URI Workshop Series: Growing Outside the Plot
A *NEW* series of hands-on workshops designed to provide novice and experienced gardeners and food enthusiasts with easy, affordable and rewarding alternatives to conventional backyard growing practices!
Click here to register. Register for one or more classes or join us for the entire series to save 20%!
The New Container Garden
Date: Saturday, September 7th
Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Location: Private Residence, Warwick
This session will introduce you to new (and easy) container and raised bed gardening methods, as implemented at the home of a URI Master Gardener. A demonstration of the use of flexible containers to grow vegetables, dwarf fruit trees and berry-producing shrubs in raised beds above contaminated soils or pavement and/or for large transportable ornamentals will be provided. Participants will also enjoy a demonstration of a large-scale residential compost operation and extensive drip irrigation system for raised beds and containers.
"Whole System Approach" to Tending Soil and Pests
Date: Tuesday, September 17th
Time: 5:00 PM-6:30 PM
Location: Roger Williams Park, Providence
This session will take participants on a whirlwind tour of the root zone of the soil and how it interacts with plants through the exchange of minerals and nutrients and microbiological activity. Once the soil is set, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will be introduced as the 'common sense approach' to managing pests and diseases in the backyard environment.
Lasagna Gardening & Herb Spirals
Date: Saturday, September 28th
Time: 10:00 AM-11:30 AM
Location: Roger Williams Park, Providence
Join us for a discussion and demonstration of the lasagna method, also known as sheet mulching, an increasingly popular no-till, no-dig garden preparation method that turns materials like kitchen waste, straw and newspapers into rich, healthy compost. Participants will also learn the fundamentals of building an herb spiral, a technique representing some of the main principles of permaculture, whereby plants take advantage of different microclimates within a small area (e.g. dry/wet, sun/shade). Plant lists and hands-on opportunities will be provided.
Polyculture, Patches and Guilds: Pairing Plants for Productivity
Date: Tuesday, October 1st
Time: 5:00 PM-6:30 PM
Location: Roger Williams Park, Providence
This session will focus on how the physical placement of plants can create functional diversity (e.g. pollinator hot spots, nitrogen fixation, habitat) and self-maintaining and renewing gardens that provide you with food! An introduction to and distinction between a 'patch', a 'polyculture' and a 'guild' will be provided, and planted!
The Hugelkultur Method: Earthbound Raised Beds
Location: Roger Williams Park, Providence
Date: Saturday, October 5th
Time: 10:00 AM-11:30 AM
Join us for an introduction to the hugelkultur ('hill culture') method of raised bed-building. An Eastern-European tradition referred to by some as the "ultimate raised bed", participants will learn about the benefits of the method and participate in construction of a bed at the Roger Williams Park edible forest garden!
For more information visit URI's Outreach Center at: http://www.uri.edu/cels/ceoc/