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Digging Deeper Education Series – Novel Small Fruits for Home Gardens 8-6-22

August 6, 2022 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Free
Cyndi Ross will share about black and red currants
Cyndi Ross will share about black and red currants

With so many small fruits available to home gardeners in the Pacific Northwest, why not grow something different … something you cannot buy at the local grocery store?

On Saturday, August 6, from 10:30 am to 12 noon, local gardeners Cyndi Ross and Marty Kaler will talk about a few of the more unusual small fruits that can be grown on the North Olympic Peninsula. The presentation will take place at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at 2711 Woodcock Road in Sequim.

Cyndi will talk about red, white, and black currants. Marty will talk about aronia and honeyberries. They will cover everything you need to know to grow these small fruits in the home garden including recommended varieties, site selection and preparation, irrigation, fertilization, and pruning.

Cyndi, originally from Texas, received a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy/Production Horticulture from Texas Tech University. After graduation, she moved to Minnesota where she worked as a chemist for 27 years focusing on cleaning solutions for food and beverage companies. In 2000 Cyndi joined Ramsey County Master Gardeners in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and began growing currants. In 2011, she moved to the North Olympic Peninsula with thoughts of growing wine grapes. After realizing the climate was not well-suited for this crop, she began growing currants, using the knowledge she gained in Minnesota. Cyndi now sells her currants to Finnriver Farm & Cidery in Chimacum, Washington, which uses her black currants to make an award-winning cider and her red currants to make a dessert wine.

Marty Kaler will share about aronia and honeyberries.
Marty Kaler will share about aronia and honeyberries.

Marty Kaler is the former owner of Strait Music in Port Angeles. He grew up on a farm in Ohio and moved to Washington in 1976. He fell in love with aronia berries due to their reported health benefits and began growing them (and other small fruits) in 2013. Marty considers himself a hobby berry grower and has learned through personal research and trial and error. He now sells aronia and honeyberry plants wholesale to Sunny Farms and Airport Garden Center. In addition to growing small fruits, Marty plays music with his lovely wife, Marilyn, and others and has performed with local bands Twisted Roots, Tin Sandwich, and others.

Cyndi and Marty are ready to share their enthusiasm and many years experience growing these small fruits with local gardeners. Please join us for an interesting and informative presentation.

Digging Deeper presentations are held from 10:30 am to 12 noon on the first and third Saturdays of most months. Presentations cover basic gardening topics relevant to many home gardeners. Presentations are free and open to the public and are scheduled for 90-minutes to allow for demonstrations and questions from viewers. The August Digging Deeper presentations are scheduled to occur out of doors, in-person at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at 2711 Woodcock Road in Sequim. Attendees will be asked to mask regardless of COVID vaccination status and stay home if they are ill. Attendees are encouraged to check the Clallam County Master Gardener online calendar for updates about the location of the talk at https://extension.wsu.edu/clallam/master-gardener-calendar/. For more information about the Digging Deeper series call 360-477-0116.

Details

Date:
August 6, 2022
Time:
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Cost:
Free
Event Category:

Organizer

WSU Extension Master Gardener Program
Phone:
(360) 565-2679
Email:
laurel.moulton@wsu.edu
Website:
https://extension.wsu.edu/clallam/

Venue

Woodcock Demonstration Garden
2711 Woodcock Road
Sequim, WA 98382 United States
+ Google Map
Phone:
360-565-2679
Website:
United States