Around the house

We will learn to construct a beautiful, natural, earth friendly, energy efficient building!  Foundation, walls, windows, framing, and roof construction will be taught. We will be teaching the Nebraska Style of Straw bale building, which is also termed "Load bearing".  Natural plasters will also be covered for the interior while the exterior will be Stuccoed.  Sheet Rock Wall Interface will also be demonstrated. 

This “Green” Building method will provide the Camp with an ‘Arts and Crafts” structure, to be used for both storage and a work area.

Some of the problem invasive plants of the Arlington area may be in your own backyard. Marilyn Sallee, DFW Regional Coordinator for the Invaders of Texas Program, will help us explore the situation and develop a plan of action during this adult workshop at River Legacy Living Science Center. FREE, donations accepted. Space is limited. Please RSVP to 817.860.6752.

Let Joanne Durbin, Dallas County Master Gardener, show you how to transform a piece of nature into a beautiful decoration for your garden. Using leaves from the garden and a few simple ingredients, Joanne will show you how to create your own concrete casting. Your unique finished work of art will show the beauty of Mother Nature’s work through the veins, leaf texture and shape. Joanne will show you how to embellish your piece using paint so that you may finish your piece at home once it has dried. Limited space available so sign up early! $50 or $45 for Members

The world’s love affair with tea is universal and exists in almost all corners of the world.  Join Randy and Sue Weston, owners of Weston Gardens and tea enthusiasts, as they take you on a tour around the globe and share the history and legend of this influential commodity. Learn all about the tea plant, the different processing methods, the difference between herbal and pure tea as well as how to make the perfect cup.  Lastly, enjoy tasting different types of tea from around the world and discover why it appeals to all of your senses. $25 or $22.50 for Members

Bath salts, and oils and fizzies, oh my! Everyone loves bath products, and what better time than the holidays to start working on your own signature blends. David Fisher, Guide to Candle & Soap Making at About.com, will demonstrate how easy it is to get started making your bath items to help melt away the stress of the season.  Learn about and make your own products to keep for yourself or give as gifts for the holidays. Go home with samples and recipes to get started on some great stocking stuffers. $40 or $36 for Members

Keeping honeybees is a fascinating and fun pastime that can be enjoyed by anyone.  Brandon & Susan Pollard of the Texas Honeybee Guild actively protect and support honeybee populations throughout North Texas, and they want to show you how you can invite these much needed garden guests into your landscape.  They will show you what to plant to keep them happy throughout the year and more. Whether you want to keep bees for the honey they produce or for their services as pollinators, this class will give you the buzz on bees!  $25 or $22.50 for Members

Are you sick of having your home inundated with tender plant material in the winter? If so, building a greenhouse might be the answer for you. Join Gail Donaldson, Water Conservation Manager for the City of Allen, as she tells you what you need to know to start gardening in your own greenhouse this winter.  She will cover the types of greenhouses, how they work, preparing plants for the greenhouse, maintenance and purchasing sources.  Come find out how to keep your thumb green year-round! $25 or $22.50 for Members

Compost is an invaluable ingredient in a successful garden. By duplicating nature’s recycling process you can turn leaves, grass clippings, yard trimmings and kitchen scraps into dark nutrient-rich humus that is great for your garden. Join John Hunt, local garden writer and Dallas County Master Gardener, as he shares the importance of using compost to build your soil, how to use compost in the garden, which materials can be used, techniques to ensure great results and much more! Come find out how to create a gold rush in your backyard! $25 or $22.50 for Members

Double, Double, Toil & Trouble! Once marking the change of seasons, Halloween is thought of as one of our spookiest holidays. Long ago, many of our most common herbs were called upon to aid in the transition from one season to another. Join Mary Nell Jackson, Past President of the North Texas Unit of the Herb Society of America, as she shares the love, the lore and the history of some of the herbs of Halloween. She will show you which herbs ward off spells and which increase knowledge, as well as which ones are used to make love potions. You will leave with spell bag full of enchanting trinkets to make your Hallow’s eve a bit more magical! $35 or $31.50 for Members

From your apartment balcony to your back yard, anyone can enjoy lovely containers filled with edible, healthy fresh salad greens, herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Join Cathi Gartin, Vice President of The Cultivated Gardener, as she shows you how to choose, plant, grow, and maintain edible garden containers which can be right outside your door. Cathi will help you plant your own edible container that will be ready to harvest before you know it! $40 or $36 for Members