"Growing Together Through Community Gardening" programs are set for the evening of March 14 and all day March 15 at the Dakota Medical Foundation in Fargo.
The March 14 program from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. features a public forum and Robin Garwood as the main speaker. He has been involved in many aspects of the Homegrown Minneapolis Initiative, which is an initiative to improve the growth, sales, distribution and consumption of fresh, locally grown foods. He has been coordinating efforts to change Minneapolis ordinances on composting, farmers markets, mobile grocery stores and staple food requirements at grocery stores.
The NDSU Extension Service is a co-sponsor of the program.
The March 15 workshop begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. Session topics are:
- Local victory gardeners in World War II and 2014 -- This talk explains how gardens helped win World War II, examines the local victory garden movement and encourages people to plant their own victory garden this spring.
- All about soil and garden location -- This session will deal with finding a proper garden location, soil testing and preparation, and weed control.
- Growing Together -- Growing Together is a community garden organization hosting more than 100 new American families. Participants will learn how the gardens are structured.
- Putting community in the community garden -- This session will examine ways to help people understand the importance of the word "community" as it relates to "garden."
- New Master Gardener Program -- Participants will learn about changes to the North Dakota Master Gardener Program.
The events are sponsored by the Cass Clay Food Systems Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to increase access to safe, nutritious and affordable food by strengthening all aspects of the local food system.
The initiative was started in 2011 by members of the University of Minnesota Extension Service, NDSU Extension Service, NDSU Extension Service Cass County office, Fargo Cass Public Health and Clay County Public Health.
The registration fee is $25. Space is limited, so those wishing to participate should register by March 10. To register, go to https://communitygardenworkshop.eventbrite.com.
The Dakota Medical Foundation is at 4141 28th Ave. S. in Fargo.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.