Bring the family to a fun Saturday of gardening. Enjoy seasonal foods and beverages, learn how to grow micro greens, and have mini-sessions and games. There's no age limit, but space is limited, register now!
Event details
* this page may be updated if event is repeated in the future *
Winter Garden Workshop and Seed Swap
Dreaming of getting out into the garden this spring? Here’s some good news: There’s no need to wait.
Good gardens start in the winter, say the experts at Five Rivers MetroParks. To enjoy a bountiful harvest later, now’s the time to dig in.
To help, Five Rivers MetroParks is hosting a Winter Garden Workshop and Seed Swap from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 27, at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark.
With fun activities for the whole family, the workshop will teach gardeners of all ages and experience levels what can be done this winter to kick start their gardening. The expo-style workshop will feature hands-on activities, a kid’s activity station, food tasting, and skills and supplies to take home. Participants can bring saved vegetable and flower seeds to trade or give away at the seed swap table.
At the workshop, families can try their hand at starting seeds in DIY paper planting pots, designing their ideal garden at the kid’s station and learn how to create habitats in their own backyards for birds, bats or insects.
“Year-round gardening is something a family can do together,” said Tim Pritchard, education coordinator for Five River MetroParks. “A lot of people — even experienced gardeners — fail to realize that winter is the best time to begin the process.”
A good plan can help a gardener select the best season for each crop. Gardeners can learn more about planning and how to use winter growing strategies — such as seed starting, microgreens, and outdoor cold frames and row covers — at the workshop.
“People often see gardening as an activity from April to September,” Pritchard said. “It crams a lot of work into those warmer months. Some people end up not doing as much as they wanted or getting frustrated. There are ways to spread that work throughout the year.”
Along with demonstrations and activities, the workshop will feature three mini-talks throughout the day on such topics as gardening for preserves, planning for a winter harvest and choosing the right seeds to plant.
With the right planning, families can reap the benefits of their gardening year round, enjoying winter root vegetables, grains and preserves.
“The gardening process never stops,” Pritchard said. “Winter is a time when gardeners actually have a lot to do — and hopefully a lot to enjoy.”
What: Five Rivers MetroParks’ 2016 Winter Garden Workshop
When: 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 27. Participants can drop in to explore the displays and activities or stay for the two-hour event.
Where: Wegerzyn Garden MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave. Pre-registration is requested, but walk-ins welcomed. Registration is available online or by calling 937-275-PARK (7275).
Planned activities:
Mini-talks: Planning a winter harvest, choosing the right varietals for your garden space and gardening for preserves. Times and locations available at registration desk.
Demonstrations: Seed starting, grain processing, sprouting and microgreens, and a seed swap table.
Food tasting: Sample fresh bread grown from heirloom grains at Carriage Hill MetroPark. Taste winter root vegetables and preserves.
Kid’s station: Create your own garden activity, in which kids use their imaginations to design their ideal garden and create “face pots” (draw a picture of a face or creature on the pot, and then plant grain to grow hair for your creation).
Displays: composting, rain barrels, creating habitats
Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark
Five Rivers MetroParks.
