CLASSES

Our current class schedules are available to download!

Autumn Equinox Gathering
Sep
21

Autumn Equinox Gathering

  • Good Earth Garden School / Artemisia Acres (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

EQUINOX CELEBRATION

The Culmination of Nature’s Abundance

Sunday Sept 21
Palmer Area
4pm-7pm
Free or $5 for Food Bank


I'm feeling the need to honor Mother Earth's cycles and seasons.  Are you, too? Please come join your tribe here for a ceremony, songs & potluck afterwards.  It's always soul-satisfying to let your Momma know you're grateful & drum, sing & share stories together. Absorb celestial energies. Whoop it up for harvest wonder.

Bring

your wonderful Self

layers for cold weather

your stories

food to share

drums, rattles

a gift for the Earth (feather, poem, flower)

Location: Artemisia Acres/Good Earth Garden School. See CONTACT page for directions.

Timing: Please not be late. Plan to arrive & settle in at 3:45pm. Late arrivals will disrupt the energy.

REGISTER FOR FREE HERE

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Intro: Meet the Joyful Devas & Nature Spirits
Oct
11

Intro: Meet the Joyful Devas & Nature Spirits

  • MatSu Location Provided Upon Registration (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Co-Create your Garden with their Wisdom

Yes, YOU can communicate & collaborate with Nature.

I’d like to help you directly ask and get answers from your plants, soil, & garden about what they need.

This is a fun, short introduction to a full class taking place later in the month (on Saturday Oct 25) called Garden with the Joyful Nature Spirits where you will:

  • Meet the wise, helpful, and humorous spirits of nature.

  • Learn how to partner with them on your garden or farm.

  • Ask the wise spirit of soil which fertilizers to choose.

  • Consult the pests themselves for advice on managing their numbers.

  • Create a sanctuary for nature spirits on your land.

Wonder how? Come check this out!
Date: Saturday October 11, 2025
Time: 11am to 11:45am, with food & questions afterwards.
Instructor: Ellie V V & the Spirits of Nature
Mat-Su Location: I’ll send a confirmation with directions when you register.

Register

(Note: You’ll register for this free event in the SHOP section of this website.)

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Garden with the Joyful Spirits of Nature
Oct
25

Garden with the Joyful Spirits of Nature

  • MatSu Location Provided Upon Registration (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Yes, you can communicate & collaborate with with the great knowing Beings of Nature.

I’d like to help you learn how to directly ask & get answers from your plants, soil, & garden about what each truly needs.

Come join us to:

  • Meet the wise, helpful, and humorous spirits of nature.

  • Learn how to partner with them on your garden or farm.

  • Realize how to avoid traumatizing the tree you want to fell.

  • Ask the wise spirit of soil which fertilizers to choose.

  • Consult the pests themselves for advice on managing their numbers.

  • Create a natural sanctuary for Nature Spirits on your land.

Date: Saturday October 25, 2025

Time: 9am to 5pm

Tuition: $50. Includes potluck lunch

Register

in SHOP tab on this website. I’ll send you confirmation details and directions when you register.

Instructor: Ellie V V & the Spirits of Nature

Location: Anchorage.

Class size: 8 maximum. If more than 8 are interested, we’ll put you on a wait list & also schedule another class!

Come learn to commune more deeply!

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Apr
7

Free Compost Classes Spring 2025

The Spring Compost Classes 2025

Free

BECOME A CERTIFIED

Backyard Composter

Vermi-Composter

Master Composter

Free

Sponsor: Mat-Su Borough’s Solid Waste Division

When: Continual Trainings continuously since 2016

Where: Next door to Mat-Su Borough’s Central Landfill at Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS), 9465 E Chanlyut Circle,

Palmer AK 99645

Our Goal:

Organic matter in the landfill takes up valuable space and creates greenhouse gases.

The Organic matter in the landfill takes up valuable space and creates greenhouse gases.

The purpose of this Mat-Su Borough program is to keep this valuable material out of our landfill,

reduce our carbon emissions, and save you money by reducing waste disposal costs. Our goal

is to empower you to transform organic waste into beautiful and beneficial compost. We

provide you free training and a Compost Hotline.

