I've Been Teaching!

I recently have been volunteering my time to teaching Beginning Gardening Classes to people in Iron County.  The classes had about 25-30 students in attendance.  Out of six classes being taught I taught three of them.  I did a class on Starting Seeds vs. Buying Seeds, another on Vegetable Gardening, and my last class was on Ways to Water and Irrigate.  I had to do a lot of studying on each subject - because I'm a beginner myself.  However, I felt that I had studied enough and was well prepared that I ended up being confident enough to teach.  I enjoyed teaching these classes, and as an added bonus I even learned a lot about gardening myself.  I am not an expert at gardening, but I'm making my way to having a very bright green thumb.

~ Happy Gardening ~

Beginning Gardening Class - And I GET to Teach!

As I hopefully get to hold the title of being a Master Gardner part of my certification is to give forty hours of community service in the field of gardening.  I was VERY quick to sign up and get my volunteer hours in, but didn't realize what I had signed up for.  I have signed up for three different beginning garden classes held in the community.  I thought I just had to show up and help hand out papers and usher people.  Not so.  I soon found out that I, with three other soon to be Master Gardner's would be teaching.  Holy FREAK.  Well, I finally scheduled a time and met with my two other partners.  We spent two hours discussing the topic of what we would be teaching.  This is the first class of six to be taught in my area, I have been given the topic of "Why do people plant a garden?"
Why am I choosing to garden?  Probably the same reason most other people choose to garden.

• Religious reasons - my church pushes being self reliant and having a garden.
• It's the hot thing to do right now - even Mrs. Obama is into it!
• Need a new hobby.
• Fresh (grown yourself) produce.
• Favorite past time.
• My Grandparents did it, my Parents do it, I should do it!
• Edible landscape.
• Everyone is doing it, so why not join the crowd!

Now that I have chosen to join the crowd and garden, the next question is, what do I grow?

I'm going to start with the cold weather veggies:  

(Average soil temperature for cold weather veggies is 60 degrees, or lower.)

• Green Beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cilantro
• Lettuce
• Peas
• Spinach

Warm weather veggies:

(Average soil temperature for warm weather veggies is 65 degrees.)

• Basil
• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Summer squash
• Sweet Corn
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes

Now as the months are inching their way to spring and summer I better start watching the local weather.  The most important thing for a Gardner to have, and own, is a thermometer.  Lastly, making a conscious effort to watch the news for the weather details.  I guess I better get buying me a good thermometer, and check the weather each day as part of my daily routine.
Oh my, that thumb of mine is on it's way to turning green.

~ Happy Gardening ~