BEDFORD MASTER GARDENERS – GROW THE GOOD LIFE 2023

Bedford Extension Master Gardeners presents their annual GROW THE GOOD LIFE

Three presenters will offer advice and tips about how to get more out of your garden space and extend your growing season.

METHODS FOR MAXIMIZING YOUR GARDEN EXPERIENCE – Mark Angelini

“Learn common-sense design techniques to maximize your garden. We’ll explore garden design best practices, how to utilize your garden space more fully, how micro-climate affects yields and plant performance, and some exciting species that will allow you to make your garden lower maintenance, higher-yielding, and more enjoyable.”

“Mark has spent the past the past 14 years immersed in the realms of local food systems, regenerative agriculture, permaculture & ecological design, traditional woodworking, herbalism, wild foods, and fermentation.

As a persistent autodidact, Mark deferred from traditional education at the age of 18, leaving a career in graphic design to pursue ecological regeneration and personal resiliency. He has studied and learned from countless leaders in their fields– from farmers and ecological designers, to herbalists and woodworkers.

From 2010 – 2016 he co-owned Roots to Fruits Ecological Design, working with consulting and design clients across the Great Lakes region. In 2017 he co-founded Mountain Run Permaculture with his wife Allison in Sedalia, VA. It is equal parts homestead, farm, and service-based business. They grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit. They manage several acres of cider apples, produce herbal products, and a large flock of pasture-raised laying hens. He performs design and consulting services across the country helping gardeners, homesteaders, and farmers succeed in developing ecologically regenerative land-based systems. He has taught permaculture design courses from Northern Michigan to Vermont, presented at Northern Michigan Small Farms Conference and the Virginia Association for Biological Farmers, as well as to countless gardening and ecology clubs.

He is passionate about designing and managing ecologically robust landscapes, producing nutrient-dense foods, soil fertility & biology, creating things with his own hands, and helping his clients achieve their goals.

ALTERNATIVE VEGETABLE GARDENING: Think “ATYPICAL” and GET CREATIVE! – Jim Revell

If you’re a gardener who likes to “think outside the box,” this session will introduce you to “atypical” vegetable gardening ideas that get creative juices going while also increasing productivity and/or saving space, materials and cost!

Jim will share creative ideas for alternative grow venues and methods – some you may be familiar with, such as hydroponics, straw bale gardening, flower/vegetable interplanting (companion planting), patio/container and bag gardening – while others may encourage you to explore your workshop and garage for cost and space-saving ideas (kiddie pool gardening, vertical gardening, creative trellises and more!). Join us for a session that will “raise the bar” for creative, atypical, alternative vegetable gardening!

Jim Revell has been a Master Gardener volunteer since his certification in 2002. Jim served multiple terms as President and Training Coordinator for BAMGA, has logged over 10,000 volunteer hours to date, and is a member of the MG College Advisory Team. Jim is honored to have taught concurrent classes at MG College, and MG training classes for numerous Virginia MG units, and to have presented for VMGA, Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs, and various regional gardening organizations.

Jim has been dedicated to organic “best practices” related to growing fruits and vegetables for 20+ years. His expertise spans from garden design layouts to construction/maintenance of multiple growing venues (raised-beds, straw bales, hoop houses, alternative gardening) and composting bins; from seasonal garden planting layouts (crop rotation) and planting schedules to seed-starting under grow lights; from garden transplants to ongoing plant management (watering, fertilization, integrated pest management controls); and much more. Jim is a strong proponent of cultivating “beneficial” insects and protecting pollinators (he has had up to seven beehives).

NATIVE PERENNIALS FOR EVERY GARDEN – Peggy Singlemann

Peggy Singlemann will discuss how to liven up your gardens with pollinators using native perennials that not only add beauty but are tasty, too.

Peggy is well known as the host and co-producer of Virginia Home Grown on VPM/ PBS, Virginia’s only local gardening show.  She was the recipient of the 2020 Telly Award, silver, in nature/wildlife category for the Pond Plants segment of Virginia Home Grown and the 2022 Telly Award, bronze, in the nature/wildlife category for the Crow’s Nest Nature Preserve segment.  In the television/series- nature/wildlife category the Virginia Home Grown crew won the bronze 2022 Telly Award for the entire 2021 season.

Peggy is a horticulture consultant and speaker through her business, RVA Gardener LLC. Singlemann has been published in local and national periodicals and has spoken at a plethora of conferences and speaking engagements.  She is a member of several organizations such as the International Society of Arboriculture and is on the board of the Southern Garden History Society. Recently, Peggy received a commendation from the Virginia General Assembly honoring her accomplishments at Maymont.

Ms. Peggy M. Singlemann graduated from the SUNY Cobleskill with a degree in Horticulture and is a Certified Horticulturist, a Certified Landscape Designer and an ISA Certified Arborist.  She earned her North American Certificate in Horticulture through the American Public Garden Association and attended the Newport Summer School of the Victorian Society of America.

Peggy Singlemann and her husband, Doug, came to Virginia in 1983 and within a year assumed the position of Horticulturist at Maymont eventually becoming Director of Park Operations and Horticulture, Maymont’s gardens, grounds, arboretum and buildings became Peggy’s career focus. Upon her retirement in June 2022 Peggy was awarded the title, Director Emeritus of Horticulture. Over her 38 year career at Maymont Peggy researched, restored and tended the gardens, grounds, and programs surrounding them.  Singlemann helped organize events such as the Maymont Flower and Garden Show, Herbs Galore and More, Garden Glow, and countless other presentations, classes and tours.  During her tenure Peggy oversaw major projects, renovations and additions to not only the gardens, but the construction of the new Maymont Foundation headquarters, 1000 Westover, the renovation of the Robins Nature Center Gallery, and was the construction lead for the Orientation and Education Center Project.

Peggy enjoys the outdoors, she spends time identifying native flora and bird watching along with hiking and kayaking with her family. She is an active member of her church and of course, enjoys gardening at home.

For those attending in person the cost will be $35 and includes a lunch provided by The Blue Lady Restaurant.  Zoom will be available to those who are unable to attend in person for $25.  Vendors will be on site to offer gardening products. 

IN PERSON REGISTRATION: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grow-the-good-life-2023-march-11-in-person-tickets-502668283367

VIRTUAL/ ZOOM REGISTRATION:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grow-the-good-life-2023-march-11-virtual-tickets-521286671467

MAIL IN FORM FOR IN PERSON REGISTRATION:  CLICK HERE