By Christie Bender
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today, in partnership with Urban Roots, they will offer a series of five urban gardening workshops! Each workshop will offer different gardening information ranging from what to plant, how to harvest and what to make in the kitchen.
The first workshop will kick off this series on May 19 with Real Life Gardening 101 to teach what to plant and the best tips for a successful garden. Participants will spend time in the GRPM’s urban garden located outside of the Museum on the bank of the Grand River, as well as be hands on in the Demo Lab of the Museum.
The five workshops will be held May 19, June 23, July 28, August 18 and September 8. They will begin at 11 a.m. and last approximately one and a half hours.
Workshops are open to 20 participants each month, and are $12 for general public and $4 for Museum members. Tickets include admission into the Museum for the full day and can be purchased at grpm.org.
May 19 – Real Life Gardening 101
If you’ve ever considered having a garden but didn’t know where to start, this is a great class for you. Join us as we learn about what having a garden can look like no matter where you live. Participants will learn about how Michigan’s growing season works, how to design a garden that works for them, what to plant when, what to expect throughout the season, and tips & methods for maximizing small spaces.
June 23 – Gardening is Supposed to be Fun! Right?!
It’s about to be the best weather of summer! If you have a garden and want to learn how you can keep it thriving (with less work), join this class! Cultivate more time for the beach, camping and fun, and learn about methods to make your garden lower maintenance. Participants will learn about the benefits of mulch, setting up a low cost mechanized irrigation system, trellising, teaming up and more!
July 28 – Kids in the Garden! A Family Friendly Workshop
It will be up for debate who likes this class more, your kid or you! Young and older learners alike will come together in the GRPM garden to explore, taste, touch, smell, see, experiment and enjoy being outside connecting to nature and each other.
August 18 – Pickling & Fermenting
This cooking class will be a delight for foodies and nutrition advocates alike! Join us as we learn about tried and true methods of food preservation and the health benefits of consuming naturally probiotic foods. This make-and-take cooking class will be fun, lighthearted, and delicious!
September 8 – Garden Salsa & Hot Sauce Making (and Tasting)
Join us as we partake in the best part of growing food, eating! In this class prepare garden fresh salsa, harvested entirely from the garden, and learn how to capture the heat of summer by making fresh red and green hot sauces that will last all winter.
