UNCE offering gardening classes, free pesticide workshop

It’s the time of year for the University of Nevada Extension office to offer more informative workshops and classes than ever before and the cooperative has been busy.

Registration has begun for the very popular “Grow Your Own, Nevada” classes touted to be a “back-to-basics” guide for a great harvest.

The classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Thursday from April 3 through May 22. Each class fee is $10, but those who sign up for the entire eight-week course can get a $30 discount and pay only $50.

Seating is limited and it is advisable to register now. Master Gardener spokesperson said, “More and more people are interested in two things. They want to save money and they want to know where their produce is coming from and how it’s grown.”

Some facts stated in the Grow Your Own brochure are quite startling. For instance, did you know the average carrot travels over 1,800 miles before it hits your dinner plate?

The cost of produce has been on the rise for the past decade and the brochures state the 93 percent of what the consumer pays goes to processing, packaging, transportation costs even before it gets to the food brokers and other infrastructure.

If you’re looking to lose a little weight and get a workout, try gardening for 45 minutes. It burns as many calories as 30 minutes of aerobics and helps to feed your family at the same time.

The subjects for the spring Grow Your Own classes are: beneficial insects and plants; soil basics and the best amendments; growing tomatoes; the ABCs of fruit trees;

Gardening in raised beds, how to keep it organic; beekeeping and pest control.

The classes will be held at the UNCE offices, 1651 E. Calvada Blvd. Call Woodland at 727-5532 to register.

A workshop for those wanting to learn pesticide application and training is available through a free continuing education workshop March 27. Although the live event is being held in Pershing County, it will be available by video conference to the UNCE offices from 8 a.m. to noon.

The following topics will be presented at the training:

• Integrated Pest Management and EDDMapS (Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System), a web-based mapping system for documenting invasive species distribution, presented by Joy Paterson, Integrated Pest Management Educator, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension;

• Weed Management Research Update, presented by Brad Schultz, Humboldt County Extension educator, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension;

• Measuring Pesticides, presented by Steve Foster, Pershing County Extension educator, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension;

• Irrigation Management During Drought, presented by Jay Davison, Cooperative Extension alternative crop and forage specialist.

Participants must have a current Nevada Pesticide Applicators Certificate or Pest Control License to receive Continuing Education Units of credit, and should bring their certification card or license.

There is no charge for continuing education credits, and applicators attending for CEUs will not take the applicator certification exam. Those wanting to become certified by the state to work in pest control can register at http://www.unce.unr.edu/programs/sites/pesticide/course/ and follow the links. The required book is available online as well.