Grow More in Less Space: Healthy Plants and Successions
Taught by Melissa L
Melissa Lafontaine is a farm and garden educator and admirer of all things natural. Her affection for farming and gardening rooted from her work in agrarian communities in Southern Madagascar and involvement with urban farms and the local food movement in Vancouver and New York. She completed a certificate in urban agriculture at BK Farmyards where she discovered her infatuation for compost and her love for working alongside youth and children in an outdoor classroom. Presently, Melissa leads farm tours and youth- based education at the Youth Farm and is a consultant for the NYU Urban Farm Lab. In addition, she cares for the community garden space Shambhala Yoga and Dance Center and is constantly seeking ways to maximize her growing space within her tiny and mainly shaded backyard. She dabbles in floral design, and creates Earth Within Terrarium necklaces, encouraging others to carry tiny pieces of earth with them as a symbol of our inherent connection to nature.
By now you’ve likely begun growing your first round of veggies, flowers or herbs! You’ve taken the time to prep your beds, add in your compost and get a good watering schedule down. Now what’s next? How can we ensure our plants will be gleaming? How can we plan for what will be most suitable to plant in the open space after early maturing plants have been harvested? (note: If you have not begun your garden yet.. no problem. This course will translate well to gardeners in all stages of their growing season)
This informative workshop will provide you with insight on how to maintain healthy and happy plants through the season by encouraging soil and plant biodiversity. In addition, we will discuss how to plan for what will go in your garden beds next and other best practices for maximizing your space!
You will learn about plant care basics, how to prevent and tackle several common New York pests and diseases and how to develop rich and fertile soil to boost your plants' immunity. To guide you in your next planting, we will discuss essential resources such as companion planting, succession planting, and spacing.
This course is for you if you are interested in getting the most out of your garden through the full growing season. Class is open to both newbies and those that would like to dig a little deeper!