Burlap Sacks

MARCH 16TH: UPDATE
Final count was 2400 bags!!!
I now have them staged at my house ready for you to come and get them.  For those of you who requested some I sent you logistics details via private email.
Would appreciate you picking up your allottment promptly so we can get our driveway back!
Thanks.
CW

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MARCH 12TH:  Need someone with a truck to come with me to pick up the sacks.  They won't all fit in one load.  Please reach out if you can help.  Thanks.
CW

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MARCH 6TH: NO MORE REQUESTS PLEASE!
Final count is........ (drum roll).........1900 bags!  Holy mackeral!
For those of you who submitted requests.... I'll get back to you later on this week, via email, with pick up logistics.  Stay tuned.
CW

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MARCH 5TH UPDATE:  Today's the last day to submit a request.  We're up to 1675 bags!  Oh my!

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MARCH 3RD UPDATE:  2 days to go.  So far I have 1440 bags requested.  Any more requests out there?
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FEB 28TH ANOTHER UPDATE:  Pushed a little harder on the original Starbucks lead and voila... it's paid off!  They'll GIVE US THE BAGS FOR FREE! So..... who else wants to place an order?  Let me know before March 5th. 
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FEB 28TH UPDATE:  Folks have been responding and I now have 750 bags on the count list!  If you're still interested in getting some, send me your counts and I'll add you to the list (deadline is March 5th).  I'll then confirm with the supplier what the cost/unit is going to be based on our final count, and get back with you so you can confirm if you're in or not in actually purchasing them.

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Last year I learned about the value/benefit of using burlap sacks in the garden.  They're great for use as a mulching material, or to wrap around containers for added winter protection, or to wrap around a shrub with some twine to protect the plant from heavy snowfall, or to use as a "tea-bag" for making compost tea, or for covering compost bins to help retain moisture, or to haul small loads of kindling or other items from here to there.....the list goes on.....
Last year I heard the Starbucks distribution center in Kent was selling burlap bags for peanuts in big bundles of 50, 100 etc, but when I checked with them this week, I found they're not doing that anymore (at least not anyone I connected with knew about it, so I may be wrong).  BUT, fear not, I've found an alternate source Sustainable NE Seattle, that's collecting / re-selling burlap resources from many stores/restaurants/organizations.  I sent them an email to get more details...... here's their reply.....

We're happy to help you get all your burlap needs met. But there are many
different burlap bag types and grades, depending on the use you want to put them
to. And just as importantly, there are _significant_ pricing differences between
a small order (100+ bags) and a medium-sized order (400+ bags) and a large order
(800+ bags), even if each was similiarly picked up at our facility.

So to help you with pricing we'd need to have a slightly narrower idea of
the range of numbers needed, and know what kinds of bags we need to quote you
(based on the use you want to put them to - erosion control? weedblock? sheet
mulching? container planting? geo-technical filter material? etc...)

So, I'm reaching out to see what interest there is out there for this stuff?

The Trellis vegetable gardening group is pondering their needs.  What about the Fall City Garden Club, Eastside Master Gardening-related groups, Community Gardens/Pea Patches and the like? 

Share your thoughts and perhaps we can take advantage of a larger order with greater savings.... a win win for everyone! 

Bellevue Demo Garden: 2011 Workshop Schedule

Went to a lecture on espalier techniques for fruit trees, berry/grape vines last Saturday.  Interesting stuff.  Bellevue Demo Garden workshops are already well under way.  These workshops are all FREE and a great way for any gardener to get good info on various topics, not just us interns and MGs earning our continuing education credits! 
I've posted the schedule below.  WARNING!  Be sure to double check with the garden before heading out as changes sometimes do happen.  Would hate to see you show up expecting a lecture on one thing only to get served up something else!

Workshops happen Saturdays, 10:30am - 12 noon in the Ranger Station adjacent to the Demo Garden.  Here's the address:  15500 SE 16th Street, Bellevue, WA.  I tried leaving you a link to directions but the blog toolbar isn't working..... sorry.  Just cut and paste the address into your favorite map tool and you'll be all set!  Hope to see you there!

