Gardening class series at Misty Meadows Herbal Center

Misty Meadows

From Helen at Misty Meadows Herbal Center:

Beginning in January 2014, Misty Meadows Herbal Center will be offering a series of workshops on organic and holistic gardening. Topics will include soil health, building compost, mulching, choosing varieties of seeds and plants, weeding, pruning, watering, crop rotation, companion planting, beneficial insects, plant-based fertilizers, natural pest management, and astrological gardening.

If you are new to gardening and hoping to start a plot of your own this spring, these classes are a great way to get some foundational knowledge on maintaining healthy land and plants and growing your own food. If you are a seasoned gardener, this can be the opportunity for you to expand some of what you know and delve deeper into earth honoring practices.

Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm in the Learning Center. Classes will start on January 15 and run to February 26, for a total of seven classes in the workshop series.

The series is $25/class or $150.

Register by phone 603 659 7211 or in person at 183 Wednesday Hill Road Lee, NH 03861

Sample outlines of each class:

Class 1: Soil Health and Healthy Compost

What are the components of healthy soil? How do I know what my soil is lacking? How can I keep my soil healthy over time? What is compost? What are the benefits of using compost in a garden? What are some ways to make a compost pile? How do I maintain a compost pile? What can I add to my compost to enrich it and speed up the decomposition process?

Class 2: Seeds and Plants: Selecting Varieties and Planting Techniques

Various factors to be aware of Types of seeds: Open Pollinated and Hybrids Varieties. Choosing seeds versus plants. Best varieties for a New England climate.

Class 3: Maintaining the Garden: Watering, Weeding, Pruning, Mulching

Learn practical techniques for: How and when to water, Identifying true weeds, Ways to keep the weeds at bay, What and how to prune during which time of year, Different types of mulch for different types of soil

Class 4: A Healthy Garden for Seasons to Come: Crop Rotation and Companion Planting

What is the importance of crop rotation? How can I ensure my crops are rotated effectively? What is companion planting?What are the benefits of companion planting? How can I easily integrate this method into an already established garden?

Class 5: Gardening by the Moon: An Introduction to Astrological Gardening

We will learn the brief history of astrological gardening and answer questions like: How can I grow the healthiest crops while working in harmony with the cycles of the moon and stars? Can all gardening activities be done according to these principles? How do I know astrological gardening works? What are other references I can seek out if I want to learn more about this fascinating topic?

Class 6: Putting the Garden to Rest: Knowledge for the End of the Season

Topics will include: Harvesting, Fall Cleanup, Over-wintering herbs, Extending the season with cold frames and hoop houses, Seed saving

Class 7: Planning Your Garden: Mapping Out This Season’s Plot

How to pick the best spot on your land for your garden. Important factors to consider when starting a new garden. We will spend time together in class mapping out potential gardens for this season based on the information covered in the previous classes.