GARDENING & OUTDOORS
Introduction to Animal Tracking
Discover the many mysteries of the creatures that inhabit nature.
This class will increase your awareness of and ability to
find and interpret tracks, scats and disturbances left behind by
mammals and birds. This day-long course including fieldtrip (be
prepared for the weather) will help you better understand and
appreciate the environment by learning how to identify animal
families by their prints and signs. Rob Speiden is certified by
Cybertracker as an animal track and sign interpreter. Bring a
note pad, pencil, a bag lunch and a camera (optional). $40
Saturday 5/5, 8am-2pm, Instructor’s house, Christiansburg
Really Natural Foods and Medicine
The world of tasty, edible plants includes more than what you
can find in the grocery store – some of them are growing right
outside your door! Join us if you’re interested in issues of
health and sustainability or you’d enjoy a themed hike. There
will be an inside class portion and an outside walk so be prepared for the weather. Rob Speiden will guide this exploration
of the wild edible and medicinal plants you can pick to eat or
treat symptoms of common illnesses . Poisonous look-alike
plants will also be identified. Rob teaches survival and tracking
skills to Search and Rescue volunteers and the public. $20
Saturday 5/5, 3-6pm, Instructor’s house, Christiansburg
Backyard Geology
Thanks to the Pulaski and Salem Faults crisscrossing the New
River Valley, there's a wealth of geology in our backyards. After
a brief overview of the kinds of rocks in our area, we'll talk about
how they got here and how they affect where we live, work, and
play. Nancy Brauer has a Master's degree in geology from Virginia Tech and flexes her geology muscles when hiking. $30
Thursdays, 2/2-2/16, 5:30-7pm, Y Center Conference Rm.
Principles of Solar Greenhouses
The principles for designing and building a solar greenhouse will
be discussed. Examples of neighborhood, backyard and residential lean-to solar greenhouses will be shown. The last hour of
the course will be a tour of the Roper Solar Greenhouse at the
Hale-YMCA Community Gardens. $10, all proceeds go to the Y.
Tuesday 2/7, 6:30-8:30pm, Start at Y Center
Introduction to Fly Fishing, with Casting
Have you wanted to try fly fishing but been put off by the unfamiliar jargon and bewildering array of gear? This class will provide 8 hours of classroom instruction, plus a casting lesson and a
guided trip to one of our local streams. No equipment required.
Text (highly recommended) Dave Whitlock, L.L. Bean Fly Fishing
Handbook, 2nd ed. (Lyons. Press, 2006). Instructor Bruce
Cantrell, a retired college English professor, has been enjoying fly
fishing for 25 years. $75
Wednesdays, 3/7-3/28, 7-9pm, Y Center
Saturday 3/17 - Casting workshop; Saturday 3/31 - Stream Trip
Growing Great Tomatoes
Learn which tomatoes have really great flavor and reliable production and are able to hold up under regular garden conditions.
You will learn trellising methods, soil preparation, and how to
avoid the brown crispy foliage blues so a bountiful harvest will be
yours until frost. You’ll even take home some tomato seedlings to
get you started. Instructor Johanna Cricenti has been growing
organically certified vegetables since 2002 and Jenny Schwanke is
the Y’s Garden Coordinator. $15
Sunday 5/6, 1-4pm, Hale-YMCA Gardens
Sustainable Urban Agriculture Series
This series will cover the essentials in sustainable urban agriculture; Food, waste processing (reuse/recycling), energy, and materials used will be covered. Sessions 1 and 2 will cover primarily
raised bed gardening, Session 3 will wrap up the series by connecting the components into a useable urban system. Instructor
Jay Boggess has a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from
the University of Oregon. $15 per class or $40 for all 3.
1. Raised Bed Gardening I: Discussion on topics such as sustainability in the big picture, soil and plant science, and design and
construction of a raised bed.
Thursday 2/2, 7-9pm, Y Center
2. Raised Bed Gardening II: This second class will continue to
focus raised bed gardening specifically: fertilizer, earthworms
compost and plants.
