'Vegetable Gardening 101' Workshop: Sat, Feb 7th

Be sure to read the bottom of this blog article for listing of radio

 & TV shows to be aired soon; shows will feature info about the workshop.

* SCHEDULE

The Vegetable Gardening 101 workshop is designed for new vegetable gardeners in East Tennessee but will offer learning opportunities for everyone. The workshop will include an opening speech, "Vegetable Ventures-Early Consideration for the Home Gardener," by Dr. Natalie Bumgarner, the University of Tennessee Residential and Consumer Extension Specialist.

Sessions will follow on Raised Bed Gardening, Container Gardening / Small Space Gardening, and Growing Super Vegetables; Earl Hockin (MG), Phil Ramey(MG), and Jennifer Banks (Nutritionist) will be leading these sessions, respectively. Sessions will cover soil, the basics of plant requirements, site selection, garden design and layout,…

Space is limited to first 120 participants, so early registration is encouraged; see flyer above for contact info. Workshop location is the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Kingsport, TN (directions). 

Registration packet pickup is at 8am, followed by the workshop sessions which will run from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Participants are invited to view the Harvest of Hope Community Gardens, located across the street, after the workshop from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. 

 Look for more information to be aired on television and radio in the coming week(s), various channels:

• Jan 22nd - WKPT, TV Ch19 (ABC) 6-7am NEWS, "How to" Segment 
• Jan 22nd - WKPT RADIO, Station AM1400 10am, The "Dave Light" Show   Listen
• Jan 26th - WCYB, TV Ch5 (NBC) 12pm Noon NEWS
• Jan 28th - WKPT RADIO, Station AM1400 10am, The "Dave Light" Show   Listen
• Jan 29th  - WKPT, TV Ch19 (ABC) 6-7am News, "How to" Segment 
• Feb 2nd:  WJHL, TV Ch11 (CBS), Daytime Tri-Cities Show

partnering with

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary....

... How does your garden grow?
with weed fabric, and chat gravel,
and pretty raised beds all in a row.

Image from Artfire.com

New Raised Beds on Gravel

[HOH] Harvest of Hope Garden (picture taken from inside garden facing southeast towards expansion)

Above, you can see how the Harvest of Hope Garden (recently expanded to the east), now has weed fabric added, chat/gravel, and new raised beds. More fabric and gravel will be added to cover grass area (future).

The Shed

Below is a picture of how the shed looks now, before it is expanded to double the size (future construction). HOH gardeners say that the shed expansion can be done for under $300 !!  This shed currently stores tools, supplies, a wheelbarrow, etc.  With the HOH Garden expansion this past year and continuous raised bed constructions, the shed is well overdue for enlargement as well to support the efforts of the gardeners.

Lumber sits (to the right of the shed) where the shed will be expanded.
Weigh Station is on left, partially shown.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars for a few upcoming events:

• Planting Fall Vegetables CLASS:  Aug. 23rd. at 9:00 am at HOH.  What to plant and 'how to' will be discussed.
  
• Kingsport Pepper Fest to be held at the Farmer's Market downtown on Saturday, September 13th from 9-4pm.  The Farmers Market is located at the corner of Clinchfield and Center Streets, near the new Food City.
  
• Fall/Winter CLEANUP will be Oct. 18th. at 10:00 am.

Pictures

Enjoy these recent pictures, taken from left to right, of the Harvest of Hope Garden. With all of these wonderful improvements to the garden and over five-hundred (500) pounds of produce harvested so far this season, one could say that "... your HOH Garden grows quite well, Mary!"

Happy Gardening :)

Class Learning Implemented at Home...

Raised Bed

Raised bed built at home.

On March 1st, a class was held on how to build raised beds. One of the participants, Sally Richard, took what she learned and put it into action by building a raised bed of her own.  Way to go, Sally :)

Peas Germinating

Alaska Peas germinating in moist paper towels inside vented ziploc.

Here is another example of how one of our HOH participants implemented at home (here shown in photo, April 23rd), what they learned previously at Spring Vegetable Gardening Class (April 12th).  This photo was submitted anonymously.

Happy Gardening!  

Helpful Links:

More Gardening Class(es)        Garden Member Info

A Few Tidbits for Garden Members

Happy Spring!

Here are a few tidbits of information for our Harvest of Hope (HOH) Community Garden Members.

   



 
• Master Gardeners (MG's) will be on hand at the HOH Community Garden at 10am-ish in the mornings on:
  
  Mondays, Wednesdays, & Saturdays.
  [May possibly be available some Saturday evenings (TBA)]

• A Bulletin Board is up on the left-hand side of garden shed for any announcements, current info, forms, etc.
• Got Questions?  Go to the Garden on the above days to talk with MG's in person.  If you have a question, and cannot meet at those times, leave a message on the bulletin board on the left side of the garden shed.
• In addition to weeding, watering, and maintaining your own
  
  raised bed(s), Volunteer Garden Members are asked to maintain the space surrounding their raised bed by weeding the gravel area (& disposing the weeds/trash).

    

• Garden Compost Bags recently donated by Lowes [Thank you]. Available for member use.

• NEW!  Raised Bed Labeling
  
  

• Coming Soon: Weigh Station
  This will be put in a covered area next to existing shed. Although members can take home some of produce that they grow for themselves, they are encouraged to log (see forms by bulletin board) and donate some of these foods to the Food Pantries, etc.  See FeedKingsport.org.    The weigh station will be used to weigh vegetables that are donated.

Happy Gardening !