COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor:
David King
Email: redacted (if you need these, please message me in comments on this post)
Phone: redacted
There
are no prerequisites for this course, although some knowledge of
basic botany is extremely helpful. We meet on Sundays from January
20 through March 24 for 10 meetings, nine on Sunday and
one Saturday field trip.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE IN RED, THE ORIGINAL SYLLABUS STATED THE 16TH, BUT THAT WAS INCORRECT, IT IS THE 9TH:
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE IN RED, THE ORIGINAL SYLLABUS STATED THE 16TH, BUT THAT WAS INCORRECT, IT IS THE 9TH:
In
our field trip we will attend the WLA chapter of the California
Rare Fruit Growers meeting on February 9th, from
10:00 to noon. This is the day of their annual ‘Scion Exchange’
and is not to be missed if you can help it. There is no other forum
in Los Angeles that offers a better introduction to grafting!
All
other meetings are on Sunday 1:30 to 4:30 PM to The
Learning Garden, at the Venice High School campus. This site is
close to the ocean and because we meet outside or in an unheated
classroom, please dress appropriate to the weather, which is
invariably colder than one would imagine. We will do what we can to
mitigate the cold and rain, should it come, but the material of the
class is best covered with live plant material in the garden –
which, of course, is outside.
We
will also be working with potting soils and cut plant material in
almost every single class, gloves will probably be desired. Dress so
that you can comfortably get dirty and still stay dry. Dressing in
layers is probably the best idea when it comes to being outdoors at
The Learning Garden.
Course Purpose
This
course is an introduction to the principles and practice of plant
propagation, both sexual and asexual, and the science and art of
grafting and budding.
Course Objectives
- Understand the care and safe use of tools in plant propagation.
- Understand the biology of sexual and asexual propagation of plants.
- Understand and use the different styles of propagation of plants.
- Be able to set up and use a plant propagation system.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the above by propagating different species of plants.
- Understand the physiology of plants sufficiently to be able to successfully bud and graft a variety of plants.
Application
The
materials presented in this course will enable the student to start
plants from seeds and cuttings, in an amateur or professional setting
and graft woody plants with a working understanding of the scientific
underpinnings of the process. While we are working mostly with food
plants, these techniques cross easily to ornamental plants.
Text for this course
Plant
Propagation A to Z – Bryant; Firefly Books, 2003 It is readily
available online or in the appropriate UCLA Bookstore. There will be
many additional handouts from the instructor. Reading
assignments in this syllabus are from this book only.
Please note, The
Grafter's Handbook – Garner;
Cassell Publishing 2003, is no longer in print. This book (a blue
cover) should you find it at a reasonable price, is a wonderful
reference book for someone involved in grafting. The replacement
text, Grafting and Budding
– Alexander and Lewis; Landlinks Press, 2010, is not nearly as
thorough and is a much less interesting book, although it does have
some wonderful high quality photos, where Handbook
had only black and white photos and line drawings. You win some...
etc. Neither of these books are required. The Grafter's Handbook is
being reprinted by Chelsea Green Publishing, but will not be
available until March – too late for us.
All
material for in class will be available online at
http://lagardennotes.blogspot.com/.
Addtionaly, I invite all of you to join the group, Greener
Gardens, on
Facebook. Handouts are put there as well, and students use the group
to contact one another – I also post other items of interest for
you. I try to not
have handouts in class to avoid wasting paper printing handouts you
may not care to keep
and using the internet allows us to use videos (especially of
grafting) you may find helpful.
Class Meetings
To
each class meeting, in addition to any note-taking tools you deem
necessary (paper, camera, tape recorder etc), each student should
bring propagation tools that will be described in our first class
meeting; please don't purchase
a lot of stuff until then. You will need pruners, a grafting knife,
a regular pocket knife (or one knife with two blades for different
purposes), a black, permanent Sharpie, a sharp pencil and a sturdy
pair of gloves – leather preferred. If you are unsure of what to
buy, buy NOTHING until after the first class meeting – we will not
be using most of these items until later.
Grading
Your
grade in this class is based on a checklist you will keep. You need
to be able to perform each of the tasks on the log with sufficient
skill and understanding of the process in order to receive a passing
grade in this course.
The completed checklist must be turned in the last day of class
unless other arrangements have been made before
hand with the
instructor.
Additional points (i.e. make up points) can be obtained by adding
propagation notes to www.gardenology.org.
I reserve the right
to administer quizzes throughout the course to insure comprehension.
They
will count in your participation score.
Instructor’s Office Hours
Please
avail yourself of my willingness to meet with you at any time to
discuss your progress in the course or to clarify instructional
material or to answer any difficulties you are having. My preference
is to meet with you at my office at The Learning Garden where we can
cover material without distraction but I am willing to meet with
students anytime, anywhere to assist you in learning; after all, that
is the point your taking the class and my teaching it. It is my wish
that all students learn and are profited by their enrollment in this
course. Do not struggle; I am here to help.
