GARDEN GUARDIANS: HOW INSECTS KEEP PESTS OUT OF THE GARDEN WITH TAY’S FARM
ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP:
Join instructor Beth Keith for this fun and informative class will focus on how beneficial insects and vertebrates can help protect your plants from damaging pests. We will take an up close and personal look at lacewings, lady beetles, “true bugs," mantids, and others. These insects serve as predators of aphids, thrips, and caterpillars, just to name a few. The course will be a combination of hands-on and classroom learning and at the end of the day, you will take home a packet of seeds for plants that will help you attract predators to your garden. Attracting guardians to your garden could be part of your Integrated Pest Management program – and - it’s fun to see them in their ecological habitats. Come join us!
ABOUT TAY’S FARM:
Tay's Farm, an ENA membership program, is dedicated to supporting growers with resources. We are actively developing a workshop schedule and assessing needs to cater to both beginners and experienced growers, aiming to enhance their skills and knowledge.
The three key components of Tay’s are: physical resource assistance, education programming, and commercialization assistance. ENA will not manage participants’ farms. Rather, we will serve as a resource providing assistance where appropriate, and creating a space for urban farmers to meet and join each other in community.
Physical resource assistance programming will include the construction of teaching gardens, community compost piles, seed, and cutting giveaways, and help with the installation of homesteading infrastructure in qualifying residents’ yards. The ENA will also fold its tool library (a tool-sharing program we have operated for many years) into Tay’s, so residents can borrow garden tools. The ENA community room will be available at set times as an agricultural hall, so community gardeners can meet to talk about their crops, share inspiration, and swap seeds and cuttings.
Education programming will be carried out in conjunction with Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and local Experts. Education programs will be available to the Kalamazoo community on a sliding pay scale. Program participants will receive instruction in growing produce at home for the entire possible growing season. Education programs will also teach participants how to preserve food, and how to save seeds for future plantings.
FIND US:
Hosted at Jerico in the Workshop Room. Please enter from the cafe or around the back of the building through the double grey doors. Fiddle Leaf Cafe will be open next door with delicious tea, coffee, and treats!
JERICO
1501 FULFORD ST
KALAMAZOO, MI 49001