Coast Gardener
Home Gardening Workshop Series for South Mississippi
Coast Gardener Newspaper and Web Column - February 16, 2009
With the downturn in the economy there is increased interest in homegrown food items. The home vegetable garden can be a wonderful way to help reduce the weekly grocery bill while feeling satisfied that the family is eating fresh nutritious food. However, many homeowners do not know where to begin or think that the home garden is beyond their grasp. Help is on the way.
The
Harrison County Extension Office, in conjunction with the Coastal Research
and Extension Center, will be offering a Home Gardening Series for those
interested in starting or improving their home vegetable gardening skills.
Instructors for the Home Gardening Series will consist of Master Gardeners
and Extension Specialists from the Mississippi State University Extension
Service.
All workshops will be held from 9 a.m. until noon at the Coastal Research and Extension Center, 1815 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi. Demonstration plots will be established during these workshops to allow participants the opportunity to observe how the garden changes through the growing season. All workshops are on Saturdays: March 7, April 4, and May 9, 2009.
Home Gardening Workshop Series schedule:
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Topics covered will be soil testing (with how-to
demonstration), choosing the optimum garden site, soil fertility, basic
composting, using garden tools, and choosing vegetable varieties that
will perform and produce well in south Mississippi.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Topics covered will include pest and disease management, watering and
irrigation options, mulching, composting, and basic garden maintenance.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Topics will include proper harvesting of bountiful produce and how to
preserve the harvest (Canning and Freezing) for later use.
Cost of the program is five non-perishable food items per person at the door OR $5.00 per person.
For More information contact the Harrison County office of Mississippi State University Extension Service at 228-865-4227 or email nfreeman@ext.msstate.edu.
Written by Dr. Gary R. Bachman, Assistant Extension Professor of Horticulture, Coastal Research & Extension Center.