22 Mar 2016 Master Gardeners put passion to work at teaching garden
by Jan Spann
Two years ago, the Faulkner County Extension office staff asked Master Gardener Randall Byers to participate in a demonstration garden from which the staff could use produce for canning classes and 4-H tours. When the garden overgrew those needs, the plan expanded from the Faulkner County Master Gardeners (FCMG) Youth Garden project to a community Teaching Garden.
Richard Boosey and Don Greenland came on board. These three men are quite experienced in vegetable gardening and farming.
For a community activity to become a Master Gardener project, it must qualify in several categories, which may include education and community awareness. The Teaching Garden on Siebenmorgen Road in East Conway quickly passed muster as a project.
Last March, the FCMGs who signed on for the new project, implemented the schedule for cool season vegetables, including cabbage, broccoli, kale, Swiss chard and lettuce. The garden also included green beans and tomatoes for Extension Agent Melanie Malone to use in canning technique classes.
The garden uses raised beds, which the team promotes as the most efficient for home gardeners. Events planned in March and April include 15- to 30-minute sit-down talks on topics like how to build a raised bed, types of soils to use, soil amendments, proper irrigation for the plants used and the importance of sunlight. These sessions are followed by hands-on activities in the garden. FCMG and former science teacher Betty Baxter provides an activity for kids each month.
Participants last year included first-time gardeners in their early 20s to senior citizens who gardened years earlier and now want new tips. All are encouraged to take produce home, as it will soon be time to prep the soil for the warm weather crops. Those include okra, tomatoes, squash, summer peas, cantaloupe, eggplant and beans, all of which are prolific growers. The garden plot also includes herbs and quick growing veggies like radishes and green onion, which delivers a quick harvest for participants.
This year’s Saturday schedule begins March 19 with weekly sessions from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The weekly sessions end April 30. FCMGs will also be at the garden late afternoon on Tuesdays for folks who want to stop by after work. From May through August, the class will work the third Saturday of each month.
The Teaching Garden uses both seed starting as well as transplanting, advising the class on which method is best for specific vegetables and fruit. And while watermelons are a favorite summer staple, Davis noted this melon forms long vines, so it’s more economical to purchase the three watermelons a small plot will yield. The growers also leave a few plants at the garden untreated with organic or chemical sprays so any bugs or disease can be discussed. Participants can also bring a sample to the class for identification and remedy.
Don Greenland, Randall Davis and Richard Boosey have a passion for gardening and sharing their knowledge. If you have considered starting a vegetable garden before, this is the perfect place to learn! To find out more about the Teaching Garden, contact Randall Davis at [email protected] or attend a session. The garden is located in front of the Freyaldenhoven Nursery at 1305 E. Siebenmorgen Road in Conway.
A Conway resident, Jan Spann has been gardening for 20-plus years and has been involved with the Faulkner County Master Gardeners for 11 years. She and her husband, Randy, have five children and eight grandchildren.
