Opportunities to learn gardening techniques are sprouting up throughout the Upper Valley this month.
On Thursday, Alan Eaton, an entomologist with the University of New Hampshire Extension; Will Allen, co-founder of Cedar Circle Farm in East Thetford and author of The War on Bugs; and South Strafford-based landscape architect Janet Cavanagh will speak about “Managing Lawn and Garden Pests with Fewer Chemicals” at the Montshire Museum in Norwich at 6:30 p.m.
The speakers will cover such topics as how to reduce pesticide use, beneficial insects and pollinators, the history of agricultural chemicals, organic strategies to reduce pest damage on vegetables and flowers and ideas for reducing lawn sizes. The free event will include time for questions and answers.
Master composter Karen Ganey will teach a composting workshop at the Hartford Town Hall on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
The workshop offers Hartford residents an opportunity to learn backyard composting. On hand will be free kitchen scrap buckets and half-price backyard composters, while supplies last.
(In case you were wondering, the University of Vermont offers a “master composter” certification, which entails completing an online course about composting and conducting community outreach thereafter.)
For more information about the Hartford workshop, visit hartford-vt.org.
Specialists from the University of New Hampshire Extension Master Gardener program will offer information during a free basic gardening workshop at West Lebanon Feed and Supply next Wednesday at 6 p.m.
For more information or to sign up, call 603-298-8600 or email mail@westlebanonsupply.com.
The Vermont Community Garden Network will host a workshop on community-based gardening at the Center for Transformational Practice in White River Junction on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m.
The $35 workshop will offer a chance for garden leaders to learn strategies, share stories and swap ideas for their garden programs. It will include a light meal.
For more information, contact Libby Weiland at libby@vcgn.org or 802-861-4769. To register, visit vcgn.org/what-we-do/growit.
Learning in the Kitchen
Irene H. Yuan and Sandy Chan will offer a “Fun with Vegetables” cooking class at Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Aging Resource Center on Centerra Parkway tonight from 5:30 to 7.
The course will cover bibimbap, a Korean dish that literally translated means “mixed rice;” stuffed peppers and teas.
To learn more or to register, visit bit.ly/2p2eJip.
Easter Eats
The Enfield-Mascoma Lioness Club will host “Breakfast with the Easter Bunny” at the Enfield Community Building on Route 4 on Saturday morning from 8 to 10.
The meal, which costs $5 per person, will include pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. Proceeds benefit community projects.
For more information, contact Stella Butterfield at 603-523-4875 or email sjbutterfield@yahoo.com.
The Brownsville Community Church will host a free breakfast and egg hunt on Sunday morning. Breakfast is at the church at 7:30 and the egg hunt is at Tribute Park at 10:15.
For more information, email bcchurch@myfairpoint.net or call 802-484-3200.
Several Upper Valley eateries will host holiday meals this weekend, ranging from Hattie’s Kitchen in South Strafford to Everything But Anchovies in Hanover, Latham House Tavern in Lyme and Coventry Catering at Hotel Coolidge in White River Junction.
Nora Doyle-Burr can be reached at ndoyleburr@vnews.com or 603-727-3213.
