The month of December is national ‘read a new book’ month. So, to expand a celebration of ‘reading’, identify educational opportunities and make your ‘gift of plow’ the opportunity of educational experiences for yourself and others.
While a variety of opportunities to expand eco knowledge are available, before acquiring specialty knowledge, register for a class which has a focus of eco efficient landscape gardening. For the Greater Richmond Area, as a ‘hands-on’ eco specialist, I offer such a class through Henrico County’s adult Ed program. The multiple night workshops - Landscape/Garden Design for the Hands-on-Homeowner- are based on my book From Eco-weak to Eco-chic: landscape green and provide step-by-step guides for implementing an eco-efficient landscape plan. Similar educational experiences are available through the master gardener and master naturalist programs which are provided by most community extension programs.
Assuming you do have an eco-efficient site plan and are aware of your site’s landscape garden opportunities, expand educational experiences to include specialty workshops. To identify eco specialty education, explore community public gardens, community college or vendor site event calendars. Two public gardens – Lewis Ginter and Maymont located in the Greater Richmond Area – are well-known for their formal and informal educational events. Community Extension programs also provide this type of training; and, more formal programs are offered through Community College programs. Another option is check out local vendor sites. During 2011, Lavender Fields Farm located in Glen Allen offered a series of ‘how to’ plant a vegetable garden workshops which parallel a series of ‘how to’ use your harvest workshops. So, don’t dismiss buy-local vendor sites as viable suppliers of eco education.
While numerous educational opportunities exist and are relatively easy to identify, solicit advice from friends, family and neighbors; and then, make your experience a partnership gift for yourself and others. In the spirit of the holiday season, join in a quest to green life’s garden one scoop at a time. Give gifts that encourage others to acquire eco education: reflect eco-chic, ‘plow, not hearth’. For as gardeners, we not only have opportunities to make a difference through personal choices but can influence others through our use of green space, both rural and urban.
During the holiday season, a series of columns will be posted which suggest ‘gifts of plow, not hearth’. To follow, link to Examiner.com column - http://www.examiner.com/gardening-in-richmond/sylvia-wright and select ‘follow’ for notice by Tweets or ‘subscribe’ to receive notice by email. Additional eco tips and strategies are available at web site TheWrightScoop.
Side-bar: Feb 15th – Mar 7th. Wednesday 6:30-9:00 p.m. workshop: Landscape/Garden Design for the Hands-on-Homeowner, register with www.henrico.k12.va.us/adulteducation, location Hermitage High School, text optional: Eco-weak to Eco-chic: landscape green
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