Let's Grow! Seed Starting 101 Hands On Workshop

Hey Neighbors!

Join Amber Mahaffy of Amber Urban Gardening and the volunteers at Bethel Garden for a hands-on exploration of how to start seeds at home. All experience levels are welcome! Supplies for one seeded tray are included for $10, or whatever you are able to pay. If you want to plant more, you can buy more! We will have a limited number of bigger kits available for purchase at the workshop. Pay on arrival via cash, check or tap, but please RSVP ahead of time to help us plan.

You will leave with a small flat ready to grow, but Amber will also answer all of your questions about heat sources, grow light options, potting on, hardening off, and transplanting! Feel free to bring some of your own seeds if you have some you want to start.

We are grateful for the support of historic Bethel United Methodist Church and community garden volunteers Diane Bustamante and Tim Middleton, who will kindly host us in their historic church building at the intersection of County A and Route 12/67 in Elkhorn. They will lead tours of the new community garden and food forest, for those who are interested.

MFAI Research Director Nicole Tautges will be there to offer tips on soil testing and soil health.

“Bethel Garden is a community garden dedicated to improving diet, supporting emotional health and providing a social space. The garden provides space, tools, knowledge and a place to experiment for anyone who wants to participate. It is also a place to spend time with no particular purpose in mind.  We encourage everyone to get involved: help with maintenance, help distribute garden produce, take material from plants that are new to you to propagate in your own garden, teach others a skill that you have, and so on.  We also have a few individual plots that are available for people to grow their own garden.  The garden has a potting shed with tools and supplies, and has water hydrants within the garden," says Diane - who is heartily encouraging neighbors to come to the seed swap, take a tour, and find out how they can get involved. "This garden only has a purpose if you use it. The food and flowers are produced for everyone to use.  Take produce, flowers, cuttings, collect seeds- if you visit the garden, please leave with something in your hand.  Or just sit on a bench or take pictures."  If you have any questions or comments, please contact the church at bethelgardenfriends@gmail.com.

Bring your spring dreams, and a friend, too. Gardens grow community!

For more information call Nicole at 509-432-6489.