The FoodMasters organization is offering a class on extending the growing season using greenhouses and cold frames, along with a farm tour. Taught by farmer Rhonda Barbieri and friends, the class will be held on Sunday, March 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. at La Campesina Project on Hawkins Road.
The class will include a look at appropriate infrastructure and technologies that can be applied to any level of gardening and farming, including: starting seeds in the greenhouse or cold frame; the advantages over direct seeding outdoors; potting soils 101; sourcing seeds; basic seeding techniques;  “working” the calendar and moon phases; watering and plant care; when to move plants outdoors; garden plans, techniques and management; raised bed formation; row crop techniques; companion planting basics; and succession transplanting and seeding for a continual harvest.
“And last but not least…we’ll show you how to build a quick and inexpensive cold frame or mini-greenhouse so you can grow your own starts and extend your growing season!” organizers say.
In addition, Barbieri will offer for purchase sturdy eight-foot tall trellis netting, re-useable clips, lengths of untreated sisal, organic potato and fingerling seeds, project-grown vegetable seeds, potted perennials and native plants.
The cost is $20, with scholarships and/or trade opportunities available by inquiry.
“Please note that Food Masters pays its instructors $100 per half-day class,” said Limbach. “This is a token payment considering the amount of work that goes into each class. As a recently formed grassroots organization, we depend on your donations to make this modest teacher compensation possible. Additional donations go toward a fund to establish a permanent Seed Bank on Orcas Island, a priority project for Food Masters in 2011.”
For more information, email Learner Limbach: foodmasters.orcas@gmail.com.