What's Going On?

Kim Schofield, an entomologist working for the Dallas Research and Extension Center on Coit Road as an Extension Program Specialist for Urban Integrated Pest Management, will talk all about the bugs commonly found in your garden/yard.

Kim talks about the latest in the fight against the fire ants as well as IPM for your yard, too.

We will stock up on beneficial nematodes, lady bugs and take orders for various egg casings to release in your garden.

Guest herbalist, Nicole Telkes of the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine travels to North Texas for this very special weekend intensive at Eden's Organic Garden Center

This class will cover local weedy medicinal plants of the season and include a plant walk. We will also learn some basic herbal first aid and how to create your own herbal medicine kit at home from what you have around you. There will be 2 demos and a take home remedy.

Topics covered include:

Intro to Plant ID and medicinal/edible uses of wild plants
Nutritive Herbs
Medicinal properties of plants
Basic Herbal First AId
Top First Aid Herbs for your Garden
making a herbal vinegar: Fire Cider
making a herbal powder: First Aid Powder

Nicole Wildcrafting Arnica in the Colorado Mtns July 2008

Nicole Telkes is a Certified Clinical Herbalist, Member of the American Herbalist Guild and United Plant Savers. Nicole's approach to herbalism comes from a background in conservation and botany and a love for Native wild plants and gardening. Nicole is founder and main teacher for the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine in Austin, a 200+hour herbal apprenticeship program in Central Texas, and is Owner of Wild Spirit Botanicals and Bodywork. Nicole not only gathers her own herbs and sells remedies at local wellness centers, but practices and sees clients as both a bodyworker and holistic consultant. Some of her areas of focus include Identification and use of Native medicinals, setting up herbal first aid clinics, pregnancy and birthing resources, balancing hormones and the nervous system with herbs and even treating pets with herbs. Nicole has been practicing as an herbalist for almost a decade and teaching since 2001. Most recently she was a keynote speaker for Austin's Spring Herbfest and this Fall's HerbDay Event sponsored by the Austin Herb Society as well as having a weekly radio show on KOOP 91.7FM Austin.

Organic Farming & Ranching Classes Available - Call to get on the sign up list.

Meets at Fretz Recreation Center in Dallas the 4th Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., except for November and December. New members and visitors welcome! 2008 was great and 2009 looks even better! Call 214-348-3336 to join! Go to www.dogc.org for details.

TBA - A two hour hands-on workshop "How to Get Started". Along with lecture and handouts, we'll actually work in the soil from grass removal to planting. You'll learn the basics of organics from the soil up to the planting process. What goes in the soil, how to choose plants for a specific area and how to prepare and then care for them for the best success. Stay tuned for details and dates. Call me to let me know you are interested and to reserve a place as it will be a limited size class and we'll want a minimum of 5, too. Class cost $25. Includes hand outs and organic snacks.

Neigborsgo.com is a new on line community put together by the folks at The Dallas Morning News and we've started an on line gardening club! Go see us at www.Neighborsgo.com/edensgardener, click on Balch Springs/Home and Garden/Groups and join us today! Let's get some discussions going and get the word out about organics! You'll find Eden's articles and blogs, pictures and more! Sign up is free and easy.