University of Maryland Extension Program Offers Expertise
This fall, the College of Southern Maryland is partnering with the University of Maryland Extension’s (UME) Master Gardeners program to offer two, one-day gardening courses on CSM’s Leonardtown Campus, “Fall Gardening” Oct. 3 and “Home Landscaping” Nov. 7.
According to the National Gardening Association, 42 million households were growing their own food in home and community gardens in 2014, which is an increase from 36 million in 2008. People aged 18 to 34 contributed largely to that figure, as the number of millennial gardeners increased from 8 million in 2008 to 13 million in 2013.
“Our gardening classes are fairly new and haven’t had a high number of enrollments in the past, but I am excited to see how the fall gardening classes with UME go,” said Shaunda Holt, program coordinator for adults and personal enrichment programs. “With the number of millennials showing an increasing interest in growing their own food in home and community gardens, these fall gardening courses will help provide essential cold-month tips, such as bulb maintenance, mulching techniques and determining which crops thrive in cooler weather.”
“Fall Gardening” is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 3 and will teach students to maintain their garden during the cold months or to start from scratch. Students will also learn techniques involved in growing and harvesting fall vegetables, planting bulbs for spring flowers and composting.
“Home Landscaping” is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Nov. 7 and will teach students practical ways to develop a functional ecology in their home’s landscape as well as techniques that contribute to healthy waterways. Other topics covered include improving a landscape’s appearance, decreasing the workload and improving the local watershed.
Registration for the courses is accepted up to the day prior to the start of class and can be made online, through walk-in registration at any campus and the Waldorf Center or by mail using a downloadable form.
For information on these courses as well as others offered this fall, visit http://www.csmd.edu/CommunityEducation/ or contact 301-539-4760 or conedops@csmd.edu.
Calendar
St. Mary’s County
CSM Continuing Education: “Fall Gardening.” 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 3. College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus, Building B, Room B-315, 22950 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown. Students will learn how to maintain a garden during cold months, grow and harvest fall vegetables, plant bulbs and compost. This course is presented by the University of Maryland Extension’s Master Gardeners program. $39. conedops@csmd.edu, 301-539-4760, http://csmd.edu/CommunityEducation.
CSM Continuing Education: “Home Landscaping.” 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Nov. 7. College of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown Campus, Building B, Room B-315, 22950 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown. Students will learn practical ways to develop an ecology in their home’s landscape as well as how to contribute to healthy waterways, improve a landscape’s appearance, decrease the workload and improve the local watershed. This course is presented by the University of Maryland Extension’s Master Gardeners program. $39. conedops@csmd.edu, 301-539-4760, http://csmd.edu/CommunityEducation.