Series of 6 sessions plus field trip

Tuition: $185 + 10 lab fee

Total of 6 Saturday Mornings

10am-12:30pm

Session 1: Feb 21, Session 2: Feb 28, Session 3: March 7, Session 4: March 14, Session 5: March 21, Session 6: March 28 Field trip Apr 12 from 1:30pm to 4pm

Class limit: 17

Description:

The focus of this course is how to:

-- grow ecologically, regeneratively, organically

--optimize soil health

--adapt to Alaska conditions

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

--build 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, compost extracts, biochar 

--develop a working plan and a composting system

NOTE A:  This is less expensive than my MatSu College course was.  Yay!

NOTE B:  It’s nice to watch free YouTubes, but let me save you the time & disappointment of copying strategies that don’t work here. I’ll be bringing my 36 years of Alaska experience.

NOTE C:  This course is so jam-packed with information that it’s recommended that you have at least one year of growing experience before jumping into this course. Watch for it again next year during Feb-March.

What participants say:

I phoned the office of Johnny’s Selected Seeds because my tomato variety from this company did not fruit.  An expert talked with me at length, and asked about my soil, organic matter, soil amendments, growing conditions, dates, spacing, etc.  He was very impressed when I pulled out my garden plan and recited all the specific information.  He said, “Wow, you know a lot.  Where did you learn all that?” “Oh, from Ellen’s class”, I said.

=-=-=-=

My garden and greenhouse kicked ass this summer.  Organic gardening really does pay off.  My veggies did so much better than my Miracle Grow friends’ veggies.   Thanks for being such a good teacher.   --Susan L

=-=-=-

My 1st radish tasted like pure sugar.    How do I thank you for the education on growing the sweetest spicy thing I have ever eaten? —Jessica M

=-=-=-

We learned so much from you and the class these past few weeks.  The topics you covered were things we had some familiarity with already, but didn’t necessarily know how to more fully incorporate into our gardening process.  We now better understand these concepts, and feel more confident about applying them to what we do and taking our soil-building to a higher level.

=-=-=-

Many, many, thanks to you, Ellie V., for sharing your resourcefulness with us.  I’ve been implementing many fertilizer, compost, cover crop, companion planting, and gardening strategies gleaned from your teaching. 

=-=-=-

As i am planting my garden—i refer to our class handouts/readings frequently. I can look up just about everything I need.  Thank you many times over for preparing and handing out such a great resource. 

Series of 6 sessions plus field trip

Tuition: $185 + 10 lab fee

Total of 6 Saturday Mornings

10am-12:30pm

Session 1: Feb 21, Session 2: Feb 28, Session 3: March 7, Session 4: March 14, Session 5: March 21, Session 6: March 28 Field trip Apr 12 from 1:30pm to 4pm

Class limit: 17

Description:

The focus of this course is how to:

-- grow ecologically, regeneratively, organically

--optimize soil health

--adapt to Alaska conditions

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

--build 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, compost extracts, biochar 

--develop a working plan and a composting system

NOTE A:  This is less expensive than my MatSu College course was.  Yay!

NOTE B:  It’s nice to watch free YouTubes, but let me save you the time & disappointment of copying strategies that don’t work here. I’ll be bringing my 36 years of Alaska experience.

NOTE C:  This course is so jam-packed with information that it’s recommended that you have at least one year of growing experience before jumping into this course. Watch for it again next year during Feb-March.

What participants say:

I phoned the office of Johnny’s Selected Seeds because my tomato variety from this company did not fruit.  An expert talked with me at length, and asked about my soil, organic matter, soil amendments, growing conditions, dates, spacing, etc.  He was very impressed when I pulled out my garden plan and recited all the specific information.  He said, “Wow, you know a lot.  Where did you learn all that?” “Oh, from Ellen’s class”, I said.

