Spring Citizen Gardener classes in Austin are right around the corner. This is a program Blair and I went through last February and loved it. You get about 10 hours of training (two Saturdays with hands-on work building and preparing beds/compost bins plus one weeknight “lecture”), and then you volunteer 10 hours in the community applying and teaching what you learned. I blogged about the class last spring. I would encourage anyone wanting to learn a little more and volunteer to check it out. Spring classes start on these dates:
- January 15
- January 29
- February 12
- February 26
- March 19
Here’s a description from the website where you sign up. It’s now hosted by the Sustainable Food Center!
This class will teach you how to turn your bare ground or Bermuda Grass lawn into raised-garden beds that are small enough to manage, but big enough to provide real food. This hands-on course covers Central Texas specific topics and addresses the challenges and benefits to growing in our climate. Learn about composting, rainwater harvesting, mulching components, bio-intensive gardening, bed-building and more in a series of 3 classes. After completing the classes students complete 10 hours of volunteer work in any one of our partner gardens in order to gain the designation of “Citizen Gardener”. The hours spent as a volunteer enhance students gardening knowledge and build awareness in their communities about the benefits of gardening.
I hope some of you decide to take the class and tell us what you think!
Blandria's Backyard Garden 