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Gardening workshop set for Saturday

PARKERSBURG — The final workshop in the West Virginia Extension Service’s Backyard Gardener Series will be Saturday.

This session, “Vegetable Production and Growing in High Tunnels,” will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Gardner Farms in Waverly. It is the last session in the extension service’s Backyard Gardener Series.

Participants will learn about improving soil fertility, variety selection, soil testing, pest management and harvesting. Gardner Farms also has a high tunnel it uses for vegetable production, said J.J. Barrett, Wood County agricultural extension agent.

People are preparing for spring gardening and may want to have questions and concerns addressed, he said.

“It is kind of early now, but people may have soil testing questions,” Barrett said. “A lot of people are always concerned about certain diseases, especially in tomatoes, peppers, squash and things like that.”

The workshop will emphasize improving soil fertility and choosing the right vegetable and variety of that vegetable to reach the gardener’s goals, no matter if they garden for their family and friends or produce vegetables for farmers market, farm to school or selling to restaurants.

“We will be there to give them all kinds of advice and ideas on their vegetable garden for 2017,” Barrett said. “Vegetable gardening is a great way to get some exercise throughout the summer. Whether you are growing vegetables, herbs, or flowers, gardening can be particularly gratifying and an excellent source of fresh food. From soil preparation to the joy of harvesting, there is always a task, big or small during the growing season and beyond.”

The workshop will feature high tunnel vegetable production. High tunnels are minimally heated, low cost, plastic-covered greenhouses which use little or no energy from fossil fuels to heat or ventilate the structure.

Gardner Farm is on 340 Gardner Ridge near Reese’s Country Store outside Waverly. Turn off U.S. 50 onto W.Va. 31 North and make a right onto Deerwalk Highway beside Reese’s Country Store, turn left on Ewing School Road and follow one mile, then turn right by the blue mailbox onto Gardner Ridge Road.

The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call 304-424-1960 or email jj.barrett@mail.wvu.edu.

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