Mike's Events
Everything you Think you Know about Composting is Wrong
Sunday, February 5, 2012; beginning at noon
Grounds for Sculpture,
18 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619
The name of the place is indeed "Grounds for Sculpture"; its a 5 acre public sculpture garden built on the site of the former New Jersey State Fair. Very cool! Mike will deliver one of his favorite workshops: "Everything you Think you Know about Composting is Wrong" at noon; then he'll do a full scale no-holds barred, try and stump the chump "Organic Answers to your toughest garden questions" session at 2 pm. Book signing after each talk. For more information on this highly interesting venue, visit www.groundsforsculpture.org or call 609-586-0616
Annapolis Home & Remodeling Expo
Saturday, Feb 18
National Guard Armory; Annapolis, MD
Mike returns to this annual Annapolis event to deliver organic gardening and lawn care workshops at 11 am and 2 pm. More info www.midatlanticexpos.com
Grow Your Bet Tasting Tomatoes Ever
Sunday, Feb 19 at 1:30
Green Springs Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road; Alexandria, VA 22312
Mike appears at this noted public garden in the Washington DC region to deliver a talk that will get everyone ready for tomato growing season--plus a Q & A and book signing. More info: 703-642-5173 or www.fairfaxcounty.gov (click on 'winter lecture series')
Capital Home & Garden Show
Friday, Feb 24
Dulles Expo Center; Chantilly, VA
Mike returns to this annual event to do shows at 11, 1 and 3. More info: www.capitalhomeshow.com
Akron Home and Flower Show
Saturday and Sunday, February 25th and 26th 2012
John S. Knight Convention Center; Akron, Ohio
Mike returns to Akron (where he received a very warm welcome in January 2010)! He'll do multiple shows each day on popular topics like composting, tomato growing and chemical free lawn care. Also appearing at this show, one of Mike's favorite acts: The Duct Tape Guys! Show info: www.akronhomeandflowershow.com
Delaware Home Show
Saturday, March 3rd
The Chase Center on the Waterfront in Wilmington, DE
Mike returns to this great venue on Wilmington's waterfront to offer three workshops: Get Your Lawn Off Drugs at 11 am; Grow tasty Tomatoes at 1 pm and Kickstart your Compost at 3 pm. Book signing and Q & A after each talk. Show details: delawarehomeshow.com
Philadelphia International Flower Show
Wednesday March 7 at half past noon
Philadelphia
The annual McGrath lecture at The Flower Show takes a different turn this year, as Mike delivers his top tips on tomato growing and officially premieres the new, completely revised 3rd edition of his classic book on love apples, now titled, "The You Bet Your Garden Guide to Growing Great Tomatoes". And, of course, he'll also answer your toughest garden questions from the floor! Flower Show Details: www.theflowershow.com
Grow your Best Tasting Tomatoes Ever!
Wednesday, March 21st at 7 pm
Radnor Memorial Library, 114 W. Wayne Ave., Wayne, PA 19087
The Tomato Tour continues! Get ready to grow your own love apples with Mike's organic advice at this sure-to-be-fun evening presentation. Q & A and book singing after the talk. More information at www.radnorlibrary.org
Delaware Home Show at Dover Downs
Saturday March 24
Rollins Center at Dover Downs, 1131 North DuPont Highway; Dover, DE 19901
Mike will do workshops on tomatoes, compost and lawn care, answer all your garden questions and sign books: at 11 am (Get Your Lawn Off Drugs), 1 pm (Grow your Tastiest Tomatoes Ever) and 3 pm (Everything you Know About Composting is Wrong!) Show details: www.delawarehomeshow.com
Fairfax Community Home Show
Saturday March 10
Northern VA Community College Annandale Campus
Mike will give talks at 11 and 2 at this community home show, held at the campus' Cultural Center. More info: midatlanticexpos.com
And coming in April and May...
Hamilton Township Free Public Library
Tuesday April 24th at 7 pm
Community Home Show in Ocean Pines, MD
Saturday April 28th
Moonflower Garden Club Plant Sale and Fundraiser in Severna Park, MD
Saturday May 5th at 10 am
Greensgrow Garden Center; in the heart of Philadelphia!
Saturday, May 19th
Local Events
Today's Horticulture Symposium
Friday, February 3
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA
Hosted by The Longwood Gardens Professional Gardener Alumni Association and sponsored by the Chanticleer Foundation, this day-long symposium is designed for landscape professionals, passionate gardeners, and students of horticulture. Topics include green roofs, porous pavements, rain gardens, and containers for all seasons. The $95 symposium fee includes admission to Longwood Gardens, the lecture series, refreshments, and a premium buffet lunch. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Register by January 7 to avoid an increased registration fee. Details are available at the Longwood Gardens website or by phone at (610) 388-5454.
