VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. — On Saturday, May 19th, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County Master Gardener Volunteers (MGV’s) will hold their annual Garden Education Day as they have for decades. In years past, area gardeners have patiently waited in line for the opportunity to buy perennial plants from MGV gardens as well as annuals, vegetables, herbs and gardening accessories. Home gardeners attending this year’s program will see some changes. In light of the appearance of the extremely invasive Asian Jumping Worm in gardens in the Capital District, the volunteers will not be digging up perennial plants from their gardens to sell on May 19th, as they cannot guarantee that they would not spread the worms to the buyers’ gardens. These worms deplete the nutrients in the soil before plants are able to access them.
Title: Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County Master Gardener Plant Sale takes on a Different Twist
When: Saturday, May 19th 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, 24 Martin Rd, Voorheesville, NY
With an increased focus on educating home gardeners, Master Gardeners will conduct free “mini” workshops on a variety of gardening topics. These 15 minute workshops will be offered multiple times during the May 19th event. Topics will include: identification of the Asian Jumping Worm, how to plant a container with annuals and vegetables, transplanting, composting for the home garden, how to become aware of ticks and Lyme disease, as well as tours of the Memorial Gardens.
Master Gardeners will still be selling annuals, vegetables, herbs, house plants and some cuttings taken from perennials. In addition to the plant sale and a garage sale, the volunteers will be selling garden-based crafts and baked goods.
This annual event is the primary fundraising opportunity for the program. Monies brought in on Garden Education Day support the work done by the Master Gardeners at various public gardens in Albany County, including Schuyler Mansion, Ten Broeck Mansion, The Underground Railroad, Pine Hills Library, and Five Rivers Environmental Education Center as well as a variety of school and community programs focused on garden-based learning activities.
Garden Education Day will be held at Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, 24 Martin Road, in Voorheesville from 9 am to 1 pm, rain or shine. Come to buy heirloom tomatoes grown from seed by Master Gardeners, annuals for containers, herbs for cooking, house plants, and learn valuable techniques for making your garden beautiful and productive.
—Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County
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