During the COVID pandemic of 2020 and 2021, many people started growing their own vegetable garden at home.  With business closings, people working from home and issues with supply chain, many people wanted to grow their own food.  As a horticulture agent I received many phone calls and emails from people who had little to no experience with gardening but wanted to put in a garden.  After things started opening back up and people started to go back to work, based on the number of phone calls I was still receiving, it was evident that people still wanted to garden and learn more.

With the community interest in mind, it was decided to offer a series of gardening classes that would take place once a month.  Each month, on the first Thursday of the month, a class was offered specific to that month.  Each month we discussed what needed to be done with the vegetable garden during that month.  Beyond the checklist of things to complete, which was derived from the UK NEP publication “Growing Your Own Garden Calendar”, each month included specific plants to grow, how to maintain, fertilize, and harvest.  Each class also had a giveaway that connected to that month’s lesson.

Each month’s class was offered at 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to best accommodate participants schedules.   Many participants attended multiple classes, if not all the classes.  The classes were well attended and with repeat participants it became an opportunity for relationships to be built and it offered an opportunity for great discussion and learning.

Beyond what was taught, individuals shared personal experiences with their own gardening.   Over the past 6 ½ years I have taught several classes about gardening, but the discussion that was developed has made this series of classes one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling classes for myself as an agent.