The Ecological Culture Initiative, a nonprofit based in Hampton Bays, is offering two series of classes starting May 26 to work toward an organic gardening certificate.
With a focus on vegetable gardening, 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. The instructors are Rachel Stephens, the owner of Sweet Woodland Farm in Hampton Bays, and Marc Fasanella, Ecological Culture Initiative founder and education director, and there will be guest lecturers as well.
The classes will be offered Fridays through July 14 at the Lodge at Squiretown Park, 62 Red Creek Road, Hampton Bays. “Organic Garden Design & Seed Propagation” runs from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and “Soil Science, Plant Health & Rain Harvest” runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Additional, optional field work can be scheduled Tuesdays and Saturdays between 12:30 and 6:30 p.m.
The minimum age to join a class is 16. The fee per series is $250, or $240 for a Southampton Town resident. For more information, visit eciny.org/curriculum.