=-=-=-=

My garden and greenhouse kicked ass this summer.  Organic gardening really does pay off.  My veggies did so much better than my Miracle Grow friends’ veggies.   Thanks for being such a good teacher.   --Susan L

=-=-=-

My 1st radish tasted like pure sugar.    How do I thank you for the education on growing the sweetest spicy thing I have ever eaten? —Jessica M

=-=-=-

We learned so much from you and the class these past few weeks.  The topics you covered were things we had some familiarity with already, but didn’t necessarily know how to more fully incorporate into our gardening process.  We now better understand these concepts, and feel more confident about applying them to what we do and taking our soil-building to a higher level.

=-=-=-

Many, many, thanks to you, Ellie V., for sharing your resourcefulness with us.  I’ve been implementing many fertilizer, compost, cover crop, companion planting, and gardening strategies gleaned from your teaching. 

=-=-=-

As i am planting my garden—i refer to our class handouts/readings frequently. I can look up just about everything I need.  Thank you many times over for preparing and handing out such a great resource. 

On-farm with the farmers — A 5 part Series

~For those who are ready to scale up your production~

If you are/aspire to:  grow for others, oversee a community garden, market your products, grow extra for a food bank, feed a neighborhood…then this course is designed for you!

Your unique chance to learn from the Market Garden Experts

Grow vegetables like the pro’s! Tour, ask, learn, experience!

Tuition: $95. Register here

Five Saturdays, Five Farms

Apr 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2

1pm to 3:30pm

Each week, we visit another thriving organic farm in Mat-Su

Class limit: 9

If you wonder, “Gee, my vegetables look so haphazard!  How do market growers’ crops look so plump & perfect?”

Then come learn from the professional growers as they share experience & skills:

—What steps do I take to scale up? 

—What are the details, like food safety regulations, costs & profits, space needs, income, marketing & markets, cold storage, rotations, timing, tarping, high tunnel management, hiring labor?

$25

“I want to fertilize my soil organically, but how?  I’m guessing and throwing stuff at my soil.  What do I add? How much? How often? Where do I find these fertilizers?”

If this is your dilemma, this class—or class series—is for you.  Discover secrets to raising chemical-free, nutrient-packed foods in our region.  Find out how to lay down an unbeatable foundation of healthy soil, whether you’re expanding flower beds, converting lawn to vegetable crops, or developing delicious berry patches.  Go home empowered with an armload of soil nutrients to apply.

Come to all 3 parts, or just some. You can register separately.

Part 1:   Build your Soil’s Mineral Bank

Our soils typically lack some essential minerals, so crops are bitter or get sick.  Avoid nutrient deficiency by learning which organic fertilizers to choose, and how much to apply.

Register thru Community Education, Mat-Su College

On-farm with the farmers — A 5 part Series

~For those who are ready to scale up your production~

If you are/aspire to:  grow for others, oversee a community garden, market your products, grow extra for a food bank, feed a neighborhood…then this course is designed for you!

Your unique chance to learn from the Market Garden Experts

Grow vegetables like the pro’s! Tour, ask, learn, experience!

Tuition: $95. Register here

Five Saturdays, Five Farms

Apr 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2

1pm to 3:30pm

Each week, we visit another thriving organic farm in Mat-Su

Class limit: 9

If you wonder, “Gee, my vegetables look so haphazard!  How do market growers’ crops look so plump & perfect?”

Then come learn from the professional growers as they share experience & skills:

—What steps do I take to scale up? 

—What are the details, like food safety regulations, costs & profits, space needs, income, marketing & markets, cold storage, rotations, timing, tarping, high tunnel management, hiring labor?

$25

“I want to fertilize my soil organically, but how?  I’m guessing and throwing stuff at my soil.  What do I add? How much? How often? Where do I find these fertilizers?”

If this is your dilemma, this class—or class series—is for you.  Discover secrets to raising chemical-free, nutrient-packed foods in our region.  Find out how to lay down an unbeatable foundation of healthy soil, whether you’re expanding flower beds, converting lawn to vegetable crops, or developing delicious berry patches.  Go home empowered with an armload of soil nutrients to apply.

