NEW WORKSHOP: GREENING YOUR LIFE WITH COMPOST, *March 25, 1-4pm*, Frog Pond Farm

Get down and dirty with compost guru Brian Rosa for this fun and practical workshop. Brian will talk about the basics of backyard composting, including bins, tools, and accessories. He'll describe vermi(worm)-composting, which can be done even inside to turn all your kitchen scraps into amazing plant fertilizer. Finally, he'll explain the mysteries of making compost tea, and how to use this powerful elixir in your vegetable or flower garden. We'll view composting examples here at the farm, and plan to have some hard-working worms to send home with you.

Workshop cost: $15, $10 students; work scholarships and family discounts available; includes a snack.

_Brian serves as Environmental Specialist/Organics Recycling Coordinator for the NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. He has more than 17 years of experience in the waste reduction, recycling and composting fields, including teaching a number of methods for recycling organic wastes into value-added products such as composts and mulches._

REPEAT WORKSHOP: FRUITS AND BERRIES FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA PIEDMONT, *Sunday April 15, 1-5pm*

We had so much fun doing this workshop in the fall, and since we had to turn some folks away, we're doing it again. During the first part we'll survey the fruiting plants growing at the farm: blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples, pears, figs, cherries, plums, peaches, persimmons, mulberries, juneberries, strawberries, and more. As we wander, we'll talk about growing tips for each plant. Each participant will receive a detailed handout with information based on our experience and scouring of books and web resources. The second part will include hands-on activities: mulching, fertilizing, pruning and creating a weed-free border. This is a beautiful and exciting time at the farm, as many fruits are flowering, and if lucky we'll view our favorite spring pollinator, the orchard mason bee.

* Workshop cost: $25, $10 students; work scholarships and family discounts available; includes a snack.

AN IDEA: COMMUNITY GARDENING CIRCLE

Do you long to wander through beds of multicolored lettuce, purple beans and yellow tomatoes shaped like pears? Do you want to reduce your dependence on long-distance agriculture by growing your own veggies? Do you want to walk out your door and grab a head of fresh kale to saute' for dinner? Here's our idea: You identify a group of dedicated neighbors (loosely defined) who want to create and improve their gardens together. we'll come for the first sessions, meeting at a different person's home each time, and do what needs to be done: starting a new bed, planting, mulching, weeding, whatever. we'll rely on the experience of all, and the spirit and life of the community effort to keep the circle going and the veggies growing! Let us know if you're interested, and we'll work out the details.

Registration and questions: "lsearles@juno.com":mailto:lsearles@juno.com