The North Valley Church garden in Merlin, Ore., was bursting April 8–10, 2018, with gardeners ready to learn and absorb special gardening techniques from master gardener Lynn Hoag from Sun Country Gardens in Placerville, Calif.
An overwhelming interest in organic gardening was evident when 163 people registered for this three-day seminar and came from as far north as Roseburg and Canyonville, Ore., and as far south as Ashland, Ore. There was no question that attendees got their money’s worth from the class. Hoag was like a walking encyclopedia able to explain and answer most all the questions presented to him and always in a kind and humble manner.
Hoag did an exceptional job of involving everyone, using the children to help plant seeds and the young and middle-aged men to dig 3-foot-deep holes for the fruit trees. He illustrated how much faster the growth and greater the yields are when planted using the Ellen G. White method for both trees and vegetables.
We learned the key to successful gardening is the correct preparation of the soil. When the soil is amended with the proper balance of nutrients, the trees and plants yield many more fruits and vegetables and provide much better flavor and nutrition.
The ideal first step is to get a soil test of your garden area so you can add the correct balance of nutrients.
We also learned about the various types of greenhouses and how to use them for a year-round garden. We learned tricks to protect our gardens from gophers, deer and more.
One of the bonus features of this outstanding gardening seminar was the free home visits offered by the instructor after the seminar.
As the gardening seminar came to a close attendees suggested we make this gardening workshop an annual event.
The seminar was co-sponsored by the Grants Pass and North Valley churches for our community. We thank all the team members that worked hard to make it a remarkable event — especially the kitchen crew who served the delicious lunch and participants who brought dishes for our Sunday lunch buffet.
If you missed this very informative class, you can view and order Lynn Hoag’s materials on his website www.suncountrygardens.com. And we will look ahead to 2019 towards booking him again, God willing.
Master gardener Lynn Hoag presented a three-day seminar on organic gardening.
