Contact your local Cooperative Extension Office and see if they have classes. I teach classes at our local office. Try garden clubs and nurseries too. Billie

Thanks billie ann. I wish I could be positive about this....... I am a part of the Co0operative ex. but have never heard of any teachers of Hypertufa there. The others look at me with perplexion! I don't think any of them have a clue what Hypertufa even means! Wish you lived down here.... You'd have about 4 students at this point! We all want to learn, but will probably have to teach outselves as it turns out! Will be fun of course, but much more efficient if we could have the guidance of an experienced teacher. Wish you lived here.............

Joanmary, I know there are some people in the forum around that area (can't think of names right now) and you'll probably start seeing them pop up within a month or two. This place gets a little slow in the winter months.

Another place you might try posting is in the Florida Gardening forum. Possibly they're still hanging out there or possibly in the Garden Accoutrements forum (since that's a year-round kind of place)...just a thought.

lazydaisy, thanks for your suggestion. I've put a post on the Florida Gardening forum. Here's holding thumbs someone responds!

Hi Joanmary!

I have been playing with concrete for the past couple of years. I am in Homestead and my work has evolved (thanks to this wonderful site and my original inspiration via a concrete bamboo bench at Fairchid Garden) from hypertufa & grots to casting live leaves into fountains and sculpting in concrete on a small scale. If you can gather some friends together and would be willing to venture down to Homestead I would be happy to set up a class. Feel free to email me at buckyforce@earthlink.net

Don't limit yourself to just planters with hypertufa - there are SO many really cool things you can create with cement! I am going to install a leaf fountain at a water garden store in Dania next week. If you like, I will email you the adress of the store and you can go by and take a look at it so that you can see what can be done with concrete.

Hopelessy hooked,

Amanda

aha, Buckyforce, maybe you're the one I was thinking of...were you the one that had the hypertufa "hands" that we were kidding about being blown into nearby trees from one of the hurricanes?

buckyforce, Thank you so much for responding. I have put your info on the Fl.Forum so the people interested can see it. I'll also email them - I would certainly be happy to drive to Homestead for your class. Hope to hear from the others very shortly. I'll email you as soon as I have responses.

Delighted!
Joanmary

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/flgard/msg032344482500.html

Great Joanmary!

LOL lazy! Yup, that was me! Actually, my concrete stuff was the only thing that DIDN'T get blown away! I found my sailboat on the other side of the backyard, without its trailer - amazingly unscathed somehow. But the concrete stayed put! Joanmary, here are the "hands" she was referring to.

{{gwi:67063}}

There is no end to the fun stuff you can make!

Amanda

Very clever Amanda! Did you use hardware cloth for their forms? How did you attach the hands to the wood??? Most of all, did you 'mould' them or do them or do them free hand? Support them so they kept the shape??-with sand????

Ahhh, I'd be happy to make a nice candleholder for the garden or a trough, or a stepping stone with a leaf relief........little baby steps....!!!

Joan, You work at the Cooperative Extension? Are you on staff or a master gardener? If no one at your office has info contact other offices in Florida for information. There's is nothing like a hands-on workshop. Have fun at Amanda's class. Billie

Master Gardener, Billie Ann. I'm waiting to hear from the others I've emailed about going to Buckyforce. Even if no one can make it, I will definitely be going, as long as its ok with BF.

Buckyforce, one person has em'd me to say she could not make it. I'll email the others again. If they can't make it, is it ok for me come alone? Email me re. any arrangements you'd prefer to make.

Joanmary

Joanmary

Buckyforce, I've copied Carmin's interest here.

Posted by: carmiewest South Florida (My Page) on Sun, Mar 26, 06 at 18:31

Joanmary,
I am definitely interested in a class in Homestead but I would need to do it in a day when my kids are in school or my husband could watch them. They are in school from 9 to 2 on weekdays or any time on Saturday.

Let me know if you hear from someone else.

Carmen

Joanmary, I am interested. A weekend would be better for me. I will be out of town the last weekend in April.

I'll call Butterflygardener and give her a poke.
Marion