At
The Learning Garden:
THE
FIRST AID KIT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ON THE LEFT OF THE FRONT DOOR AS
YOU ENTER my office
Remember
its location.
I’m
very serious... So
far only two students have had to have emergency medical treatment. I
don't like adding to that number. It's hard enough to get students
without killing them off.
A
garden is filled with uneven surfaces, rocks, plants with thorns and
other armaments and an infinity of possibilities for injury; most of
the time in this course we will be using very sharp
tools which deserve your utmost attention at all times, please give
due attention and consideration of this. Remain on pathways and do
not walk into planted beds unless it is absolutely necessary. Do not
pick anything without permission.
Food
and drink are allowed, but the removal of any trash or waste is
entirely incumbent on the eator and/or drinkor. I hold you
responsible.
We
will probably have hot tea and coffee to mitigate the cool weather we
anticipate needing to endure. Bring your own cup or mug and any
eating utensils you feel you need. I drink it black – if you want
sugar or cream, it's on you.
Appropriate
clothing is essential. Remember, Venice can be hot and cold by
turns. Layering is suggested; a jacket or sweater close at hand is
essential. We will meet regardless of weather. If it is a
light rain/mist, we will continue work. If it is a gully-washer (as
though we get those in Southern California), we will meet in a
classroom and carry on.
Point Assignment
For
Credit Students. It is more important to me that you learn the
material above all other considerations. I will endeavor through
point assignment, lecture and demonstration to teach you in a way
that will facilitate learning the material. If you aren’t
understanding, please allow me to help you.
Tools You Will Need
Each
student shall provide:
Pair
of pruners – secateur type, like Felco #2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 or
13. No anvil pruners allowed EXCEPT for those students with hand
pain or arthritis that must use the ratcheting type of pruners.
Felcos can be bought on the internet (eBay) for much less than most
local sources; I am also a Felco distributor and carry several models
at a very competitive price. Coronas and other secateur pruners are
OK, although if you have ever used Felcos, you appreciate why I am
so fond of them.
Pruning
knife – only used for plants. It is suggested that everyone
also have a second knife for all the other needs in a garden. If one
does not plan on doing a great deal of propagation needing a sharp
knife, an inexpensive knife with break-away blades available from
many local stores may be used. Grafting knives and horticultural
knives are also found for reasonable amounts on eBay and other
internet connections; I also have a selection of inexpensive pruning
knives from Swiss Army. No one should feel pressured to buy my items
– I only have them because they can be hard to find locally and
often all you can find are the really expensive Felcos which you
don't need.
Pair
of gloves – leather is preferred, some folks like to have more
than one.
Sharpie
– fine point, only black will not wash off
Pencil
– sharp,
wooden (the Learning Garden does have a sharpener)
You
will need to take notes, so paper is necessary – may I suggest you
take notes in pencil because it won’t run if it gets wet and a
pencil is a wonderful small dibber in a pinch.
The
Garden (or instructor) will provide as needed:
Cactus
mix and potting soil
Watering
devices
Pots
Root
stimulating gel
Other
tools and supplies as needed
Oil,
sharpening devices, cleaners and rags for pruner and knife
maintenance
Alcohol
wipes, Listerine and hand soap.
Plant
material/seeds
First
aid kit
Plant
markers
If
you forget your pruners or knife, I do have a few of each, and while
I do have gloves, a pair that fits your hand is preferred (and a pair
of gloves are somewhat personal too). I can sharpen your pruners and
we will learn how in this course.
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Our Class Meeting Locations
The Learning Garden
13000
Venice Blvd.
Los
Angeles, CA 90066
310.722.3656
(my cell)
The
Garden is located on the south east corner of Walgrove Avenue and
Venice Blvd. It is the first gate on Walgrove south of Venice –
there is a small amount of parking inside the gate, there is no other
secured parking, other than those few spaces, you are on the street
and on your own. DO NOT PARK ON THE CAMPUS PROPER.
California Rare Fruit Growers, West Los Angeles Chapter
Scion
Exchange meeting on February 9th, 10:00 AM, Star Education, 10117
Jefferson Boulevard Culver City, CA 90232
Tool
Suppliers:
Search
online at eBay and other buying services, but the following
companies, in addition to myself, reliably have the tools you need
and prices that are competitive.
A.M.
Leonard (AKA The Gardeners Edge) www.gardenersedge.com
They have everything and they make good house brands of knives and
pruners.
Peaceful
Valley Farm Supply www.groworganic.com
Felco and Corona pruners, inexpensive Swiss Army grafting knives. A
good choice.
Scoring For
Grading in This Class
- Class Participation25.00%Checklist75.00%TOTAL100.00%
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