GARDENING

Garden Intro Spring - Elementary 

Target Grades: K5 - 6TH

***For this class only the parent is able to participate for no charge if they are willing to assist the teacher.

Learn all about plants and how to grow them with hands-on learning in the garden for younger students.

In class and at home, students will work toward achieving the Junior Master Gardener certification using curriculum developed by AgriLife Learn, Texas A&M University and managed by the state extension service.

We will study the wonderful creation of plants through 1.) gardening and observing how plants work and why they do what they do, 2.) learning how plants fit into the big picture of ecology with bugs and soil, 3.) propagation - how can we use the nature of plants to grow more of them and 4.) learning how to grow and use plants in ways that are wise and useful. 

Topics we will learn about include: seeds, roots, cuttings, bugs, pollinators and soil.

Subjects to be included this spring include - Soils and Water, Ecology & Environmental Horticulture, Insects and Diseases, Landscape Horticulture, Fruits and Nuts, Vegetables and Herbs

Junior Master Gardener Handbook -  $15

Schedule:

Thursday 10:30 - 11:30 AM

January 9 - April 3, 2025

Tuition: $200.00

______________________________________________________

SPRING GARDENING 101 

Target Grades:  7th - 12th

Spring Gardening 101 is an exciting hands-on learning experience on how to grow a garden for both food and beauty year-round. Students will learn the chemistry of compost, irrigation and nutrition, the botany involved in growing plants, the biology of managing pests in the garden and the knowledge of cultivating plants through the season to harvest. This course is jam packed with interesting and informative lessons that will teach you all about the science of gardening from designing your space to growing strong plants to dealing with weeds, pests and diseases.

Topics will include: 1.) Seed starting for spring and summer vegetables and flowers, 2.) winter starting, 3.) propagation, 4.) soil biology, improvement and conservation, 5.) water cycle, movement and conservation and 5.) pollinator ecology

In class and at home, students will work toward achieving Junior Master Gardener Level 2 certification with a focus on soils and water using the curriculum developed by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension service. http://www.jmgkids.us. The Junior Master Gardener program is modeled after the highly successful Master Gardener program and offers horticultural and environmental science education as well as leadership and life skills development through fun and creative activities.

Textbook (available via Amazon): Gardening for Geeks: All the Science You Need for Successful Organic Gardening, notebook, garden gloves (if desired), trowel.

Teacher: Laura Bruner

Laura completed her masters and doctorate in horticulture from Auburn University in the early 2000s. After completing her graduate studies in horticulture and teaching at Auburn University for several semesters, Laura decided to be home with her children and embarked on home-education. During this time, Laura continued to enjoy horticulture through writing for gardening magazines, teaching Master Gardeners classes and designing landscapes. Now that her children are mostly graduated and older, she has taught horticulture classes at Blue Ridge Community College while operating a landscape design business. Above all, she continues to be struck by awe and wonder at the beauty God created for us to enjoy through plants in our world. Laura is a life long learner because there will not be enough time this side of heaven to learn everything God has created for us to explore in plants, design and beauty.

Schedule:

Thursday 11:30 - 12:30 PM

January 9 - April 3, 2025

Tuition: $ 200.00  20% discount for sibling/parent

**Annual Registration Fee: $85 per student or $145 for family.**

 **Return to Main Page to Register**