I do believe I am going to take a couple of continuing education courses at the local community college next semester. Amanda has been going there for credit classes and since she doesn't drive........yet and only has one class on Tues and Thurs, I usually just take some knitting and/or a book and sit in the lobby of the student services building for an hour or so of quiet time. Yesterday, for the heck of it, I picked up one of the course schedules for this fall. Under the section specially for Senior Adults, they have a 5 lecture series on gardening in our area. Each lecture is presented by a local Master Gardener. When I got home I checked online for next semester and the lectures will be on...... Soils - getting our black clay soil ready for planting, what works and what doesn't Bed preparation - amendments and mulches Asian-Inspired Gardening and Landscape Design Shade Gardening Rainwater Harvesting in the Urban Landscape And I am going to take a Ceramics class. Starting with beginning throwing, learning to use the wheel and different methods of forming the piece, how to use different kilns, painting and producing finished pieces. I have always wanted to learn to make pottery. I used to paint ceramics years ago and really enjoyed it but those were molded pieces ready to be cleaned and painted. It is a 15 week course and the number of finished pieces we each make is determined by the size of the class. I am hoping to take the Sunday morning 9-noon class, maybe there won't be as many members When I told Randy and Amanda last evening, she commented on how weird it is to think of her Mom going to classes at the same campus. I guess I will have to promise not to speak to her when I see her
Woohoo go Toni! My brother teaches these types of continuing education classes, his course is called 'Garden Layout and Maintenance'. He absolutely loves it. Sounds like you may learn a new trick or three Let us know how it goes.
Wow, Toni, I'd think with your garden wisdom you could probably qualify to teach a course, maybe in garden ornamentation? Hope you have a great time wedging your clay!
Good for you Toni!! The pottery course sounds fascinating as it's something I've always quite fancied doing. You must show us any pieces you make during the 15 weeks.
I am really getting excited about the courses, I just wish I didn't have to wait until mid-January for them to begin.
Congratulations on your decision toni. One is never too old to learn something new, especially when it's something that interests you. Gardening classes sounds such fun! I did ceramics a long time ago, and enjoyed it.
The ceramics sounds great! Sunday morning is also a great time to grocery shop but yours sounds like more fun. Hopefully, you can learn something from the gardening one. If not maybe you can teach one sometime!
My biggest problem in the gardening course will be keeping my mouth shut I'm sure. Asking questions is a good thing, but I do tend to 'question' things sometimes more than I should. But since these gardeners actually garden in our conditions instead of just teaching from a book written by/for some other part of the country, we should get along just fine :-D I do plan on taking copious notes and dropping GardenStews name into the conversation whenever I can.
Good for you toni sounds like a really good classes.You will have to teach us some new things.I know you will have fun.
Oh, how I envy you this experience. 1/8th of the Norwegian population is located in Oslo, and a lot more in it's immediate surroundings. They have proper winters, hot summers and limey soil, and all gardening books are written to accomodate them. Nobody ever thinks of us with the thaw-freeze-winters and acid soil. We have to learn by our mistakes and from other gardeners in our area. Pick their brains, Toni!
Toni, