Harvest Pierce County, the urban agriculture program of the Pierce Conservation District, is announcing the third year of our Fruit Tree Education Series focused on organic fruit tree care and designed for beginners. Topics include grafting, pruning, and turning an orchard into a food forest. All classes are taught by knowledgeable arborists and local specialists and feature follow-up Work and Learn Parties to put participant's new skills into practice. Participants can enroll in the full series for a comprehensive introduction to fruit tree care or choose to register for individual classes. WSU Master Gardeners are invited to take the full series to become Fruit Tree Specialists. Class Schedule * Monday February 2, 6-8:30pm - Basic Tree Biology and Planting * Sat. Feb 14, 10am-12:30pm - Winter Pruning & Plant Health Care * Monday March 2, 6-8:30pm - Fruit Tree Varieties & Grafting * Sat. March 7, 10am-12:30pm - Pollinators & Espalier * Sat. April 11, 10am-4:00pm - Permaculture for Fruit Trees * Sat. May 16, 10am-12:30pm - Pest & Disease Control * Sat. June 6, 10am-12:30pm, Summer Pruning Class Location All Saturday classes will begin with a classroom portion at Harvest Pierce County's office in Wright Park: 501 S. I Street, Tacoma (next to the basketball court and behind the Bocce Ball court) and then move to the Hilltop House Orchard on S. 19th and Yakima, Tacoma. The two Monday classes are held at Portland Avenue Community Center: 3513 Portland Ave, Tacoma. Cost: $60/series of $10/class ($20 for 4/20 Permaculture Class) Scholarships & Discounts available for people interested in stewarding fruit trees in their neighborhood Work and Learn Parties Practice your skills through volunteering at the Hilltop House Demonstration Orchard (1815 S. Yakima, Tacoma). Instructors will be on site to answer questions and guide the work. FREE TO ATTEND * Sunday February 22, 1-4pm, Winter Pruning * Sunday March 29, 1-4pm, Basic Orchard Maintenance * Sunday April 19, Permaculture Planting * Sunday June 14, Summer Pruning Work Party Registration: www.tinyurl.com/2015fruiteducation<http://www.tinyurl.com/2015fruiteducation> Questions: EmilyG@piercecountycd.org<mailto:EmilyG@piercecountycd.org>, (253) 278-6215 [cid:image004.jpg@01D01944.02B56FE0] [cid:image005.png@01D01944.02B56FE0] Left: Learning pests and diseases and the Hilltop House Orchard Right: Planting at the permaculture for fruit tree class [Description: Description: https://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTN1l4JKRM82XGFPQLf-fMMFC-fxP4MQTP6v5YWU7JvEhRmzZpLer6eV_Q]<http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.vacd.org/whiteriver/con_logo.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.vacd.org/whiteriver/&h=205&w=200&sz=2&tbnid=BehNeYc-AU7P4M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=88&zoom=1&usg=___vPMfbgV2gtYLVn6nhs1sEFtI4g=&docid=fQiNls5u3fDiAM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8HclUPZesfiKAo6IgfgI&ved=0CHcQ9QEwBg> Emily Garofalo, Food Access Specialist Pierce Conservation District Mailing Addres: PO Box 1057 | Puyallup, WA 98371 Office: 253.278.6215 Cell: 253.468.3749 Website: www.PierceCD.org<http://www.piercecd.org/> Promoting the conservation of renewable natural resources in Pierce County since 1949. Follow us on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/PierceConservationDistrict?ref=stream>