With inflation causing prices of vegetables to continue rising, now may be the ripe time to plant your own garden.
That was the word from local gardener Jim Machuga, who is offering free vegetable gardening classes at the Main Street Mercantile at 45 Main St. in Bradford. The classes will begin at noon on May 22, June 12 and June 26 at the store and are open to the public.
Machuga, who owns Bradford Nature Company with his wife, Selene, said they have offered the classes for a number of years to the public. The couple, who homestead and garden at their rural property in Bradford, had previously offered full-day gardening sessions at other locations. They have since scaled back the classes.
“I’ve condensed it down to an hour or an hour and 15 minutes because I want to keep it simple just to get people involved,” Machuga explained. “I think the main reason right now is if anybody is watching inflation, especially with food inflation, there has never been a better time to plant a garden.”
He went on to explain that a $2 tomato plant purchased and planted locally can yield a half-dozen up to two dozen tomatoes by the end of the season.
“That would cost you $20 (for tomatoes) in the store, so that’s a ten-fold increase on your investment,” he speculated.
Machuga said the class will work with students on which plants to start from seeds, and which plants to buy from local nurseries for the garden due to the shorter growing season in the area.
“Tomatoes and peppers are usually better to buy the plant, especially if you’re a first-timer,” he advised.
Machuga noted that there are four parts to the class, with the first part explaining the benefits of gardening. This includes the physical and emotional aspect of gardening outside in the sun and fresh air.
“We also talk about planting your garden and we go over all the things you have to look at, such as how much sunlight and water you have,” he continued. Also discussed is whether to have a raised bed or not, and what kind of plants should be grown in the local climate.
“That’s why zucchini and squash do so well (locally) because they’re a little bit more of a cold-loving plant,” he remarked. “We also talk about planting your garden and we get into soil types.”
He said the last part of the class describes how to maintain the garden, as well as yourself during the process.
“A lot of people are out there turning soil” which can lead to muscle and back strain, he commented. “I’m in my mid-50s and when I do the spring tilling by hand, my body feels a little bit differently than it did 10 years ago when I did this.”
With that in mind, he will advise students on stretches that may prevent strain and other physical issues.
“We’ll be touching the surface on a lot of different concepts, such as hydroponics and biodynamics,” he added. “But I’ll just mention that because the stuff I really focus on is what people need to know to get their garden started.”
Machuga noted that he also carries Fruition seeds that are locally grown in the Finger Lakes region of New York state and climatized to the local region.
For more information on the classes, or to RSVP, contact Machuga at (814)558-9895 or the Main Street Mercantile at (814)368-2206.
