Tour an urban farm and much more at May 3 workshop

Here is how the old greenhouse at Garinger High School looked last July when UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute wrote about the Urban Farm project being started by Henry Owen of Friendship Gardens (pictured).

May 3 promises to be a great day for learning about community and school gardens.  Our next Green Teacher Network workshop, from 11 am to 3:30 pm at Garinger High School, will include three workshops and a tour of Friendship Gardens’ 3-acre Urban Farm on the school campus.

We've teamed up with the Annual Community Garden Tour, too! 

You can learn even more by beginning the day at 9 a.m. with the Community Garden Tour, a popular annual event hosted by the Mecklenburg Fruit and Vegetable Coalition. The tour arrives Garinger in time to visit the gardens and take part in the workshops.

GTN Charlotte program

Come meet the red wriggler,  composting's best friend!

Whether you come with the community garden tour or begin your day at 11 with our event, the schedule at Garinger High will be the same. The GTN Charlotte workshop will begin at 11 with registration and tours of the Friendship Gardens Urban Farm, including an orchard, active greenhouse, aquaponics, washing station, field crops and more! At noon we’ll break for lunch and networking.
Then we will divide into smaller groups at 1:15 and rotate through three breakout sessions:

• Raised beds - Learn how to make a raised bed and winterize it with hoop housing.
• Composting with worms - Discover how easy it is to create super-rich compost through vermiculture.
• Garden/food carts - How to make one and use it in the garden and classroom.

The program will end with a raffle and gift bags for everyone.

Register online today!

Sign up online for the GTN Charlotte May 3 workshop.  Cost of $10 covers lunch and program materials. You can pay via credit card or PayPal account (not required if you pay by credit card). Registration deadline is May 1. Garinger High School is at Eastway Drive and Sugar Creek Road. We will email you directions and parking instructions on May 1. Questions? call

• Register online  >>  GO

More about the Community Garden Tour

This exciting half-day event will take place 9 am-1 p.m. May 3, ending at Garinger High School in time for you to take part in the Green Teacher Network spring workshop. The purpose of the Community Garden Tour is to encourage participants to join a community garden or start their own garden, get educated about the benefits of growing their own fruits /vegetables and to encourage the creation of gardens in our community. The tour is sponsored by the Mecklenburg Fruit and Vegetable Coalition.

• More details coming April 1 - Tour details will be available starting April 1 at http://mcfvc.charmeck.org and at the Coalition’s Facebook page.