Come to all 3 parts, or just some. You can register separately.

Part 2:   Build your Soil’s Microbe Bank

Your soil may have all the minerals in the world—but they’re useless if your garden lacks the microorganisms to deliver them to your plants.  But how? Which ones?  Snatch up this practical guide that will have you “teaming” with microbes!

Register thru Community Education, Mat-Su College

On-farm with the farmers — A 5 part Series

~For those who are ready to scale up your production~

If you are/aspire to:  grow for others, oversee a community garden, market your products, grow extra for a food bank, feed a neighborhood…then this course is designed for you!

Your unique chance to learn from the Market Garden Experts

Grow vegetables like the pro’s! Tour, ask, learn, experience!

Tuition: $95. Register here

Five Saturdays, Five Farms

Apr 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2

1pm to 3:30pm

Each week, we visit another thriving organic farm in Mat-Su

Class limit: 9

If you wonder, “Gee, my vegetables look so haphazard!  How do market growers’ crops look so plump & perfect?”

Then come learn from the professional growers as they share experience & skills:

—What steps do I take to scale up? 

—What are the details, like food safety regulations, costs & profits, space needs, income, marketing & markets, cold storage, rotations, timing, tarping, high tunnel management, hiring labor?

$25

“I want to fertilize my soil organically, but how?  I’m guessing and throwing stuff at my soil.  What do I add? How much? How often? Where do I find these fertilizers?”

If this is your dilemma, this class—or class series—is for you.  Discover secrets to raising chemical-free, nutrient-packed foods in our region.  Find out how to lay down an unbeatable foundation of healthy soil, whether you’re expanding flower beds, converting lawn to vegetable crops, or developing delicious berry patches.  Go home empowered with an armload of soil nutrients to apply.

Come to all 3 parts, or just some. You can register separately.

Part 3:   Build your Soil’s Health Care Plan

Unlock the power of cover crops, green manures, compost, crop rotation, mulches and livestock rotation.  Discover how to use and time them for constantly regenerating your garden’s vigor and production.

Register here: Community Education, Mat-Su College.

Vermi-composting without flies & stink.  Join the squirmy fun!

About the Spring Compost Classes 2026

Free

BECOME A CERTIFIED

• Backyard Composter

• Vermi-Composter

• Master Composter

Spring series starts on April 25, 2026 and spring classes end on June 20, 2026

Then watch for the Autumn class series, 2026

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 2026

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: Sat May 16, 3pm-5pm. Thurs May 28, 2pm-4pm. Tues June 2 10am-Noon. Weds. June 17, 10am-Noon. Weds June 17, 3pm-5pm.

Vermi-Composter: Sat April 25, 10am-Noon. Tues May 26, 10am-Noon. Tues May 26, 1pm-3pm.

Master Composter: Saturday June 10. 10am-4:30pm

To Register:

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

On-farm with the farmers — A 5 part Series

~For those who are ready to scale up your production~

If you are/aspire to:  grow for others, oversee a community garden, market your products, grow extra for a food bank, feed a neighborhood…then this course is designed for you!

Your unique chance to learn from the Market Garden Experts

Grow vegetables like the pro’s! Tour, ask, learn, experience!

Tuition: $95. Register here

Five Saturdays, Five Farms

Apr 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2

1pm to 3:30pm

Each week, we visit another thriving organic farm in Mat-Su

Class limit: 9

If you wonder, “Gee, my vegetables look so haphazard!  How do market growers’ crops look so plump & perfect?”

Then come learn from the professional growers as they share experience & skills:

—What steps do I take to scale up? 

—What are the details, like food safety regulations, costs & profits, space needs, income, marketing & markets, cold storage, rotations, timing, tarping, high tunnel management, hiring labor?

