
Marion Owen has been featured in:

Do you have a garden on Kodiak Island?
Is your garden in need of a desperate makeover?
Have you tried everything but nothing seems to work?
Would you like to become the ultimate plant parent?
Would you like to know the secrets to better gardening?
Marion will open her home and garden to teach how you can create your dream garden in Kodiak.
She will then visit your garden and help you create a plan that you can implement immediately.
THIS CLINIC IS LIMITED TO 10 PEOPLE! To save your place, book today!
Marion Owen's Workshop
Starts - April 29, 2023
You missed out!
Don't despair! Now you can learn the steps you need to follow, so your garden is in tip-top shape year-round when you join:
Kodiak Gardening Workshop with Marion Owen
In this 3-part workshop, Marion Owen will tap into her 35 years of gardening on Kodiak Island to show what works in her garden. Then she will visit your garden to create a custom garden plan for you.
Marion's Garden BEFORE

Marion's Garden AFTER

The above photo shows how Marion transformed a bare patch into her dream garden. In this 3-part course, she will show the steps you need to take to create your garden!
Photo Gallery from October 1st & 2nd course:








How Marion will help you improve your garden:

You will join Marion Owen in her own garden as she teaches you how to create the garden of your dreams over two days.
* Parts 1 & 2 will be comprised of two 3-hour sessions on Sat, April 29 and 30. Refreshments will be provided!

Marion will then visit your garden, and together, she will help you will create a plan for your garden!
* This one-on-one planning session takes place at your house and will take approximately one hour. They will be scheduled when you join the course.

Parts 1 & 2 of the gardening workshop:
What you'll learn
Marion Owen will answer your questions throughout the sessions, covering the following topics:
Planning Your Garden
Like you, I want a garden that I can be proud of. And so, the first step is careful planning. Grab your colored pencils, and get ready to learn how to assess and make the best of your growing space. For example, where are the sunny spots? Water hookups? Is wind a problem? Do you want a lawn? Compost bins? A path? Raised beds? Not only does planning your garden in advance help you avoid common beginner pitfalls, it saves you time, money, and hassle while you learn the ropes.
Making your bed: Raised beds 101
One of the best ways to get good soil—and keep it—is to use raised beds for the plants. With raised beds, water is conserved, soil stays fluffy, you can plant more closely, and you have fewer weeds. Going step by step, we'll look at different ways you can build them, fill them, and set them up to serve your garden needs year-round—without wasting money on expensive materials. No matter where you hang your hoe, raised beds are the way to grow.
The Gardener's Glossary
Are you confused by terms like biennials and biennials? Cultivars and cover crops? Hybrids and heirlooms? Clear the air with these simple definitions so you can talk garden speak with confidence.

Down to earth: How to know and love your soil
When you start a garden it's natural to want to get planting as soon as possible. Take a breath. Patience is key. Since plants can't move around to get their nutrition, your job is to get soil right so your plants will thrive where they're planted. Discover, step by step, how to find the right balance for your garden so you don't need to turn to harsh or expensive chemical treatments: How to test your soil, understand the mysteries of pH and N:P:K, and how to improve all types of soil, which leads me to...
Composting 101
Compost is the all-purpose answer to everything, and if you have enough of it, you won't need much of anything else. Compost improves soil health, and healthy soil makes for healthy plants. What's not to love? From my 35 years of making compost, you'll learn how to make compost (no bin, no problem!) and how to put it to work in your garden. You'll wonder how you ever lived without it!
The Gardener's Tool Kit
A few good, practical tools will last you a lifetime so it's worthwhile to get what you can afford and take good care of them. But if you're like me, and not always good at putting things away, then it might be best to start with cheaper tools and replace them time to time. You'll learn the essential tools you really need and how to stay clear of silly gadgets.

Seed-Starting Secrets
I'll show you how to raise healthy seedlings that not only survive but thrive when they’re finally transplanted outside in your garden. What to grow, when to sow, transplanting tips, sowing seeds outdoors... it's all here. You'll never pull your hair out or have to sneak back to the nursery to buy replacement plants.
Weed it and reap
Have you ever faced a crop of weeds and wanted to throw in the trowel? I'll show you my tried and true methods for staying on top of the weed game without turning to chemicals or becoming overwhelmed.
Slugs, bugs and other thugs
Marion's non-toxic solutions to dealing with pests and diseases, from the neighbor's dog to fungus in the greenhouse. Includes recipes for making your own homemade sprays.

Organic lawn care
Nothing complements a garden quite like a nice patch of green lawn. But what about all the chemical fertilizers and weedkillers? Marion shows you how you can have a lawn that's safe for kids, pets and the planet by adopting these organic methods instead.
What to grow?
Need inspiration for what to grow? Marion shares her three comprehensive lists of easy vegetables, herbs and flowers to grow in cool climate gardens.
A potpourri of harvesting tips
Make it easy on yourself at harvesttime by using these quick-pick techniques that will help you finish harvesting faster and with less effort. Plus simple cleaning and tips to improve the storage life of your fruits and vegetables.

