By By Steve Strong / county agent
April 10, 2002
The Master Gardeners are gearing up for their annual Spring Plant Sale, to be held April 20 at the Farmer's Market in downtown Meridian. The fund-raising event is held each year next to Union Station, and the hours are from 7:30 a.m. until the plants are gone so be on time to get the best selection.
East Mississippi MGs offer a wide variety of neat, native (and often backyard pass-along) plants to whet a range of gardening appetites. Proceeds from the plant sale help fund volunteer projects, and also help support the fine horticulture program at Meridian Community College thank-you students and Miss Barton.
The Master Gardeners remind everyone that this is not a garage sale, so no early birds will be allowed in before the starting time. There's talk of adding a ten percent fee to the squabblers who protest, so keep quiet for the best deals.
Contact the Lauderdale County Extension office at 482-9764 for more information about the Master Gardener volunteer program, and for helpful advice for your garden planting.
A Private Pesticide Applicator Certification program will be held April 23, at 6:30 p.m., at the Lauderdale County Extension Service office. This free program is open to farmers, foresters and other agricultural producers only, and home gardeners should not attend.
Certification is necessary for producers to obtain restricted-use farming pesticides. Home gardeners, however, can get all the pesticides they need for vegetables, fruit and home landscapes over the counter at local garden centers.
A Best Management Practices Forestry Workshop will be May 14, sponsored by the Lauderdale County Forestry Association. The location will be announced at a later date, and the program should run from 5:30-8 p.m. (dinner included).
The BMP program is open to all forest landowners interested in managing their own timber. The cost of the workshop is $10. Participants will learn more about the voluntary practices that Mississippi landowners can use to improve forest production, while also addressing environmental and legal issues.
Streamside management zones, vegetation control, proper thinning methods and a variety of other topics will be covered. Part of the workshop will include a site visit to a local tree farm. Dr. Andy Londo, forestry specialist with Mississippi State University will present the program, and provide landowners with study materials to keep for reference.
As always, count on the county Extension Service for a variety of educational programs, and don't forget to check with the 4-H agents about upcoming summer youth programs. Producers interested in participating in the Meridian Area Farmers Market can also sign up through the Extension office, and get their soil tested while they're at it.
Whether you are a backyard gardener, a wildlife lover, or an agricultural producer, the Extension Service has something to offer just about everyone. If not, maybe you're just not interested in the right hobbies.