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Health & Fitness

Get Your "Grow" On!

Kick off the growing season with some fresh inspiration at these upcoming workshops and plant sales designed to help you succeed.

Spring is here at last, wiggling her toes in winter's soil with the promise of warmer weather and the growing season ahead.

Time to pull on some work gloves and head out to tend those neglected garden plots.

There's great satisfaction that comes from reconnecting with the earth, planting seeds or new starts, tending them with care and watching them thrive. Just think of the money you'll save in the produce aisle by growing your own organic vegetable garden--or the unparallelled taste of a fresh picked tomato off the vine. Plus, playing in the dirt can be fun--if you know what you're doing.

Find out what's happening in Novatowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you think you need a lot of space, think again! Inspired gardeners are finding ways to create edible gardens in an economy of space using containers, kitchen windows, repurposed lawn areas and more. With some basic instruction, there's really no end to the ways you can grow a garden.

Whether you're working to overcome a "brown thumb" or searching for fresh inspiration, these upcoming local workshops and plant sales offer a framework for achieving success in your garden.

Find out what's happening in Novatowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mark your calendar and take advantage of these free drop-in classes sponsored by MARIN MASTER GARDENERS:

*SATURDAY, APRIL 6TH; 2:00PM to 3:00PM, Novato Library (South Branch): The Art & Luck of Growing Tomatoes in Marin

*WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10TH; 10:00AM to Noon, San Rafael Civic Center Library: Know Your Soil & How to Care for It

*WEDNESDAY, MAY 1st; Noon to 1:00PM San Rafael Civic Center Library:   What, When & How to Plant Your Edible Garden

*WEDNESDAY, MAY 22nd; Noon to 1:00PM, San Rafael Civic Center Library: Maintaining Your Edible Landscaping

Need to freshen up your landscaping? Don't miss the California Native Plant Sale, Saturday, April 13TH; 10:00AM-3:00PM at Green Point Nursery, 275 Olive Avenue, Novato. Sponsored by the Marin chapter of the California Native Plant Society, this is the place to purchase locally grown California native and drought tolerant plants (perennials, shrubs, vines, and seeds). Expert gardeners will be available to help you choose native plants best suited for your garden. Cost: Admission is free. Plants for school gardens at discounted prices. Cash or checks only.

Searching for the best selection of heirloom tomato plants? Head on down to the annual MARIN MASTER GARDENER TOMATO SALE, Saturday, April 13TH; 9:30AM-1:00PM at two locations: Novato Pini Hardware and the Bon Air Shopping Center in Greenbrae. The sale features thousands of organic tomato starts, specifically bred for Marin's different micro-climates. Come early for best selection as they usually sell out.

Need more inspiration? Don't miss my upcoming interview with Novato resident Susan Miller. Miller, a Marin Master Gardener, is the owner of FoodScapes of Marin, and founder of the Marin Garden Challenge (May 4th-13th), a movement to create sustainable gardens throughout our county.

*For the latest Farm To Table news in the North Bay, visit Karen's website and
"like" her Facebook page.

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