Free Gardening Workshops at The Dirt Factory

JOIN US AT THE DIRT FACTORY, 4308 Market Street

UCD and the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners present a series of workshops related to composting and gardening at The Dirt Factory. All workshops are free, and will feature raffles, and other giveaways. RSVP to [email protected]

Saturday, September 1

10am | Preserving the Harvest

The bounty a gardener enjoys this time of year is directly related to how hard we work to care for our plants, herbs, trees and berry bushes. Join Jessica S. Herwick, a Philadelphia Master Gardener, to explore the wide variety of ways a gardener can store their summer goodies for winter use. We will review the basics of canning methods for those with beginner and intermediate experience, look at old-fashioned uses for harvest goods compared with modern methods to simplify these crafts, review reliable manuals, recipe and how-to books, and try a few hands-on crafts together. Anyone can preserve.

11:30am | Shade Gardening

Do buildings as well as trees shadow your garden? Learn about which plants will do well in shade and how to create special effects in a shade garden. Would you like flowers, but only have shade? Come and discover what blooms in the shade. Do hostas not intrigue you? This talk by Master Gardener Michelle Lawson will discuss shade-loving plants and shrubs,including hostas. We will also discuss proper soil and containers for shade gardening.

Saturday, October 6

10am | Extending the Growing Season

If you love eating home grown vegetables, learn how your garden can keep producing fresh food well into the fall, and even throughout the winter! Master Gardner Lauren McEewen will discuss inexpensive tools, such as reusing plastic soda bottles and old vinyl windows, as well as the more advanced techniques that will keep your vegetable garden going all year long.