I went to a "veggie growing" class today

I'm working with a master gardener to see about teaching a class or two in our local library. SO I decided to attend her class on growing vegetables.

I arrived first and we started talking. She told me that she had tried SFG but didn't like it very much. She explained that she mounded soil and it just didn't work well. I asked if she used her existing soil and she said, "Yes, but I've spent years amending it and it's very good." (rolling eyeballs)

There was only one other student and she said that she was doing raised beds this year. I was VERY good and didn't interrupt her class as she explained about her 16'x20' plot, and the tilling, and showing us the various hoes she uses for different types of weeding, and explained about watering, and . . .

Again I kept my mouth shut, but the other woman kept asking questions about raised beds and the teacher kept asking me to answer her.

After the class the woman asked for my business card.

ksroman wrote:I'm working with a master gardener to see about teaching a class or two in our local library. SO I decided to attend her class on growing vegetables.

I arrived first and we started talking. She told me that she had tried SFG but didn't like it very much. She explained that she mounded soil and it just didn't work well. I asked if she used her existing soil and she said, "Yes, but I've spent years amending it and it's very good." (rolling eyeballs)

There was only one other student and she said that she was doing raised beds this year. I was VERY good and didn't interrupt her class as she explained about her 16'x20' plot, and the tilling, and showing us the various hoes she uses for different types of weeding, and explained about watering, and . . .

Again I kept my mouth shut, but the other woman kept asking questions about raised beds and the teacher kept asking me to answer her.

After the class the woman asked for my business card.

Howdy Ksroman:

I wonder if the "other student" was tired of the hoe-hoe-hoeing being taught by the MG. You just might have two more folks for your next class, the Master Gardener and the other student.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

The class was supposed to be 1.5 hours and it lasted just an hour.

I kinda felt badly for her so I asked about the Master Gardening program, and told her I was impressed, etc.


I guess she won't recommend me to teach at the library.

It is possible to be a Master Gardener and a SFG'er, however, in our county, when you become a MG, and are making a presentation sponsored by the MG or County extensions service, you are required to teach the MG method, with rows and tilling, though they do endorse raised bed gardening. At least that is the way it is here in Oregon.

I intend to become a Master Gardener, because there I can learn about organic pest control, plant diseases, plant identification and the regional specific varieties recomended for my particular location.
I also intend to be Certified as a SFG Instructor because I believe this is a great method to grow abundant veggies with the least work and weeding.

I think the two disciplines will compliment each other.

Hear, hear, Furbalsmom. I totally agree. Those of us in the "senior" class are actively seeking ways to garden within our aging perameters and diminished strength, coupled with diseased joints, etc. Wrestling a big rototiller over a large garden is no longer feasible. Hence my delight in having discovered SFG this past January. This spring has introduced three new raised beds to the garden area, and we have developed a love affair with Mel's Mix. Plans for a fourth raised bed are in the works. We may be older, but we're getting smarter! Thanks to y'all.

Furbalsmom wrote:It is possible to be a Master Gardener and a SFG'er, however, in our county, when you become a MG, and are making a presentation sponsored by the MG or County extensions service, you are required to teach the MG method, with rows and tilling, though they do endorse raised bed gardening. At least that is the way it is here in Oregon.

I intend to become a Master Gardener, because there I can learn about organic pest control, plant diseases, plant identification and the regional specific varieties recomended for my particular location.
I also intend to be Certified as a SFG Instructor because I believe this is a great method to grow abundant veggies with the least work and weeding.

I think the two disciplines will compliment each other.

The two really do go together. I am a MG and as far as I know we are not required to endorse either way of gardening. We really are more about identification, diseases, and such. We have classes about soil and ph and such. I talk about my sfg to the other MG's in the county and have a couple that have came to look at my garden and I gave the ANSFG book to. I feel that the more you learn the better you can help no matter what why of growing is done. We learn about all plants including trees.

There is an outstanding testimonial I noticed while perusing through the book again today. Chapter 4, first page, right hand margin....

SFG is more than a hobby, it's a movement.

People will catch on someday. And, those of us that are here early could/should be positioning ourselves to capitalize when the wave arrives.

Agreed Furbalsmom. I know about what you HAVE to teach - I'll be teaching a "Grow Your Food" class next week at the Community College and must include ALL forms of gardening. I AM, however, allowed to indicate that I am a certified SFG teacher, pitch the SFG class I'm teaching in September.

And this is exactly what this woman did. She let us know that she uses row gardening and Small Plot INtensive or SPIN gardening. (http://www.spingardening.com/) which I found interesting. She makes a living from growing crops and offering a "subscription service", so I think that is great.

The MG program here in our county seems to be quite good, however, Audra (the teacher) told me that she was a bit dissatisfied with the program insofar as it focuses on flowers & trees and only 1/2 a class was devoted to vegetables.

One HUGE bonus from taking that class . . . she told us about a nearby farm that offers composted horse manure FREE!

Well gonna hunker down now cuz it looks like we've got some severe wether brewing.