On-farm with the farmers — A 5 part Series

~For those who are ready to scale up your production~

If you are/aspire to:  grow for others, oversee a community garden, market your products, grow extra for a food bank, feed a neighborhood…then this course is designed for you!

Your unique chance to learn from the Market Garden Experts

Grow vegetables like the pro’s! Tour, ask, learn, experience!

Tuition: $95. Register here

Five Saturdays, Five Farms

Apr 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2

1pm to 3:30pm

Each week, we visit another thriving organic farm in Mat-Su

Class limit: 9

If you wonder, “Gee, my vegetables look so haphazard!  How do market growers’ crops look so plump & perfect?”

Then come learn from the professional growers as they share experience & skills:

—What steps do I take to scale up? 

—What are the details, like food safety regulations, costs & profits, space needs, income, marketing & markets, cold storage, rotations, timing, tarping, high tunnel management, hiring labor?

Certified Training--Backyard Composter

We’ll learn by actually building a thermophilic compost pile outdoors & how to correct problems.

Come with all your questions!

Vermi-composting without flies & stink.  Join the squirmy fun!

Vermi-composting without flies & stink.  Join the squirmy fun!

Certified Training--Backyard Composter

We’ll learn by actually building a thermophilic compost pile outdoors & how to correct problems.

Come with all your questions! Free for Mat-Su Borough residents.

Certified Training--Backyard Composter

We’ll learn by actually building a thermophilic compost pile outdoors & how to correct problems.

Come with all your questions! Free for Mat-Su Borough residents.

How to Create Soil Health—A hands-on practicum

Do you have it? how do you get it? Discover how to maintain fertile soil naturally throughout the season. Make a liquid organic foliar spray and take some home with you.

$45. REGISTER HERE

Enjoy hands-on field demonstrations for mineral, microbe, & organic matter strategies.

Learn how to spot nutrient deficiencies, collect soil samples, and choose a soil test lab.

Jump right into mixing up a powerful organic foliar nutrient spray, then take home a sample!

At last, you are not guessing! You’ll know what to put on your soil for optimal crop:

~ taste, yield

~ health, vitality

~ nutrient density

~ pest resistence

~ long shelf life

Who’s this for?  Gardeners, homesteaders, and small farmers who grow vegetables & fruits and who want to build nutrient-rich soil, naturally and cumulatively.

• Long-time gardeners who are observing trends of lack-luster harvest, disappointing crops, & tired-feeling soil.

• Vegetable growers who want full flavor, increased yield, & avoid soil degradation.

• Those tired of guessing what to put on their soil for long-range nourishment.

• Those ready to leap into nutrition strategies vs. wars with pests & diseases.

• Those a bit mystified by cover crops, biochar, bio-stimulants, and mycorrhizal inoculums.

Disappear those Currant “Worms” —naturally

Experts claim that when plants have:

  ~ enough nourishment they do not get sick.  

  ~ higher nutrient levels, the pests ignore them.  

  ~ All disease is the result of nutrient deficiency.

Oh yeah?

~What about those “worms” on my currant bushes?  

~What about my defoliated gooseberries?  

~My tamarack trees are stripped bare with infestation!

From my winter’s research, I’m excited to share a natural repellant (not killer) for Sawfly larvae (some call the caterpillars “worms”)

Come learn how you can mix it in your kitchen.

Woo hoo, come learn what the Soil Gods have to say, and make your own!

Register here:

The Disappear-the-Currant-Worms Spray workshop

• Come make this magic formula

• Arm yourself so you’re ready for June!

• Works all summer long

• Hint: it’s not a pesticide

• Is it a biological control like Bt, Spinosad, or Neem oil? Nope!

Certified Training--Backyard Composter

We’ll learn by actually building a thermophilic compost pile outdoors & how to correct problems.

Come with all your questions! Free for Mat-Su Borough residents.

Certified Training--Backyard Composter

We’ll learn by actually building a thermophilic compost pile outdoors & how to correct problems.

Come with all your questions! Free for Mat-Su Borough residents.