Ecological Culture Initiative Offering Organic Gardening Classes In Hampton Bays

The Ecological Culture Initiative is offering organic gardening classes starting Friday, March 30, in Hampton Bays, where students can learn the basic skills and knowledge to develop a bio-intensive vegetable garden.

Topics will include permaculture design and application, soil analysis and amendments, compost preparation, plant propagation, rain harvesting and irrigation, organic pest and disease management, edible natives, pollinators, seed saving, and winterization. Classes will take place at the Lodge at Squiretown Park, at 62 Red Creek Road.

The course will be a combination of both classroom instruction and fieldwork. The program is divided into four units of eight classes each. Students who complete the whole series of 32 classes will be awarded a certificate in organic gardening.

The unit schedule for 2018 is Organic Garden Design & Seed Propagation, March 30 to May 18; Soil Science, Plant Health & Rain Harvest, May 25 to July 13; Native Plants, Pollinators & Food Forests, July 20 to September 7; and Harvesting, Preserving & Winterizing, September 14 to November 2.

The fee per unit is $240 for Southampton Town residents and $250 for non-residents. For the full program, the fee is $960 for residents and $1,000 for non residents. Each unit has an additional $30 fee for class materials and literature.

Classes are open to anyone age 16 and older. Call the Town of Southampton Parks & Recreation Department at 631-728-8585, or visit 6 Newtown Road, Hampton Bays, to register.

For more information, visit eciny.org/curriculum.