieties of hardy fuchsias, unusual perennials, uncommon woody shrubs, rock garden and alpine plants, iris, and perennials for sun and shade. Register by Aug. 15 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/on-the-road-tour-follow-the-trail-for-a-plant-safari-tickets-678299440887?aff=oddtdtcreator. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Cost: $35. Contact: Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu or 564-397-5738.

Starry Night at the Farm – an event for families – August 22 from 7:30 to 9:30pm

Have you always wanted to see the moon and other sky objects through a telescope? Are you fascinated by night-loving animals, such as bats and owls? You can learn about them all at Starry Night at the Farm!

Join the WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardeners for a free telescope viewing event! Weather permitting, this family-oriented event is a chance to explore stars, planets and other celestial objects through telescopes courtesy of amateur astronomers from Rose City Astronomers.

You’ll also get to learn about some of the creatures who make their living in the dark. The event runs from 7:30 to 9:30pm on August 22 and includes an opportunity to experience being outside at night, in the dark. (Guides will have special red flashlights but no white lights will be used.)

This is an event for families with children ages 7 and up. Participants will move throughout the 78th Street Heritage Farm property in a small group accompanied by a pair of guides. After sundown, we will let our eyes adjust to the dark and discover that we can see, too!

Space is limited. Please do not register if you aren’t sure you can attend. Register in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/starry-nightat-the-farm-tickets-658730710287.

This event will take place fully outside. Dress appropriately for the weather. Even in summer, it can get chilly at night. So, dress in layers warmer than you think you might need and wear comfortable shoes. Bring a thermos with something warm to drink (such as coffee, tea, or hot cider), plus a snack if you think you might need some extra energy.

The event includes a 10-15 minute walk up a steep hill. Wear sturdy shoes. No strollers, walkers or wheelchairs. No pets except service animals. This event is put on with the support of (https://www.rosecityastronomers.net/). Contact: erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu / 564-397-5738.

Take a Walking Tour of the 78th Street Heritage Farm! (Tell a Friend!)

Tour the 78th Street Heritage Farm! Join the WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardener Program for a guided tour of the 79-acre 78th Street Heritage Farm in Vancouver, Washington. Stroll the property with a knowledgeable docent and learn about the property’s storied history and its current role in horticulture education, agricultural research, food security and community enrichment. Placed on the Washington Historic Register in 2012, the 78th Street Farm has a unique and compelling story for people of all ages. Tours involve prolonged standing and walking on uneven ground with some elevation change. Bring water, dress for the weather. Advanced registration is required.  Details available at https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/2023/06/78th-street-heritage-farm-walking-tours/. Tour size is limited. Cost: free. Contact: erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu, 564-397-5738.