Protecting your plants
Knowing what to do when frost, wind, sun, drought, or snow threaten your plants means you can sleep better at night.
How to "put up" your harvest
Marion shares her favorite ways to freeze, pickle, dry, and preserve your harvest with simple techniques and recipes for year-round enjoyment of your gardening efforts.
Gifts from the garden
Gift-giving doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. From the heart is best. Marion shares how to make gifts from the garden to bring joy to neighbors, friends, and family throughout the year.

Part 3 of the gardening workshop:
Marion will help you create a garden plan

It has taken Marion Owen 35 years of living on Kodiak Island to master the art of planning a year-round thriving and lush garden. To help you plan your garden, Marion will personally meet with you at your home.
Draw a garden plan for your garden
Gardening is a learn-as-you-grow adventure. And it helps to have a rough plan of your garden. Here's where we draw a rough sketch of your garden: What you want to create, remove, or expand. The plan includes where your home is located on the lot, fences, water sources, decks, driveway and parking areas, swing sets, sheds and other existing structures. We'll also mark on the plan which parts of the garden get what kind of exposure from sun, wind, and rain.
Plan where your plants will go to make the most of our climate
After you've worked out where things are located on your property and which the sunny and shady areas are, you can then choose the right plants for those conditions. Your micro-climate and soil conditions will also help to determine what will grow well in your garden.
Learn what grows best on Kodiak Island
If you're new to gardening and not sure what to plant, go on a treasure hunt. First ask yourself what you like to eat, what flowers you enjoy, what herbs you like to cook with. Ask questions of other gardeners. Visit other gardens. Make a list. This'll help give you ideas and show you what grows well in your local soil and weather conditions.
Choose a garden type
You also need to consider what type of garden you want. Maybe you want to establish perennials and leave an area for a bit of a wild place. If you have kids or pets, this may affect your choices. Different garden types include a vegetable garden, flower garden, herb garden, perennials, fruiting plants, hoophouses (high tunnels) and more. You're not locked into one type of garden. But whatever primary style you choose, it's a good idea to keep it looking simple and keep the same style throughout your garden.
In this video, Marion explains why your own garden plan helps you create your dream garden:
About Marion Owen - "The Gardener's Coach"
Marion has been teaching gardening to Kodiak Island residents for over 30 years, through her weekly newspaper column, conducting workshops, and answering questions on local radio.
Kodiak Daily Mirror newspaper readers have trusted Marion Owen's gardening tips for 27 years




Now you can spend time with Marion as she teaches you the secrets to gardening in Kodiak!
At the end of Parts One and Two of this workshop, you have the unique opportunity to have Marion visit your garden. Using her 35 years of gardening she will show you the steps you need to take to create a garden that thrives in Kodiak!
Marion's students share their thoughts...
"This was money well spent. For 20+ years I wasted my time composting.
"It took six months to make a batch of compost that made little difference to our garden anyway.
"I now understand what actually happens in a compost heap and I have a whole new level of enthusiasm for gardening."

"Marion Owen is a rock star! The Compost Academy jump-started my new garden!
"Highly recommend! It would make a great gift for anyone you know who wants to get started or take a garden to the next level."

"Thanks to the Compost Academy I won't be taking enormous bags of grass clippings, leaves, and food waste to the dump.
"I’ll be making compost! I didn’t just learn about composting. I learned so much about gardening.
"I didn’t have a mentor until I met Marion Owen in the Compost Academy.

I have just finished the Compost Academy and I highly recommend it!
"Marion Owen is an amazing, knowledgeable tutor, witty, and super helpful!

About Marion Owen - Your Gardener's Coach







Hello, I'm Marion Owen
Yes, I work, relax, and love life on Kodiak Island. My husband, Marty, and I operate an oceanfront B&B we appropriately named the Cliff House B&B.
Thirty-five years ago, I was like you, a frustrated gardener!
Yes, I had a passion for gardening. But I had no idea what I was doing. Back then, there was no YouTube and no internet.
Sometimes I was lucky, and my efforts were rewarded. Most of the time I was left feeling discouraged. Because of the mistakes I made, the hours I wasted, and the money I lost, I nearly gave up.
As the years went by, I managed to develop a green thumb.
Now, three decades later, I write a weekly garden column. I've been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Reader's Digest and Organic Gardening.
I've even written a New York Times bestseller, "Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul", which has inspired thousands of gardeners around the globe.
Having felt the frustration that only beginners know, I decided that my legacy would be to help other like-minded gardeners fast-track their journey to gardening success!
How can you join this 3-part workshop? This workshop is limited to 10 people
Marion's workshop starts in:
You missed out!

In Parts One and Two, you will join Marion in her own garden as she teaches you how to create the garden of your dreams.
* Days 1 & 2 will be comprised of two 3-hour sessions. Refreshments will be provided.

In Part Three, Marion will visit your garden, and together, she will help you create a custom plan for your garden!
* This one-on-one planning session takes place at your house and will take approximately one hour. This session will be scheduled when you join the course.
PLEASE NOTE: To qualify for the Custom Garden Plan, you must first complete Days One and Two.
Satisfaction-Guarantee
Fully Protected by Our 100% Satisfaction-Guarantee.
100%
If, for any reason, you don't like this workshop on the first day, you can get a full refund. If you have any issues, at the end of the first day please speak with Marion and she will either help you out until you get the results you need or give you a swift refund.
All the best,