Certified Backyard Composter

--2 Hour Training

You’ll learn how to:

Successfully compost yard wastes, manures, & food wastes

Remedy a pile that’s too hot, too slow, or too stinky

Produce a matured, high-quality product for gardens & landscapes

Certified Vermi-Composter

--2 Hour Training

You’ll learn how to:

Successfully start & manage a worm bin

Worm away your food waste

Avoid flies & stench

Know where to apply finished vermi-compost

Certified Master Composter

--1 Day Training

Prerequisite: complete the Backyard Composter and Vermi-Composter courses.

You’ll learn additional compost strategies, and how you can apply these to assist residents,

businesses, schools, dog mushers, food services, farmers, stable managers, and organizations

to develop scaled-up compost operations. Share your enthusiasm and help get

others started composting.

We’ll review basics and then discover how to:

• Blend and compost a wider variety of feedstocks for proper C:N ratios

• Manage and trouble-shoot piles for moisture, temperature, aeration, & odor

• Process larger volumes of compost with static & thermal pile methods.

Trainings & Dates Spring 2025

Choose among these repeated courses. Note that May 31 and June 20, both vermi- & backyard classes are offered on the

same day. We’ll offer more again in the autumn.

Backyard Composter: Saturday May 31, 3pm-5pm. Friday June 20 2pm-4pm, Tues July 1 11am-1pm

Vermi-Composter: Saturday, May 31. 11am-1pm; Saturday June 14. 11am-1pm; Friday June 20. 11am-1pm; Wednesday June 25. 10am-Noon

Master Composter: Saturday July 12. 10am-4:30pm

To Register:

Call or text 907 795-3722 Email compost@matsugov.us

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Hands-On Lab! Make Your Own Organic Fertilizer Spray Or, Calcium for Dummies & Boron for Morons
Apr
5

Hands-On Lab! Make Your Own Organic Fertilizer Spray Or, Calcium for Dummies & Boron for Morons

Come to the Hands-on lab at the Alaska Homestead Expo 2025

Ellie’s two repeated sessions on Saturday April 5: 9am to 10:30am and 10:30 to Noon

Also called Calcium for Dummies & Boron for Morons

Wasilla at Menard Center

At the Alaska Homestead Expo

Put your lab apron on!  You’re going to become a Mad Scientist and formulate your own custom liquid fertilizer.  The Soil Whisperer will reveal secrets about nourishing your garden with 2 of the most commonly deficient but tricky minerals.  After you apply your formula to your seedlings, vegetables, fruits, and flowers, stand back as your garden bursts with healthier fruits & vegetables!

Register HERE

ABOUT the Alaska Homestead Expo

Featuring Joel Salatin, Holistic Hilda, Dr. Sina McCullough, Darryl Patton of the Southern Herbalist, David Stelzer of Azure Standard, and Jeff Mattox of Fertrell Feed

 Wasilla at Menard Center

Fri-Sat-Sun. April 4-5-6. 9am - 5pm

Early Bird $85; Regular $99, Family $260

Tapes Available

Register HERE

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Regenerative Gardening & Farming --The Comprehensive Growers’ Course 2025
Feb
21
to Mar 29

Regenerative Gardening & Farming --The Comprehensive Growers’ Course 2025

Indulge in 6 weeks of fun and learning!

Two repeat courses: Six Friday afternoons 1:30pm to 4pm in Palmer Feb 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28

Plus optional field trip Saturday Apr 19—  

or six Saturday afternoons 1:30pm to 4pm in Wasilla Feb 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Plus optional field trip Saturday Apr 19 1:30pm to 4pm   

$199. Register HERE for Palmer. Register HERE for Wasilla

Description:

The focus of this course is how to:

-- raise a garden that is ecological, regenerative, & organic

--optimize soil health

--successfully produce an abundance of food within Alaska conditions

With lively labs, instruction, and an armload of hands-on materials, you’ll learn how and why to:

--grow tasty, nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits

--choose which fertilizers, microbes, and organic matter to apply (vs. guessing),

--manage pests and diseases non-toxically

--select your site, seeds, varieties, and methods of extending the season

--wisely apply crop rotations, cover crops, compost extracts, biochar 

--design a working plan and a compost system

--construct a compost demo pile & make soil blocks

NOTE A:  This is less expensive than my 1-credit college course.  Yay!

NOTE B:  You won’t get this information from free YouTube videos.  I’ll be bringing my 35 years of Alaska experience.

