Organic gardens 1st topic of series

For the next six months, those with a green thumb can supplement their lunches with gardening tips.

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The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service's Columbia County branch will hold monthly seminars as part of the "Gardening at Lunch" series.

The classes will take place from 12:10-12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays in one of the classrooms next to the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center at the county library.

"That allows people to get there during their lunch hours," said Columbia County Extension Agent Charles Phillips. "People can bring their lunches with them."

The first seminar, "Organic Pest Control," begins Wednesday and will include information on how to grow plants organically, the principles behind organic pest control, beneficial insects and organic control options, Phillips said.

The seminars are free to attend and do not require reservations.

"All you have to do is show up," Phillips said.

Phillips, who teaches the majority of the classes, said the topic of each seminar correlates to the time of year in which it falls.

The goals, he added, are to teach guests how to grow better plants and how to use less pesticide, fertilizer and water.

Other seminar topics include "Dividing Perennials" on Aug. 20, "Companion and Rotational Planting: Two Crops in One Spot" on Sept. 10, "Bulbs" on Oct. 8, "Holiday Plants and Using Your Garden for Decorating" on Nov. 12, and "Transplanting Plants" on Dec. 3.

All class topics were chosen by an advisory committee that reviewed evaluations from previous seminar attendees.

"All the topics are driven by the people who attend the meetings," he said.

For information, call Phillips at (706) 868-3413.