1 CNPS hour
Instructor: Don Boekelheide holds an MS in Agriculture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and served as a Peace Corps agriculture volunteer and training coordinator in West Africa. He is known locally for launching Mecklenburg County's home composting and Master Composter Volunteer programs, and for his work establishing community gardens across Charlotte. A former USDA-certified organic farmer, he now tends an ecological yard in Plaza-Midwood (Wildlife Federation and City of Charlotte certified), and a foodtastic community garden plot at Reedy Creek Park. Don is also a journalist and editor who has covered everything from County Commission meetings to community mental health programs. Most recently, he served as Editor-in-chief of Community Gardening Magazine, published by the American Community Gardening Association. He thinks this diverse background gives his classes hybrid vigor, but still sees a connection: Journalists dig dirt while gardeners dig soil.
Class Date: This class meets once on the following day:
You go to the garden center and there are all these bags. The front, with bold graphics, promises the best garden ever. Meanwhile, buried in tiny print, is the information you actually need. All fertilizer is NOT created equal, and brand names and marketing add to the confusion. In this class you'll learn the essential plant nutrients, what they do, and how they work in our soils (hint: there aren't just three). We'll decode the bags, discuss how to apply nutrients most effectively, and explore organic and ecological approaches that require no bags or potions at all. Nobody can pull a good garden out of a bag, but gardeners who use fertilizers correctly help their plants to thrive.
Location: UNC Charlotte Main Campus - McMillan Greenhouse
Cost: $20
Parking: During the week you must park in our visitor decks. Park in East Deck #1. Parking is free on the weekends. We still recommend parking in East Deck #1. If you park in an open lot through the week you will receive a fine of $85 from the university. We do have very limited free parking spots in front of the Greenhouse, but those fill up quickly.
UNC Charlotte Campus Parking Map
*If you have any questions, please contact garden-education@charlotte.edu
Stock number:
8658880
Price:
$20.00