We made it by spring and new ways to deepen your knowledge of gardening are blooming. Starting with virtual workshops and safe in-person workshops, Fabric of Life opens the season with programs that focus on the ground and are dedicated to container gardening.
The courses are taught by ML Altobelli who has over 40 years of experience creating healthy, sustainable soils and growing colorful mixed flower and vegetable gardens. Altobelli was a founding member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance.
Sarah Davis, Marketing and Programming Agent at Fabric of Life, is delighted that Altobelli is leading her gardening workshops. The first workshop will take place virtually on April 20th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Zoom. Davis said there are limited attendees, but it’s okay to check in on the day of availability.
“There will be an hour of class and then half an hour for questions,” said Davis. She said Altobelli will teach the basics of composting and soil management. “We’ll talk about how nutrients are used up and how nutrients can be absorbed to support healthy microorganisms.”
Entry into the virtual class is based on a graduated fee of $ 22.50 to $ 27.50.
“We’re just trying to cover our costs and be as reasonable as possible,” said Davis. The workshop is recorded and people can access it later.
A personal workshop will take place on Saturday, May 1st, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lunch is offered and the tier cost is $ 130 to $ 195. The workshop will take place on the Fabric of Life grounds at 80 Bassett Road in Shelburne.
COVID-19 precautions are taken with masks and social distancing. There is a limit of 12 participants and all activities take place outdoors. The rainy date is Sunday, May 16, although Davis said, “A little rain probably won’t stop us from doing the workshop on the first.”
Davis said attendees will work on plots on the Fabric of Life property for the first half of the day to learn how the soil can be modified and optimized for the health of the crops they grow and overall productivity.
“We’re going to explore the garden, what already exists and what physical parts are already there,” said Davis. For example, she said sandy areas are best for leeks, garlic, and onions, which require good drainage. Participants will learn what grows well in which type of soil and how to deal with the types of weeds you have.
“This is so that you don’t spend your summer fighting weeds and grasses,” she said.
There will be a discussion of raised beds and how to prevent the soil from compacting.
“Raised beds are just a really big container that can allow more people to garden, like growing flowers or vegetables,” said Davis, adding, “people will get their hands dirty.”
Davis said attendees can immerse themselves in any of their physical abilities. “We want to make it as assessable as possible,” said Davis.
Altobelli will be teaching about soil testing and answering questions about what might help participants in their home garden.
“She’s great at helping people understand what really makes a garden work,” said Davis.
Davis explained that microorganisms and fungi act as nutrient supply systems in the soil for the plants.
“They make the nutrients available to the plants. We’re going to look at what improves the microbiome, ”she said.
Davis said that in our area we tend to have a lot of calcium in our soil. If there is a poor “delivery system”, the plant cannot access enough calcium, which can lead to soft spots and rot on tomatoes, for example. There are vaccines that can improve the situation. Davis said using synthetic fertilizers can ruin your long-term efforts at a healthy garden.
“Synthetic fertilizers kill many organisms that you need for healthy soil. They are just a quick fix or a band-aid. They make the problem worse in the long run, ”she said.
The second half of the day is spent digging deeper into understanding soil and changes, and how this will affect your home gardens. Davis said attendees are welcome to bring soil tests from their homes for review.
“We’re going to look at what a seasonal story of the Fabric of Life Garden looks like,” said Davis.
They will provide weekly updates through their website and social media.
“We will have pictures and records for people to follow,” she added. There are four virtual follow-ups for attendees so they can connect with others and ask questions as the season progresses. “We want to teach techniques to get things done in your gardens and things you can do to be more successful.”
Davis said the dates of the virtual follow-up sessions were not yet set in stone, but the approximate times would be as follows.
The first week of July: “This is the beginning of the flowering period. Everything looks promising and there is a lot of optimism. “The third week of July:” That’s right when people go on vacation, lose interest, or start dealing with heat and drought, “she said. The last session is around Labor Day as this is traditionally the time when most people start to put their gardens to bed.
“As the weather changes, even 10 years ago, we are finding that people can even hold their tomatoes until the frost,” Davis said.
Around Labor Day, gardeners also choose to turn things up or prepare the garden for the following year. Davis said if the soil is changed correctly, “Tomatoes can be just as sweet until the end. If the soil hasn’t been altered properly, they can turn out pungent or bitter. “
Davis said if Fabric of Life gets enough interest it will work to receive amendments for interested parties at the end of the growing season and make them available for collection at the farm.
“Overall, we’ve been working to help the local community from both sides make connections,” said Davis.
Fabric of Life is a non-profit organization that aims to preserve and pass on traditional skills such as agriculture, construction, music, crafts and handicrafts that prevailed generations ago.
“We want to pass the knowledge on to a new generation,” said Davis.
For more information, visit
Fabricoflife.org/events.
Cris Carl is an avid local gardener, licensed therapist, and certified herbalist. She is an experienced journalist who has been writing for the recorder for many years. She can be reached at cstormfox57@gmail.com.
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