Whether its with acres of land or just a small patio and some pots, anyone can be a vegetable gardener. According to North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Polk County Director, Scott Welborn, gardening has multiple benefits. “Not only does gardening provide you with healthy, local food to eat, the act of gardening itself is good for both the body and the soul.”  

 

Those new to gardening can sometimes feel intimidated by their lack of know-how, however. For local residents hesitant to get started gardening on their own, Welborn will be leading a two-hour class on the basics of starting your own vegetable garden in the Polk County area. The two-hour introductory class will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 25 at the Extension Center on Carmel Drive in Columbus. 

 

The program is free and open to everyone, and will cover the fundamentals of successful vegetable gardening, including: soils, fertilizers, variety selection, weed control and useful growing techniques. To register, call the Cooperative Extension at 828-894-8218 or visit their website at polk.ces.ncsu.edu. 

 

– Submitted by Kerry Jones