NOTE C:  This course is offered annually, so please experience a season of gardening before taking this jam-packed intensive.

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Master Composter Training-Free— Fall 2024
Oct
19

Master Composter Training-Free— Fall 2024

  • Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Prerequisite: complete the Backyard Composter and Vermi-Composter courses.

You’ll learn additional compost strategies, and how you can apply these to assist residents, businesses, schools, dog mushers, food services, farmers, stable managers, and organizations to develop scaled-up compost operations. We’re asking you to help educate others.

We’ll review basics and then discover how to:

• Blend and compost a wider variety of feedstocks for proper C:N ratios

• Manage and trouble-shoot piles for moisture, temperature, aeration, & odor

• Process larger volumes of compost with static & thermal pile methods.

View Event →
Alaska Botanical Garden Spring Conference 2024
Mar
23
to Mar 24

Alaska Botanical Garden Spring Conference 2024

  • Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center! (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Registration is open. Conference is from Saturday 4pm to 8pm and on Sunday 9am to 4:30pm??

Savor the chance to learn from other gardeners. Always a great conference.

Location: Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center, downtown Anchorage

Ellen gives a lively workshop on how to make your own Organic Liquid Fertilizers on the Cheap on Sunday afternoon March 24.

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Make Your Own Fertilizer Spray
Mar
10

Make Your Own Fertilizer Spray

Ellie presents:

The Soil Whisperer Reveals Secret Recipes!

Come learn and go home with practical inexpensive strategies for your organic garden’s nutrition.

At Aspen Hotel Conference Room in Homer.

The Homer Garden Club welcomes you as a guest! It’s free.

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Free Training: Backyard Composting
Oct
17

Free Training: Backyard Composting

You’ll learn how to:

Successfully compost yard wastes, manures, & food wastes

Remedy a pile that’s too hot, too slow, or too stinky

Produce a matured, high-quality product for gardens & landscapes

Register at compost@matsugov.us or call 907 795 3722

View Event →
Boron for Morons
Oct
14

Boron for Morons

The Soil Whisperer Reveals Secret Recipes!

Or shall we say-

Calcium for Dummies

& Boron for Morons

  • Slink into the lab with the Mad Scientist (Ellie)

  • Formulate your own home-made nutrient sprays for our most commonly deficient but tricky minerals:  Boron & Calcium.

  • Plan to stand back next summer as your garden bursts with healthier fruits & vegetables.

When:  Saturday, Oct 14, 2023      Noon to 2pm

Where:  Near Palmer, AK (specific location sent when you register)

Tuition:  $20

Register now by emailing information@goodearthgardenschool.com for Boron Class & tell me your name, phone, & email address or call 907-795-3722.

View Event →
Free Training: Backyard Composting
Oct
11

Free Training: Backyard Composting

You’ll learn how to:

Successfully compost yard wastes, manures, & food wastes

Remedy a pile that’s too hot, too slow, or too stinky

Produce a matured, high-quality product for gardens & landscapes

Register at compost@matsugov.us or call 907 795 3722

View Event →
Free Training: Backyard Composting
Oct
7

Free Training: Backyard Composting

You’ll learn how to:

Successfully compost yard wastes, manures, & food wastes

Remedy a pile that’s too hot, too slow, or too stinky

Produce a matured, high-quality product for gardens & landscapes

Register at compost@matsugov.us or call 907 795 3722

View Event →
Sep
15

Free Training: Backyard Composting

You’ll learn how to:

Successfully compost yard wastes, manures, & food wastes

Remedy a pile that’s too hot, too slow, or too stinky

Produce a matured, high-quality product for gardens & landscapes

Register at compost@matsugov.us or call 907 795 3722

View Event →
Master Composter Training-Free
Jun
19

Master Composter Training-Free

Prerequisite: complete the Backyard Composter and Vermi-Composter courses.

You’ll learn additional compost strategies, and how you can apply these to assist residents, businesses, schools, dog mushers, food services, farmers, stable managers, and organizations to develop scaled-up compost operations. We’re asking you to help educate others.

We’ll review basics and then discover how to:

• Blend and compost a wider variety of feedstocks for proper C:N ratios

• Manage and trouble-shoot piles for moisture, temperature, aeration, & odor

• Process larger volumes of compost with static & thermal pile methods.

View Event →