Go Green With Organic Gardening

Spring is here and many area homeowners plan to take to their yard for the experience of growing their own food.

But for those who want to keep their homegrown fruits and vegetables free of synthetic pesticides, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County offers a garden workshop exploring “Organic Vegetable Gardening at Home.” The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 6 from 1 to 3 p.m., at the EARTH Center, located in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Ave., South Brunswick,.

Many residents wish to lead a more “green” lifestyle and lessen their impact on the environment by tending a garden that doesn’t rely on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The class will share techniques to achieve this goal. Instructor for the class will be Rutgers Professor and Middlesex County Agricultural Agent William Hlubik, who will explain the values of these planting practices.

Residents are asked to register by April 3 by calling 732-398-5262. You can make it a day of educational information at the EARTH Center, as this workshop will be preceded by a Backyard Composting workshop from 10 a.m. to noon. Register for this workshop at 732-745-4170.

There are many gardening techniques that homeowners can use to produce a productive vegetable garden without relying on chemical fertilizers. This workshop will also introduce the concept of using Integrated Pest Management on the home front; and how simple practices, like the use of compost to improve soils, can go a long way toward achieving a healthy landscape. Topics like interpreting soil sample results and light requirements for various species will also be examined.

The local Extension office is part of a nationwide network that brings the research of the state land-grant universities to local residents. Rutgers Cooperative Extension offices throughout New Jersey are cooperatively funded by the County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Rutgers’ New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.