BY BARBARA STOZ
Do you know someone who wants to learn more about growing vegetables? Classes are sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service under their Growing and Nourishing Healthy Communities Grant.
The class is free and begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. This Spanish language class will meet every Tuesday through April 3 at the North San Juan Community Resource Center at 509 East Earling, San Juan.
Participants are expected to join the class Jan. 16 and meet weekly through the program until the final class on April 3.
Here is the lineup of material to be covered over the next three months:
Jan. 16 — Advantage of having a family garden; How to choose the location for your garden
Jan. 23 — Importance of your soil and how to improve it; How to make an organic fertilizer (compost) using your kitchen scraps
Jan. 30 — How to plant your vegetables and fruits
Feb. 6 — How to provide maintenance for your garden
Feb. 13 — Identifying pests and diseases in the garden
Feb. 20 — Harvesting and some methods of preserving garden fruits by making spreads, jams, and jellies
Feb. 27 — Some methods to preserve vegetables – Pickling, freezing and drying
March 6 — How to grow herbs
March 13 — How to grow plants using cuttings such as stems, roots, and leaves
March 20 — How to grow fruit trees
March 27 — How to grow vegetables in reduced spaces using garden containers and moving your garden to a vertical garden
April 3 — Final Evaluation and Graduation
To register for this class series contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at (956) 383-1026. All participants must register as class space is limited.
For those who enjoy fresh vegetables, be sure to visit the Growing Growers Farmers Market today. This market has a selection of locally grown fall vegetables and herbs, along with grassfed beef and lamb and Gulf caught shrimp, artisan goat milk cheese, 70 percent dark chocolate made locally and an array of farm products including raw honey, eggs and goat milk soap.
The market also has baked goods, both traditional and items for folks with special dietary needs, such as gluten free and vegan. The Growing Growers Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to noon today in Firemen’s Park on the corner of 1st Street and Business 83 in McAllen.
Barbara Storz is a local horticulturist. You can listen to her gardening show at 7 a.m. Saturdays on 710 KURV Radio, or email her at [email protected].
