Green Garden Academy

Presented by the Santa Monica Public Library and the Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment, The Green Garden Academy, the official school of sustainable gardening!  Each class will walk participants through a different topic to help make your garden a huge success and the envy of your neighbors.

Classes are taught by Russell Ackerman, ecological landscape designer and water resource conservation expert, and will be held one Saturday each month, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Multipurpose Room at the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.  Participants can earn up to 34 total class units; 17 units are needed to graduate.  Join in this fun and informative series at any time!

For more information about this series, visit www.sustainablesm.org/landscape or call (310) 458-8972.

Class Schedule

January 23 - Introduction to Sustainable Landscape Design and the Green Garden Academy 
Learn the basic principles of sustainable landscaping, and get on the road to a beautiful garden.  Find out how to apply for the City’s landscape grant program.  Local landscape and irrigation requirements will also be covered.  (4 units)

February 20 - Lawn Be Gone, Part I 
Learn tips for safe lawn removal, how to choose plants to replace lawn, and the best plants for parkways.  (3 units)

March 20 - Compost Workshop
Learn the ins and outs of compost, and how to build a worry free compost pile.  Discover easy soil building techniques by finding out what soil you have and how to improve it.  (3 units)
April 17 - Plant Palette: Mediterranean Plants
Think you can only plant California natives to be sustainable?  Think again!  Learn to choose climate-appropriate plants from the Mediterranean plant palette that offer a variety of colors, textures, and fragrance.  (3 units)

May 15 - Edible Landscaping
Learn how to incorporate edibles into your garden, including raised vegetable beds and planters. Discover special planting tips to maximize your yield.  (2 units)

June 12 - “No Sweat” Garden Maintenance Tips
A green garden requires 60% less maintenance. Find out the secrets to reducing your garden chores and increasing your garden enjoyment.  Learn how and when to prune your plants, how to select a mulch, how to handle pests, and when to add compost.  (3 units)

July 10 - Water Wise Irrigation
Learn how and when to water your plants, including how to program your controller.  Discover the basics of water wise irrigation; find out about irrigation systems that meet local requirements including drip irrigation, subsurface irrigation and rotary spray heads.  You’ll also learn about the vital interaction between plants, soil and water.  (4 units)

August 21 - Lawn Be Gone, Part II
Building on Part I, learn more about successful conversions to lawn alternatives and tips for safe lawn removal.  Discover how to maintain and irrigate groundcovers.  (3 units)

September 18 - Bird and Butterfly Gardens
Learn to create a beautiful habitat for attracting birds, butterflies, and other good bugs.  Also find out how you can reduce your maintenance and chemical use in the garden.  Discover the secrets of building a healthy garden.  (3 units)

October 16 - Plant Palette: Native Plants
Learn to choose climate-appropriate plants from our California native plant palette that offer a variety of colors, textures and fragrance.  A must for the native garden enthusiast! (4 units)

November 13 - Showers to Flowers
Learn the proper use of graywater in your garden, and how to harvest and use rainwater. Find out about permeable paving options, too.  (2 units)

December 11 – Green Garden Academy Graduation
Green Thumbs Up Award Ceremony: receive your diploma and a “Commitment to Sustainability Award.”