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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 15, 2009
CONTACT
Kate Blumm: 718-623-7241, kateblumm@bbg.org
Green Your Workspace or Grow a Victory Garden!
BBG Classes for Adults, Fall 2009
Brooklyn, NY—September 15, 2009—This fall, Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Continuing Education team presents a series of classes designed to bring a bit of green into every nook and cranny of a student's life! Build elegant, rustic furniture for home from salvaged wood and natural materials in Junque from Junk. Make the office brighter and healthier with just the right plants using tips from Greening Your Workspace. Ease up on the wallet, and bring fresh food to the table, by planting Victory Gardens. Experience autumn's beauty by exploring Brooklyn Botanic Garden's oldest specialty garden, the Native Flora Garden, and then artistically render its wildflowers and woodland plants. Highlights of BBG's fall class schedule are below; please visit bbg.org/edu/adult/ for information on the many additional fall '09 offerings.
Preregistration is required for all classes. Registration closes four business days before a class begins. Call 718-623-7220 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; visit the Registration Office at 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn; or submit your registration form online at bbg.org/edu/.
Basic Flower Arranging: Fast Track!
Monday–Friday, September 21–25 | 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Acquire a new skill or start a fresh career! In one intense week, this class covers the elements of floral design and the tools of the craft through lectures, workshops, and critiques. Get a thorough introduction to basic techniques, including flower and foliage conditioning and making bows. Create seasonal arrangements in a variety of styles: round, triangular, vertical line/mass, and three-sided, and crescent. Learn to consider color, line, and texture. Students receive a floral toolbox to keep. $550 member, $570 nonmember
Kimchee From the Garden
Saturday, September 26 | 2:30–5 p.m.
Learn to make the ultimate pickled vegetable condiment, a Korean national treasure. Kimchee, also known as pickled cabbage, is packed with enzymes, nutrients, and flavor. In this hands-on class, we will make a variety of kimchee to take home, using organic, local ingredients and wild herbs at the peak of the harvest season. $48 member, $53 nonmember.
It's Hammer Time at BBG. . .Furniture Making in the Garden!
Form furniture and art from a pile of sticks under the guidance of master furniture builder Bim Willow. Arrive with a sense of fun and leave with a handcrafted heirloom! Register for Section A to create furniture from home-renovation scraps or junk found on the street, or Section B to make a more traditional piece. Preregistration for specific projects is required so that materials can be collected.
Section A: Junque From Junk!
Sunday, September 27 | 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Grab a hammer and wood "junk" and turn your finds into heirlooms. You'll learn how to build with materials on hand—fallen branches, shutters, chair parts, skis—if it's wood, it'll work! Students choose from the following projects: end table, plant stand, garden bench, or ladder-back chair. Just bring a hammer, pruning shears, and whatever wooden piece you'd like to transform into junque. All other materials provided. Please register according to the project you would like to complete. One student per project.
End Table or Plant Stand:
$60 member, $65 nonmember
Time allows for two of these.
Garden Bench:
$95 member, $105 nonmember
Time allows for one of these.
Ladder-back Chair:
$145 member, $165 nonmember
Time allows for one of these.
Section B: Where There's a Will-ow, There's a Way
Sunday, September 27 | 1–6 p.m.
You'll never look at a stick the same way again. Come with a hammer and pruning shears and leave with a finished project you can be proud of using the techniques of this traditional American craft. All materials provided by BBG. Please register according to the project you would like to complete. One student per project.
Garden Bench
$95 member, $105 nonmember
Historical Chair
$240 member, $260 nonmember
Loveseat
$300 member, $330 nonmember
Gardens Within the Garden: Native Flora Garden
2 Thursdays: October 8 and 15 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a glorious collection of gardens. In this series, each course is dedicated to studying and sketching one treasure of BBG. Acquaint yourself intimately with the beauty and botany of each site, while sharpening your observational and technical drawing skills in a detailed sketchbook. Returning students should bring all supplies from past classes in this series. Newcomers to the series may purchase a sketchbook and basic drawing supplies in class.
The Native Flora Garden is truly a BBG jewel. These two-plus acres of forest and meadow grow much as the natural areas of our own tri-state woodlands do. Native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs may be found here, and bird life abounds. Meet curator Uli Lorimer for a full tour of this complex garden (dress for the weather!) and spend the rest of the day sketching. The next session offers a full day to work up sketches to the level of refined drawings, study plates, and/or paintings. $120 member, $135 nonmember
Victory Gardens
Sunday, October 18 | 12-4 p.m.
During World War II, 20 million garden plots were planted, producing 44 percent of the fresh vegetables in the U.S.! In these economically stressed times, the victory garden is making a comeback. Not only can you cut food costs by growing your own vegetables, the food will be fresher and more delicious than what you can buy at the store. This course will focus on garden planning to get the most food out of the space you have and on fall jobs such as planting garlic and preparing the soil to make your 2010 victory garden a success. (Look for a spring follow-up course in early 2010.) $50 member, $56 nonmember.
Houseplants 101: Greening Your Workspace
Saturday, November 14 | 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Now that the leaves have disappeared outside and the days are getting shorter, your workspace needs some green! Not only do indoor plants brighten up a dreary workplace, but they can filter the air and improve your mood at work. This class will help you find plants that love exactly the amount of light, humidity, and other conditions in your office or workspace. $30 member, $35 nonmember.