JoAnne Skelly: Grow your own, Nevada!

The horticulture world is fascinating, with many topics to explore. Did you know that “the average carrot travels over 1,800 miles to get to our dinner plate?” Or that “93 percent of our food dollar pays processors, packagers, distributors, wholesalers, truckers and the rest of the infrastructure that a global food system demands? ” Finally, with the fact that “preschool children served home-grown produce are more than twice as likely to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day as kids who rarely eat home-grown produce,” more people are interested in growing their own.

Each year, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Horticulture Specialist, Dr. Heidi Kratsch, brings the “Grow Your Own” series to 12 locations in Nevada.

This year’s “Grow Your Own” lecture series begins April 7 and continues through April 30 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6 to 8 p.m. The lectures will cover the following topics: “GMOs, Facts and Fallacies,” “Composting and Vermicomposting,” “Weeds, Critters and Insects,” “Growing Garlic,” “Wine and Beer Making,” “Fruit Trees,” “Berry Production” and “Walapinis: Experience with a Below-ground Greenhouse.”

Attend one, many or all of the classes at the Carson City Cooperative Extension office, 2621 Northgate, Suite 12. They are presented via interactive video from the originating live site in Reno. Registration is required, and there is a $5 fee for each individual class or $30 fee for all eight classes. To receive a registration form via email or via regular mail, contact Teri Spraggins at spragginst@unce.unr.edu or 775-887-2252. Or stop by the office to complete a registration form. Exact change or a check is required. Checks should be made out to Carson City Cooperative Extension.

To ensure seating and class materials, please register before April 1. Walk-in attendees with exact change are welcome if there is space available; however, classes do fill up quickly. Registering in advance is a better bet! Those who pay for the full series will receive a USB flash drive filled with gardening resources. People in need of special accommodations or assistance will need to contact Spraggins by April 1.

Broaden your gardening expertise and scientific knowledge. Figure out how to deal with the pests in your yard and garden. Learn how to grow grapes and hops to make wine and beer at home. Build an energy-efficient below-ground greenhouse.

Grow your own, Nevada!

JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and may be reached at skellyj@unce.unr.edu or 887-2252.