21st Annual Farming for the Future Conference
February 1st through the 4th
Penn Stater Conference Center in State College, PA
The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) will hold their 21st Annual Farming for the Future Conference February 1st through the 4th. Presenters include holistic orchardist Michael Phillips, homesteading guru Harvey Ussery, bio-extensive market farmers Anne and Eric Nordell, permaculture expert Dave Jacke, organic grain pioneer Mary-Howell Martens, and third-generation Polyface Farmer Daniel Salatin (son of celebrity farmer Joel Salatin). To learn more, please visit www.pasafarming.org
Prepare Your Landscape for Spring
Tuesday February 21st at 7 pm
The University of Delaware in Newark
The Delaware Master Gardeners will help you properly prepare your landscape for Spring. $15 fee. Registration is required; payment collected at the door. Contact the DE Extension Office 302-831-COOP or Carrie Murphy, Horticulture Educator, cjmurphy@udel.edu to register. More info: agdev.anr.udel.edu
The Panda and the Public Garden: Reimagining Our Conservation Story
Friday, March 2
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA
The Longwood Graduate Program's Annual Symposium for 2012 will bring together the best of zoo and garden expertise to discover how public gardens and other institutions can inspire their audiences to care and advocate for conservation. Registration for the daylong event is $75.00 for professionals, and $55.00 for full-time students. For more information and to register online, visit www.udel.edu/longwoodgrad, or call the Longwood Graduate Program office at 302-831-2517.
Philadelphia International Flower Show
Sunday March 4 through Sunday March 11 (PHS Members Preview Saturday March 3)
Pennsylvania Convention Center; 12th & Arch Streets; Philadelphia
The world's largest and most celebrated indoor Flower Show whisks us out of winter and into the warmth and color of Hawaii. In addition to the acres and acres of breathtaking displays (this year including a majestic waterfall and erupting volcano), the Show offers a full schedule of lectures and demonstrations daily and the always popular shopping mecca known as The Marketplace. Group discounts and advance tickets are available, and members of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society receive free Flower Show tickets and admission to the Members Lounge at the Show. More info: www.theflowershow.com
New Jersey Master Gardener Classes
Wednesday mornings 9 am to noon; January 11 through May 23, 2012
Gloucester County Government Services Building in Clayton, NJ
Gloucester County Government Services Building in Clayton, NJ
The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County is now accepting applications for the 2012 Master Gardener training course. The courses are held every Wednesday morning from 9 am to noon, January through May in the Government Services Building in Clayton and are open to Gloucester and Salem county residents who will assist Rutgers Cooperative Extension personnel by presenting horticultural programs and delivering gardening information to the public. There is a nominal fee for the course and graduates are asked to volunteer 60 hours within one year of completing the training to become certified Master Gardeners. (The classes are also available individually. Click here for a full schedule. For more information, visit http://gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu; call the Gloucester County Cooperative Extension Office at 856-307-6450 Extension #1, or email cummings@njaes.rutgers.edu
No Room to Grow? Join a CSA!
Don't have land of your own, but still want to eat fresh, local and organic? Now is the time to seek out and join a local CSA. Short for "Community Supported Agriculture", CSAs are local farms in which you buy a share for the season and get a share of the enviable edibles that the farm produces once a week throughout the season. Subscriptions tend to sell out fast, so look through these lists and locate your closest options before Spring arrives:
No Room to Grow? Join a Community Garden!
Folks who don't have land of their own but who love to garden can still grow some of their own food by seeking out a spot in a nearby community garden. Community gardens give the landless a place to grow and to gather, sharing seeds and advice. The American Community Gardening Association maintains a good list of gardens around the country (just enter your zip code on the map), but many are unlisted anywhere--so ask friends, co-workers and your local state extension office about local gardens. And if you see what looks to be one near your home or work, drop by on a Saturday and chat up the folks inside.
If you have any questions for Mike McGrath please call us at 1-888-346-9499 or e-mail us.
NOTE: Please include your NAME and your LOCATION in the email, and the actual SUBJECT (not "help" or "question") in the subject line. Thanks!
Want to get your event listed on our site. Send your local event info to garden@whyy.org, and we'll get it posted for the whole world to see. Make sure you include the NAME of the event, WHERE it will be, the TIME and DATE, and any other relevant info. Thanks!
Got a gardening or pest control problem? The solution has probably been delivered in depth on our show! Click here for the written versions at our archive of "Previous Questions of the Week."
If you have problems with feral cats, contact Alley Cat Allies for resources and information.
For more information on Pest Control - especially termites - visit www.birc.org
