|
Organic Gardening Day
Send a link to a friend
[OCT.
13, 2004]
URBANA -- Organic
gardening is gaining favor among people concerned about the quality
of their food and lifestyle. Whether you are an experienced organic
gardener or a beginner, University of Illinois Extension is offering
Organic Gardening Day, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20, from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. The event will be at the Holiday Inn Hotel and
Conference Center, 1001 Killarney St. in Urbana, just off Interstate
74 at Exit 183 at Lincoln Avenue. |
|
A day of educational and entertaining sessions, an organic-theme
lunch and the chance to interact with noted organic gardening
experts from around the country are all packed into this big day of
gardening fun, food and fellowship. This year's impressive lineup of
educational sessions provides more than enough incentive to come
early and take advantage of the whole day.
Rhonda Janke, Kansas State University Extension specialist and
former research director at Rodale Institute, will set the stage
with a presentation entitled "The Practical Side of Organic
Gardening."
Leslie Cooperband, University of Wisconsin associate professor whose
research focus is composting and organic soil building, will
describe how to build an organic garden from the soil up.
Rosemary Divock, author, speaker, gardener and cooking enthusiast
from Lake Geneva, Wis., will tempt taste buds by demonstrating
several organic recipes.
Melvin Epp, currently director of botanical research and activity at
The Center for Human Functioning International in Wichita, Kan.,
maintains a large organic garden that supplies much of the organic
produce used in the cafeteria there. He will explain the benefits of
organic produce in our diet in a presentation entitled "Organics and
a Healthy Lifestyle."
Rick Weinzierl, University of Illinois Extension specialist will
wrap up the day's program by talking about organic insect
management.
As in the now-familiar Herb Day format, there will be vendors of
equipment, books and many other organic gardening essentials. The
retail area will be open from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. for shopping by
both Organic Gardening Day attendees and interested members of the
general public. There is no entrance fee for those attending only
the retail event. Come early for the best selection of merchandise,
because a lot of selling gets done during the registration hour,
before the first session at 9 a.m.
[to top of second column
in this article] |
"We have seen a tremendous upswing in interest in the idea of
incorporating organic principles into home gardens over the past
several years and are happy to introduce this new, exciting day of
programming," said Chuck Voigt, U of I Extension specialist.
Organic Gardening Day 2004 is sponsored by U of I Extension and is
open to professionals as well as members of the general public. Cost
of registration, including lunch, is $49 per person. This includes
seating in the lectures, an information packet, an herbal-theme
lunch buffet and access to the retail area. There will be vegetarian
options on this buffet, or a vegan plate can be arranged in advance.
Lunch reservations must be received no later than Nov. 12. To
reserve registration and lunch, mail checks, payable to the
University of Illinois, to Organic Gardening Day 2004, Attention:
Carol Preston, S-406 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL
61801.
Space in the lecture room is limited to 250 participants, and
on-site registration will be allowed only if space is available.
On-site registration will also cost $49 but will not include lunch.
For more information, call (217) 333-7738 or e-mail
preston1@uiuc.edu and mention
Organic Gardening Day 2004. Credit card orders cannot be accepted.
[University of Illinois news
release]
|