Feb 5th            Compost and Its Varieties: How and When to Use Them
Feb 12th          Fruit Trees - selecting and planting
Feb 19th          Organic Primer
Feb 26th          NO WORKSHOP - NW Flower and Garden Show
Mar 5th            Pruning Shrubs and Ornamentals
Mar 12th          Roses
Mar 19th          Fragrant Plants
Mar 26th          Drip Irrigation 101
Apr 2nd           Clematis
Apr 9th            Cold Frames & Greenhouses
Apr 16th          Tomatoes
Apr 23rd          NO WORKSHOP - Easter
Apr 30th          Small Garden Design
May 7th           NO WORKSHOP - Master Gardener Plant Sale at CUH
May 14th         Horticultural Mistakes
May 21st         Controlling those Pesky Moles
May 28th         NO WORKSHOP - Memorial Weekend
Jun 4th             Lavenders
Jun 11th           Berries: Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries
Jun 18th           The Herb Garden
Jun 25th           Super Clinic
Jul 2nd             NO WORKSHOP - 4th July weekend
Jul 9th              Shade Gardening
Jul 16th            Ferns
Jul 23rd            Home Composting and Soil Building
Jul 30th            Fall and Winter Vegetables
Aug 6th            Plant Bullies
Aug 13th          Gardening with Children
Aug 20th          Cactus in the Northwest
Aug 27th          Creative Propogation
Sep 3rd             NO WORKSHOP - Labor Day Weekend
Sep 10th           Native Grasses
Sep 17th           NO WORKSHOP - Harvest Festival
Sep 24th           Bulbs
Oct 1st              Preparing the Garden for Winter
Oct 8th             Dahlias
Oct 15th           Plants with Winter Interest
Oct 22nd          FINAL WORKSHOP: Garden Hand Tools and Their Care

2nd Year Internship Begins

The weather outside is awful..... cold, never-ending rain and just plain bleah..... but already things are hopping on the MG-training front.

As I think I mentioned in an earlier post, I've transferred to a new clinic this year.  My first year internship was spent at a clinic that required us to sit behind a desk, wait for folks to come up and ask us questions and we then dutifully answered.  Booooooooooring! Actually, it's not boring, it's agony for me!  I'm just not someone that likes to sit still - in fact I don't think it's in my DNA to sit still..... as far back as I can remember (and family members will quickly validate this) I've always been a fidgety-widget.... constantly on the go.  Sitting behind a table at a clinic is a total misery, so I requested a transfer to a new clinic which doesn't really do much sitting at all because it's tied in with a demonstration garden where folks are constantly up and about doing stuff, walking around showing and telling and generally providing the clinic services in a "real world" environment.  Much more my style! :)

So, my new clinic home, the Bellevue Demonstration Garden, had a January kick-off meeting a few weeks ago and I went along.   After meeting, mingling and catching up on holiday happenings, the steering committee gave a status update on things, we got to review the preliminary calendar for the year and sign up for our clinic assignments.  TIP FOR THE DAY: Be sure to do your darndest to go to this kick-off meeting..... it's your best chance to get the dates/slots you want for your assignments.  After that, there's going to be an email call out to fill in the blanks and you'll have to take what's left.  Just like our first year internship, we have to complete another 5 clinics.  I've got 2 in April, 1 in June and 2 in September.  Opens the summer months up for more hiking opportunities and holiday travels.  I'm a happy camper!

With my clinic assignments organized, I've now set about looking into the garden rotation stuff I need to get done.   Last year I did way too much weeding/watering - not value for time spent when I can do that quite easily in my own garden!  So, this year, I'm seeking out opportunities to learn particular skills:  specifically seeding/transplanting and greenhouse work, hanging out with fruit trees and learning how to manage/care for them, and veggie gardening.  The veggie gardening stuff will be covered by my time at the Bellevue Demonstration Garden, but I'm having trouble finding a Master Gardener sanctioned garden/site within tolerable driving distance that can cover the rest.  More digging/investigating to do before I declare coming up empty on this idea, but so far, not encouraging.
Stay tuned for more on this one!

So that's clinics and garden stuff moving along.  Finally there's CE (continuing Ed.) stuff.  We have to complete 10 hours during our 2 year internship.  I've got 7 in the bank so far.... 3 more to go.  Found a workshop happening next week on fruit tree pruning, so I'll go to that for starters.  I think I'll readily find other opportunities to meet the time committment, so not worried at all about getting this one done.

Looking back on what I did last year..... I'm really glad I got a hefty portion of my intern hours done so this year will be a lighter load.  I'm already enjoying having my winter weekends back.  This time last year I was heads down in classes and homework..... and this year I get to go skiing again!  Hardly did any hiking last summer..... really looking forward to getting back up in the mountains.   I think 2011's going to be a fun year! 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!

May 2011 bring you a beautiful garden, abundant fruits and vegetables and much enjoyment.
I'm looking forward to my second year internship and sharing more stories/information with you as I continue my quest to become a Master Gardener. 

In the meantime...... I think I'll just go skiing!!