Hickory – 2019 Cooperative Extension Market Gardening Course registration is now open. The class will meet every other Saturday, March 9, 23 and April 6, 20 from 10am-2pm at the Farm Demonstration Site in Hickory.

Do you have a garden and are producing more food than you or your friends and family can possibly eat? Do you wish you could start selling your produce but don’t know how to take the first steps? This Market Gardener course was developed by Extension Agents, to offer a hands-on field experience for producers who want to start growing for market.

In this four-part course over eight weeks, we will plant several spring crops both in a high tunnel and in the field and walk through the steps of fertilization, planting, harvest, post-harvest, marketing as well as pest, disease and weed management.

You’ll also have the chance to try small-scale equipment used by many small market gardeners and learn the basics of farm business such as record keeping, enterprise budgets, and marketing.

This class is open to anyone regardless of experience, background or land access. Cost is $100 and includes a thumb drive of resources for starting your farm business.

To register, please call 828-465-8240 or visit our website at https://catawba.ces.ncsu.edu/market-gardener-class-2019/.

For more information, please email April Vigardt at [email protected] or call 828-465-8243.