*Feb Skills Share attendee waters cabbage transplants during the “Turning Beds” interactive activity.*

Three Sisters Gardens (TSG) held its second workshop of the year, the February Skills Share, on Saturday February 22nd. The topics were CA Native Plants and Turning Beds.

Alfred Melbourne, TSG Founder/Director kicked off the event sharing the history and vision of Three Sisters Gardens, to empower the at-potential youth through farming and growing food for the people, by the people.

Next, Farm manager Kat Burce covered the importance of incorporating CA Native Plants into the garden. Native plants save water, are low maintenance, are better for the environment, and support local ecology. Attendees were able to transplant CA Gumplant into the Native Plant Corner. TSG’s collaborative project with Sage La Pena at Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC) grows medicinal herbs such as skullcap, yarrow, and chamomile to name a few.

*See what’s growing in the Native Plant Corner*

Attendees got their hands dirty in the “Turning Beds,” interactive activity led by Kris Burce. Turning beds basically means switching from one crop to another, in this case turning the collards bed to a cabbage bed. They participated in the whole process from harvesting collards, removing the plants, weeding, adding nutrients (NPK, Oyster Shell, Feather meal) and compost, transplanting cabbage starts, to finally, watering.

The event ended with a shared Farm-to-Fork meal prepared by Chef Pau: Cauliflower-potato chowder, sage brown butter farfalle with butternut squash, tomatoes, kale & Italian sausage. For dessert, Atole de elote and carrot cake biscotti.

Sign up for the next Skills Share here.

Photos by Christian Avila - Department of Sound