CLINTON — To help area residents start gardening, the Sustainable Clinton series offers a feature presentation by Roger and Jan Rittmer, master gardeners from DeWitt, on Sunday, April 10.
The program will be held at The Canticle, home of the Sisters of St. Francis, 841 13th Ave. N., from 2-3 p.m. Fifth in the Sustainable Clinton series, it is free and open to the public, and no pre-registration is required.
The Rittmers, who completed their Master Gardener certification at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Clinton, have been encouraging and assisting local residents in starting “kitchen gardens” since 2003.
The Rittmers’ presentation will cover site selection – picking the best spot for the best results; soil preparation; when, what and how much to plant; weeding; cultivating and harvesting. The presenters will also discuss raised and container gardens.
Experienced gardeners, including the Clinton Franciscans who maintain a large vegetable garden near The Canticle, will be on hand to share advice and cautions with first-time planters.
For more information on the vegetable garden workshop, call Sisters of St. Francis, (563) 242-7611 or visit www.clintonfranciscans.com.