Forum celebrates spring’s return

More than a dozen amateur and master gardeners greeted the change of season with the annual Spring Forum & Expo Saturday at the Gardnerville Station.

“You don’t have to know a lot about gardening to be a master gardener,” said UNR Extension Horticulture Outreach Jessica Gardner. “You just have to be willing to volunteer and hang out with us.”

Attendees heard from featured speakers including Chuck Schembre, Craig Witt and Shannon Allen.

Schembre brought his 18 years of experience managing farms, vineyards and orchards throughout California and Nevada to the table with his talk titled “Understanding Ag.”

His presentation explained the principles of soil health and how to use it to your garden’s advantage. He spoke on a variety of topics including best practices, plant species that thrive in Carson Valley’s climate, ideal times to plant and other issues related to gardening.

“Every time we do something, there is a positive or negative effect, never neutral,” said Schembre. “If there is anything you take away from today, it’s that you have the power to restore your soil.”

Fourth-generation Nevada dairyman Craig Witt, who holds degrees in agriculture and soil microbiology, explained the benefits of soil that aims to protect, boost, punch, soar and kick plants into healthy and thriving gardens by using Full Circle Soils & Compost.

Witt has developed, produced and offered the environmentally friendly compost for than 20 years.

“Gardening is a challenge and it is an art,” said Witt. “Let your garden grow.”

He demonstrated what his soil created through samples of his “Black Cherry” and “Atomic Grape” tomatoes.

“Benefits you can taste, see, smell and feel,” he said.

For more information about Full Circle Soils and Compost visit https://fullcirclecompost.com/

Finally, Shannon Allen talked about Heritage Co-op, a gardening class for children that she leads at Heritage Gardens.

Allen said she is a huge advocate for encouraging kids to get outside, in the dirt and creating, which was the inspiration for the class.

“My kids were my inspiration,” she said. “I wanted them to have an outdoor learning experience where they could connect with nature and form a community. Heritage Park Gardens offer such a great environment for that and we are very lucky to have it as our classroom.

The classes are split into two age groups. Nature Exploration is for 1-4 year-olds just starting to explore the world around them and to encourage a connection with nature. In the Nature Exploration Garden STEM class, 4-10-years-olds learn gardening and nature exploration through hands on activities.

“I love to plant and my mom’s class is so much fun,” said 6-year-old Bodhi Allen.

For more information and to find dates of classes visit Heritage Co-op on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/heritagecoop

Heritage Park Gardens is part of the Main Street Gardnerville organization.

Volunteers are an integral part of the success of the program. Learn more about their events and ways to get involved at mainstreetgardnerville.org/ on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HeritageParkGardens/ or by calling 775-782-8027.

The UNR Extension of Douglas County offers agricultural, ranching heritage and gardening education, research and outreach programs to the community through a variety of topics. For more information and upcoming classes visit https://extension.unr.edu/douglas.aspx