Lewis County Master Gardeners' ‘Gardening For Everyone’ Back in Person

Community Classes: Master Gardeners Hold Free Event Saturday at Christian School

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Master Gardener Anna Marie Pizzariello said she has gotten in about three times as much learning this year than she has in her previous eight years in the Lewis County Master Gardener program.

That’s because so many more learning opportunities were available online. She could Zoom in on classrooms around the region, or stream recorded educational opportunities at a time that worked for her schedule.

Still, she said, there is nothing like learning in person and she and her fellow Master Gardeners are thrilled to be able to hold Gardening for Everyone in person for the first time in more than a year.

“It feels normalizing,” Pizzariello said.

The Lewis County Master Gardeners will present Gardening for Everyone this Saturday, Oct. 9, at Centralia Christian School. The twice-yearly free day of gardening education for the community was canceled in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. The spring 2021 Gardening for Everyone was able to happen but in an online format since restrictions related to the pandemic were still in place. With most restrictions eased statewide, the decision was made to hold the fall event in person, said Sharon Peterson, organizer for Gardening for Everyone.

“We’re just very excited we could put this on face to face this time,” Peterson said.

Saturday’s Gardening for Everyone will feature nine classes with subjects ranging from pruning and composting to non-canning preservation techniques and how to create a deer resistant landscape. There will be three 90-minute course times offered between 9 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Each session will feature three classes to choose from. Before and after each session and during breaks, attendees can also browse vendor tables.

All classes are taught by local master gardeners. Peterson said the subject matter would be engaging for seasoned gardeners since those teaching the classes tend to be very knowledgeable about their subject matter. But she noted that the classes are equally appropriate for those who may be just getting into gardening more because they are home more often or because they worry about grocery shortages.

“People are really getting interested in gardening a lot more,” Peterson said.

“A lot more people want to get more self-sufficient,” Pizzariello added.

There are a few ways in which the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will affect this year’s Gardening for Everyone, Peterson noted. Attendees are asked to wear masks and socially distance. Extra sanitizing will also be taking place in each of the three classrooms between sessions. Peterson noted that the change of venue to Centralia Christian School is also an effect of COVID-19 because the usual venue of Centralia College is currently not able to allow outside groups to use its facilities.

Gardening for Everyone is free and open to the public and no advance registration is required. There is limited space, though if they get similar numbers from past fall Gardening for Everyone Events there should be space for everyone. Still, Pizzariello said your best bet is to come early.

“It’s a smaller venue so come early because we have limited seats,” she said.

If You Go

What: Lewis County Master Gardeners Present Gardening for Everyone

When: 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9

Where: Centralia Christian School

Schedule:

9-10:30 a.m. — Backyard Composting with Bob Taylor; The Enchanting World of Garlic with Jeanette Lawson; or Rain Gardens with Don Enstrom

10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Gardening with Natives with MaryAnn Albenesius; Pruning Landscape Shrubs with Gail Gibbard; or Planting a Deer Resistant Landscape with Barbara Eastman

12:45-2:15 p.m. — How to Create a 4-Season Garden with MaryJo Christensen; Food Preservation Without Canning with Lynn Ford; or Building Rustic Trellises and Arbors from Twigs and Limbs with Sharon Tipping

Cost: Free but space limited so arrive early for best seating

Information: lewis-mg-mrc.org