Thursday 2/9 7-9pm, Y Center
3. Connecting the garden and house: Discussion on do-it–
yourself water catchment, solar active and passive design and
other aspects of sustainable urban living.
Thursday 2/16, 7-9pm, Y Center
Worm Composting Workshop
Vermiculture or worm farming is an easy and productive way to
create organic compost for gardening while processing home food
waste. Learn about the process, how to create an easy system
and how to keep the critters happy. Includes a hands-on demonstration building a compost system. Instructor Jay Boggess has
taught composting and vermicomposting for the Y for 2 years.
Saturday 4/28, 10am-12pm, Hale-YMCA Gardens
Huckleberry Trail Geology Walk
Stroll 2 miles of the Huckleberry Trail from the New River Valley
Mall through the Coal Miners Heritage Park and learn about the
geology under your feet! We'll cross three faults and outcrops
with rocks from 500 million-year-old shales through 300 million-year-old coal beds. Wear comfortable shoes, bring your
camera, a sturdy bag for rock samples, and your curiosity. Nancy Brauer is a Jill of all trades with a Master's degree in
geology from Virginia Tech. FREE, part of the Y Hikes Schedule
Sunday 4/1, 1-3pm, Meet at trailhead at NRV Mall parking lot www.vtymca.org YMCA at Virginia Tech 540-961-9622
Composting Workshop
Basic introduction to making compost. Composting is an important part of sustainable urban agriculture. We’ll learn how composting works, how to build a simple bin and layer a pile to create a fast, hot decomposition of food and yard waste. We’ll
also learn about two types of composting with
worms (vermiculture). Taught by Jay Boggess. $15, plus $5
supply fee to instructor.
Saturday 3/31, 10am-12pm, Hale-YMCA Gardens
Growing Small Fruits in the Garden
Grow your own favorite fruits! This 2-evening class will be a
crash course in growing strawberries, blueberries, brambles,
gooseberries, currents, persimmons, and pawpaws. We’ll discuss growing conditions, soil, diseases, insect problems, maintenance, ideas for dealing with the fruit and when and where to
purchase. Instructor Erica Jones has been gardening since she
was 12 and is chief designer and maintainer of a public garden
in Craig County. She is also a Master Gardener. $25
Mondays, 2/6 & 2/13, 6:00-8:00pm, Y Center
Landscape Solutions
Have a problem in your yard? Want to share knowledge with
other gardeners? Join us for discussion for the first class and
then we’ll travel to your yards to look at problems and solutions
to those problems. Class will have one lecture covering common landscaping mistakes, pruning, selecting plants; yard trips
will be arranged for the following week. Bring photographs of
your problem areas to the first class. Instructor Erica Jones
does landscaping and yard work for individuals, has gone
through the extension master gardener program and has
worked at two garden centers. $20
Mondays, 2/6 & 2/13, 11am-1pm, Y Center Conference Room
Take one session or all three. Each class builds upon prior
classes for full season information. Barry Robinson has 40
years of gardening experience and a BS in Horticulture. $15
1. Planning Your Garden: Learn sustainable practices and principles for vegetable gardening and how planning ahead improves the outcome of your efforts. $15
2. Seed Starting and Transplanting: Learn seed starting and
your garden. Come dressed to get your hands dirty, and bring
containers to take home materials donated by local garden centers. $15
3. Garden Care and Trouble-Shooting: Learn about planting
successively, maintaining crops, dealing with environmental issues and reducing & addressing plant diseases, insect pests
and weed problems. A follow-up on-site garden diagnosis date
to be determined at this class meeting. $15
Learn how to properly prune fruit trees to maximize fruit production and reduce pesticide use. Basics of fruit tree physiology
orchard. Dress to be outdoors. Participants can bring handpruners and loppers, other materials supplied. Barry Robinson
taught these techniques for several years. Two sessions offered,
please choose one. $15
