During the Covid 19 pandemic the popular Gardener’s Wheelbarrow Series was forced to go virtual for the safety and health of our community. In July of this year the Horticulture Agent sent out a survey to participants to find out if they were ready to return to in person classes and if the virtual programming was useful. Of those responding 94% did indeed want to return to in person programming and 83% of them found the virtual programming somewhat to very useful during remote only learning. 

In August, the Gardener’s Wheelbarrow Series returned to in person classes with an average attendance of 32, which is above pre Covid numbers! Arrangements were made for those that were still not comfortable with returning by sending out video links and hard copies of programs. A sampling of classes in this program year included: Plant Champions for 2022, Must Sow Annuals, Heirloom Vegetable Gardening, Growing Blueberries and Raspberries, and many other topics. Feedback from participants have included “I am so happy to be back together learning again, it feels like life has begun again.”  “These classes help me so much and now I am teaching my grandchildren how to garden” “I am a seasoned gardener but I always learn new things when I attend these classes".