‘Vegetable Gardening How-To’ at Medfield Library

Raised beds or narrow rows?  Compost or Miracle-Gro?  Tomatoes in front or corn in back?  Planning and planting a vegetable garden can be daunting tasks, but they’re essential to ensuring that what you plant thrives. 

If you’re contemplating a vegetable garden this spring and summer, you won’t want to miss a free presentation on the subject on Saturday morning, April 16 at the Medfield Public Library.  The presentation is sponsored by the Medfield Conservation Commission.

 Betty Sanders, a Medfield resident and Lifetime Master Gardener, will present her talk, ‘Planning, Preparing and Planting a Vegetable Garden,’ with a focus on successful gardening in New England.

“We have a short growing season and far too much shade,” Sanders said.  “Deer can be a nuisance.  But it doesn’t mean we can’t have great vegetable gardens.  A 20 foot by 30 foot garden can keep a family in fresh vegetables all summer with ample surplus to store for the winter or to share. Vegetable gardening teaches our children where food comes from, something that we too often forget about in the suburbs.”

Sanders’ talk will focus on planning a garden, preparing the area, deciding on whether such techniques as raised beds should be used, deer-proofing the garden, and insect control.  She’ll address subjects like watering techniques and organic gardening.

Sanders has a lifetime of gardening experience as well as a wide range of classes in horticulture, landscaping and environmental issues behind her.  She was a featured lecturer at the 2011 Boston Flower and Garden Show last month and has presented talks through the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s lecture series, and at numerous garden clubs and civic organizations.

She is a Lifetime Master Gardener with the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association, a member of the Gardening Study Council, the Landscape Design Council, and is an internationally accredited flower show judge.  Her Medfield garden was selected to be part of the National Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program in 2008.

The talk will be held at the Medfield Public Library at 10:30 a.m. and is open to everyone.  There is no charge.  For additional information, please contact Neal Sanders at (508) 359-9453.