Thursday, September 11, 2014

September 20 Garden School classes

Learn about food preservation, beekeeping, raising chickens at URI’s Fall Garden School, Sept. 20


KINGSTON, R.I. –The annual Fall Garden School sponsored by the University of Rhode Island’s Outreach Center will engage participants in learning such back-to-the-land, self-sufficiency practices as jam making, beekeeping and raising chickens on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“This season’s garden school is a modern take on homesteading techniques,” said Sejal Lanterman, who is organizing the event for the URI Cooperative Extension. 

“We’ll spend the day outdoors in the garden learning about a selection of traditional practices that are relevant to the conscious consumer of today.”

Sessions include a food preservation demonstration called “The Jam Session” about how to preserve home-grown produce, a discussion of permaculture that will take place in the park’s Edible Forest Garden, a beekeeping lesson during a brown-bag lunch at the park’s newly-installed beehive, and a session on raising chickens at home led by a licensed poultry judge.

Throughout the day, URI Master Gardeners will be available to conduct soil tests for participants who bring in a soil sample from their yard or garden.

Registration is required and costs $40 for the entire day or $20 for one session. Click here for information or to register for the event or call 401-874-2900.