Get educated on organic gardening
For much of Western North Carolina, the frost free date isn’t unit early May. File photo
A new organic gardening class is open for registration at Western Carolina University, with the five-week workshop to be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays starting March 28.
Local horticulturalist and amateur botanist Adam Bigelow will teach “Getting the Most out of Organic Gardening,” focusing on soil ecology, composting and fertility; garden preparation and seed starting; weeds, pests and disease prevention and control; companion planting, the role of flowers and native plants in attracting beneficial insect allies and more. Through a combination of classroom instruction and field trips to local gardens, students will gain knowledge and experience in gardening and be able to use that information to grow a successful organic garden at home.
Bigelow lives in Cullowhee and has been studying plants and wildflowers in the Southern Appalachians for more than 20 years. He owns and operates Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions, which leads guided plant walks throughout Western North Carolina, founded and for 10 years managed Cullowhee Community Garden, and writes a regular plant column for The Smoky Mountain News.
Register by clicking on “Other Native Plant Related Classes” at nativeplants.wcu.edu. Cost is $89. For more information, call 828.227.7397, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit learn.wcu.edu.
