Gardening - Organic Gardening, Container Gardening, Perennials, Bulbs, and Landscape Garden Design


Wreaths with Valerie Kirincich and Mushroom Walk with Mycologist, Zaac Chaves - scroll down!


Gardening - Natives and Organic


Plant Guilds: Native Trees, Shrubs, Perennials and Ground Covers That Grow Well Together
From what we learned in grade school, certain plants grow well together. Often called companion plants, in today’s lingo they are known as Plant Guilds. These plants require similar variables of light, soil, moisture/humidity, topography, nutrients, water and many other environmental factors to survive and to thrive. In this class, we will examine a few of the plant guilds that are common in our ecological system (Eco59) in Connecticut and we will get familiar with some specific trees, shrubs and a few perennials and ground covers that should grow well in our neighborhoods. If you are getting ready to plant or expand your landscape, this class will help you determine which plants to consider in creating a successful garden and in supporting wildlife.
1 Session $ 31 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 27)
Wed., tbd from 6 to 8 p.m. at East Ridge Middle School.


Make Room for Natives: Sharing the Environment with Wildlife
There has been a lot of hype about “Natives” in the past year or so. Jackie Algon’s class will explore what native plants are and why they are important. For beginning or fairly-new gardeners, we will start with the basics: getting your soil ready, removing invasive plants from your property, assessing what is already growing in your yard and what you can consider adding or deleting from it, the “New Best Practices” for gardening that will help make your garden more sustainable, resilient and functional not only for the aesthetics that please humans, but also for the support of wildlife and ecology.
1 Session $ 31 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 27)
Mon, 5/4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at East Ridge Middle School.


Organic Vegetable Gardening
How to grow organically a wide variety of vegetables, flowers, and other plants suitable for our climate. This 2-part course will cover everything you need to know about organic gardening - from creating gardens, purchasing seeds or plants, growing on, fertilizing, and controlling pests. Instructor Eileen Burton, a long-term gardening instructor, is a former Horticultural Manager for a large non-profit and currently manages a church garden that grows produce for Meals on Wheels.
2 Sessions $ 41 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 35)
Wed., 4/22 and 29 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at East Ridge Middle School.

Mushroom Walk


Mushroom Walk with Mycologist, Zaac Chaves
Grab a notebook and join Zaac Chaves on a mycologically focused ecological tour in Ridgefield on Sunday, October 19 at 3 p.m.. During this outing we will identify seasonal mushrooms. You will help us catalog species (including possibly rare sightings) and even help document increasing evidence of climate change locally. No experience required. Zaac Chaves works on species surveys for several sites and sometimes with organizations including Harvard University, the New York Botanical Gardens, and the National Parks Service. We have found several new species at many sites and are also helping recognize others which are rare and disappearing. He also serves as the chief editor of the Boston Mycological Club Bulletin, established in 1897.

1 Session $ 29 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 25)
Please call (203) 431-2812 or email ridgefieldce@gmail.com to be on a notification list for spring 2026 dates from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Directions to class location in Ridgefield will be emailed prior to class.


Holiday and Seasonal Wreaths


Craft Your Own Spring Wreath
Welcome Spring with a beautiful, handcrafted wreath! In this 2-hour workshop, you'll get all supplies (flowers, greenery, ribbon) to decorate a grapevine wreath to take home. Perfect for all skill levels – just bring your creativity. Spaces are limited, sign up now! A supply fee of $15 - 20 will be collected at the first class. Class size limited.

Instructor Valerie Kirincich graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BFA in Illustration and the New York Academy of Art with a MFA in Figurative Fine Art. Upon graduation, she freelanced as an illustrator and worked for several Manhattan ad agencies as a graphic designer and art director. She is currently the full time art teacher at Greenwich Catholic School. Valerie believes that art is not only about technical skill, but about discovering a new way to see the world. She enjoys teaching and motivating students of all ages to learn and grow through art!