Master Gardener Brown Bag
Session #3 Gardening Through Handicaps
Whether you have arthritis, or other limitations on your abilities, or just lack the space to garden, Dennis Brittain and Karren Coplen will share ways to grow delicious edibles that anyone can do. There are as many ways to garden as there are gardeners, whether you have acreage, or just a bucket on the porch, you can satisfy that urge to grow something to enrich your life. We’ll show you how.
Many people enjoy gardening as a hobby, or even as a profession. When most people think of gardening, they usually think of someone down on their hands and knees on the ground. This doesn't have to be the case, though. People who lack space to plant, have a disability, or even a slight limitation because of age or stiff joints can enjoy gardening just as much as everyone else. We just need to find a way to make the plantings accessible to the limited reach.
Even people in high-rise apartments in Chicago find a way to grow salads on their balconies or fire escapes, and people with no land at all find surprising ways to grow salads, herbs and other goodies near at hand. The Smart Home display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry has a big garden project in grow boxes on a set of marble stairs, providing all kinds of delicious vegetables and herbs, all in containers, and lots more plants that serve as edible edging in their landscaping.
There are many ways to grow as there are gardeners, and this Brown Bag Session, taught by two Purdue trained, experienced Master Gardeners, will show you many of them.
Dennis Brittain has been polishing his gardening skills and innovative techniques for many years, enjoying fresh tastes and delicious veggies, even though he has limited spaces to grow in. He’ll share his tips with you.
For those with a small yard space, Karren Coplen has a presentation using a small, well planned raised bed with added soaker hose, timer and mulch to make it as easy as possible to maintain and give the people who can’t have a big garden, a small growing spot that would produce a surprising amount of goodies. Placed right outside the kitchen door, it’s a traditional Potager Garden, just right for an evening salad, herbs for the main course, and a delicious ripe tomato or cucumber, all grown with very little work.
This will be presented at the March 6, Noon to 1:00 p.m. CST, Michigan City Senior Center, Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana.
Be aware that the bridge that is the usual access to Washington Park is out of operation now, damaged by the extreme cold weather we’ve been having. The best way to the Senior Center is to go East on Highway 12, over the bridge toward the Blue Chip, and immediately at the foot of the bridge, turn left to go toward the lake on 2nd Street, which changes to Center Street. When you get to the stop sign at Lake Shore Drive, turn left, you’ll see the Senior Center on the slight rise on the right. It seems confusing, but it’s really not. Hope to see you there.
The cost is just $5 for the session, open to all, and it lasts one hour. Come join us for this fun and fascinating hour of learning that may enhance your life.
The Brown Bag Gardening Series features short, information-packed sessions presented by Master Gardeners, are held at a public location and everyone is welcome to attend. They’re held on a Wednesday, noon to one, or 6 to 7 p.m. These lessons are presented during the non-gardening months of January through April, so we don’t compete with the gardening time for anyone. Many people even attend during their lunch break from work for a quick gardening session and a chance to talk with other gardeners.
Our plans are set for an exciting set of Brown Bag Gardening Educational Sessions for 2019 during the months of January through April. Thanks to the help of several volunteers, we have some great learning coming up.
Don’t forget to mark your calendars with dates, times and locations, so you don’t miss this exciting series. They do count as education hours for your Master Gardener hours, and the cost is only $5 for each session, or $15 for the entire series, if paid at the first event. Coordinator: Karren Coplen
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For more information, click here or on the 2019 Garden Show link on the top of the menu.
