Spring Gardening Day - Acra

Schedule for March 29th in Acra

8:00 – 9:00 AM: Registration. Light breakfast will be served. MGV Marketplace will be open all day.

9:00 – 10:00 AM: Seed to Vase: Crop Planning for Mixed Bouquets
Presented by Master Gardener Intern Nicole Schmitt

10:30 – 11:30 AM: Current Perspectives on Integrated Pest Management
Presented by Master Gardener Frieda Pearce

12:00 – 1:00 PM: The ABC’s of Honeybees
Presented by Master Gardener Intern Caroline Cosgrove

1:30 – 2:30 PM: The Night Shift: Creating A Garden to attract Nighttime Pollinators
Presented by Master Gardener Intern Ilze Earner

3:00 – 4:00 PM: OPTIONAL ADD-ON CLASS Build your own Worm Bin!
Instructed by Master Gardener Devon Russ
Pre-registration is required. Please note that this class will take place in our 3-season Hoop House. Temperatures may still be low at the end of March, so be sure to dress appropriately to be in a wind-protected outdoor space for an hour.

MGV Marketplace

Browse a variety of items, including used gardening books, gently used tools, flower pots, tick removal tools, houseplant cuttings, and more. We’ll also have new gardening gloves for sale and a special "Fill a Tote with Books" offer.

Please note that the Marketplace is cash only, so be sure to bring cash with you! Every purchase helps fund our volunteers and the programs they lead. No reasonable offer will be refused—come find a great deal and support a great cause!

More about the classes and speakers

Seed to Vase: Crop Planning for Mixed Bouquets

Want a garden that will help you create a beautiful mixed bouquet? We will review the key elements of bouquet design then explore cut flower varieties and their growing habits to develop a personalized cutting garden. You will leave this interactive workshop with a unique crop plan and the knowledge to grow your own bouquets from seed to vase.

Nicole Schmitt is a 2024 graduate of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program and an avid gardener. She’s an active member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and a proud graduate of The Tulip Workshop. Nicole is also the founding owner, farmer, and florist behind Hannacroix Hill Farm, located in Climax, NY, where she grows and sells locally grown flowers year-round to regional florists and direct to the community through retail bouquets. Her passion for flowers, farming, and sustainable gardening practices shines through every aspect of her community work.

Current Perspectives on Integrated Pest Management

Transform your lawn into a beautiful, sustainable, pollinator-friendly meadow! In this one-hour class, you'll learn how to evaluate your site, prepare the land, and select appropriate plants based on your desired style. Explore how to develop a budget, source plants, and plan for long-term care of your meadow. The methodology for this class will focus on using seedlings rather than seeds. This class is ideal for anyone looking to enhance biodiversity, attract pollinators, and create a visually stunning landscape.

Frieda Pearce is a Master Gardener through CCE Columbia-Greene. As her undergraduate minor was botany, she has always been interested in flora, however, her exposure centered around tropical and subtropical species. After a career in research and teaching, she has now reverted to discovering North American habitat, its species, and their maintenance. She has developed a passion for vegetable gardening, growing trees and natives, and trying to manage their viability without the use of pesticides and repellents. She divides her efforts between Columbia County and Riverside Park in New York.

The ABC’s of Honeybees

Discover the fascinating world of honeybees in The ABC’s of Honeybees, presented by a Cornell Master Beekeeper. This visually rich talk explores the evolution, behavior, and essential role of managed bee species in pollination and global food production. Learn how honeybees thrive, their incredible foraging abilities, and what it takes to support a healthy colony.

Caroline Cosgrove is a beekeeper in Windham, NY, managing apiaries in Long Island, Dutchess, and Ulster Counties. She produces honey infusions and syrups, including elderberry syrup and fermented garlic-infused honey. When not tending to the bees, Caroline spends most of her time talking about bees and planting food for her family and pollinators. Caroline also enjoys spending time with her children, Sienna and Sebastian, her horse, Thunder, flock of chickens, and herd of rabbits.

The Night Shift: Creating A Garden to attract Nighttime Pollinators

Just like the city, the garden never sleeps. When bees have gone home and butterflies have crept under leaves, a new crew of pollinators emerges from the shadows ready to work. We will discuss how to attract and support these unique denizens of the dark through color, selection of night-blooming plants and the importance of turning out the lights.

About Ilze Earner: After 25 years of teaching and writing about human behavior, I am turning to working on what I call the 'last chapter, best chapter' of my life. Following up on a life-long passion for plants and gardening I completed the Master Gardener program through Cornell Cooperative Extension last spring and have since embarked on sharing knowledge, ideas and inspiration with the gardening community.

Build Your Own Worm Bin!

Optional add on class, pre-registration is required. Please note that this class will take place in our 3-season Hoop House. Temperatures may still be low at the end of March, so be sure to dress appropriately to be in a wind-protected outdoor space for an hour.

Learn how special composting worms can turn kitchen scraps into a wonderful compost that will help your plants grow. You will make your own worm composting bin and add the worms and everything they need. You will go home with a living compost system, designed to work indoors, along with all the information you need to keep it running for years. Worm composting is a fun family project!

Devon Russ has been gardening on the Mountaintop in Greene County for over 30 years. She loves to plant flower gardens, vegetables, native wildflowers . . . and lots and lots of trees! Devon composts using different methods, and works at keeping her tools in good order to help with all those planting projects.