GARDEN GURU 2020: GARDENING FOR HOPE AND HEALING
Last year, Garden Guru was launched. Gardening experts attended Iowa City gardens at regular times throughout the growing season.
Topics this year are designed to help communities cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Hope and wellness can be found by going outside and getting your feet and fingers in the soil. This is one activity that is still allowed and it may be exactly what is needed for long-term well-being.
SOCIALLY-DISTANCED GARDEN EDUCATION
Until public gatherings are safe, events will be held via live streaming on the Backyard Abundance Facebook page.
From May through October, enjoy your lunch with a virtual visit to the Edible Classroom. Learn about...
• Increasing yields in vegetable and herb gardens
• Harvesting free food.
• Low-maintenance gardening in raised beds.
• Growing small patches of fruit trees and berry bushes.
• Urban pollinator habitat.
• Mitigating the impact of climate change through gardening
Follow our page and watch for events so you can participate and ask questions of the gurus.
Visit the Edible Classroom at Robert A Lee Community Center after each event to see what was done, tend the garden and harvest food. Please make sure to mindfully follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines.
2020 EDIBLE CLASSROOM SCHEDULE:
May 1 -- Veggie Planting Party
May 15 -- Wellness in the Garden
June 5 -- Harvesting Greens All Season
June 19 -- Wellness in the Garden
July 3 -- Pruning for the Perfect Tomato
July 17 -- Summertime Veggie Planting
Aug 7 -- Tea from the Garden
Aug 21 -- Wellness in the Garden
Sept 4 -- Sowing Fall Greens
Sept 18 -- Invitation to Learning at the Edible Classroom
Oct 2 -- Garlic Planting Party
Oct 16 -- Planting Spring-Blooming Bulbs
Please visit www.backyardabundance.org to learn more. We hope that you find an abundance of wellness while digging in the soil.
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAFE GARDEN LEARNING:
Virtual programming will also include Garden Guru at Creekside Park Edible Forest and Garden Guru at Wetherby Park Edible Forest.
SPONSORS:
This program would not be possible without our amazing sponsors:
Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department
Hills Bank
Collins Aerospace
#FeedABee: https://www.feedabee.com
#IowaCityClimateAction: https://www.icgov.org/project/climate-action
Rapids Reproductions
Green Iowa AmeriCorps - Energy & Community
GreenState Credit Union
Earl May Garden Center
New Pioneer Co-op
