Classes that teach locals how to grow help support the health of the area.
Locals looking to hone their green thumb can benefit from a series of free beginner gardening classes at the Spruce Pine Library that are set to run through March 6.
The Ready, Set, Grow! gardening classes are free and open to all ages. They’re offered by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Mitchell County Center in partnership with the Avery Mitchell Yancey Regional Library system and Mitchell Giving Gardens.
Classes are led by Extension horticulture and family consumer science agents. Jess Lanning of the Mitchell Giving Gardens and Shane Biddix and Katie Elkins of the local Extension will lend their expertise to interested gardeners.
Extension staff started the classes after noticing a gap that needed to be bridged. The Extension’s family consumer science agent already provides SNAP Education classes to promote food access and teach nutrition.
The classes aim to teach people how to garden, grow food and have fun.
Seeds and plants to grow food can be purchased with SNAP EBT benefits. AMY Regional Libraries also offer a seed “check out” program at its area branches.
Training new local growers supports and grows local food systems and supports the general health of the area, the Extension says.
Classes kicked off on Jan. 9 with a course on how to plant a garden. Classes continue on Jan. 23 with “Soil Health and Compost” and Jan. 30 with “Container Gardening”.
February features classes on germination (Feb. 6), indoor seed starting (Feb. 13), growing systems for new producers (Feb. 20) and marketing skills for producers (Feb. 27). Courses wrap up on March 6 with “Gardening Tasks Throughout the Year”.
“We want to enable the people of Mitchell County to grow for fun, food and profit,” Elkins said. “Fresh produce means healthier people. Everyone is concerned about rising food costs. Plus, gardening is great exercise.”
Classes are at the Spruce Pine Library on Mondays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. To find out more or sign up, call the Extension at 688-4811 or email kelkins@ncsu.edu.