Gardeners of all ages, experience levels and garden sizes are invited to learn new gardening skills and get their hands dirty at the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm’s upcoming Garden Grow-How! Whether you are a first-time gardener or an experienced grower with seeds and advice to share, the Garden Grow-How will offer many activities for you to enjoy. The event will take place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 25 at Heritage Hall, inside the HUB-Robeson Center.
The Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm is collaborating with campus and community groups including the Penn State Community Garden, the Arboretum at Penn State, Zoils and Pigments, Student Farm Club, and other partners to host the Grow-How. This diverse team is working to ensure that the event has activities for everyone, including gardening ideas for people living in small spaces like dorm rooms or apartments. Stations will also be family-friendly, with activities for kids including a composting demonstration with live worms, botanical crafts, seed swapping and more.
Isabella Petitta, vice president of PSU Community Garden said, “Our station at the Garden Grow-How event will provide examples of indoor seed-starting methods to empower gardeners to grow their own plants in preparation for the following garden season.” Their station is also planning to share information on ideal seed starting dates for our region to educate attendees on transplanting.
Anyone interested in gardening, from both campus and the wider community are welcome. There will be several stations with activities and crafts geared especially toward kids. Paid parking is available to visitors in the HUB parking deck.
Anton Fatula, an AmeriCorps member working with the Ross Student Farm, is leading students and partners to organize the event.
“Getting our community engaged in food systems is what we love to do,” said Fatula. “Whether you’re an avid gardener or you’ve never grown a single plant in your life, you’re sure to walk away having learned something new about the food we eat!”
There will be handmade clay pots made by students in AED211 as door prizes and free succulents to take home for Penn State students. Prizes also include gardening books, garden supplies, and seedlings, which have been generously donated by Chelsea Green Publishing, Floret Farms, and the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm.
Any questions can be directed to Leslie Pillen at lrp143@psu.edu.