On the second Saturdays of September, October and November, master gardeners will offer classes designed to help you become a better informed gardener.

The course offered Sept. 11 is titled “Being Green in the Garden.” In addition to the course that is available to adults and adolescents, there is also a class for gardeners ages 5 through 10 on the same subject that also includes a craft project.

Those of us unable to attend the class can always garden by growing as many native or drought-tolerant plants as possible, using fewer chemicals, reducing our water runoff, cutting down the waste we send to the landfill and avoiding invasive plant species.

The class offered Oct. 9 will help us to create a more sustainable landscape with drought-tolerant plants, and the course offered Nov. 13 will teach us how to plan to grow heirloom vegetables.

Heirloom vegetables tend to be of a higher quality and finer flavor. Most are unable to withstand the pressures of shipping, though, and have become less available in the supermarket.

All classes will be at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum in Micke Grove Regional Park, 11793 N. Micke Grove Road, in Lodi. Classes are free to attend, but there is a $5 parking fee at Micke Grove Regional Park, and participants will have to pay the regular museum admission fees — $5 for ages 18 through 64, $4 for people 65 and over and teens 13 through 17, $2 for children 6 through 12, and free for children age 5 and younger and for SJC Historical Society members.

There are many attractions at the museum, including farm equipment and a library featuring local history and genealogical information, among other things — plenty to see after the class or to pass the time while waiting for your gardener.

All participants must register in advance by calling 331-2055 at least a week before the class. I highly recommend attending all the classes you can. The master gardeners work very hard to make sure that all participants leave a better informed gardener.

• UC-certified master gardeners are available to answer gardening questions from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 953-6112 or mgsanjoaquin@ucdavis.edu. Questions for Heather Hamilton can be sent to ucmastergardener@gmail.com.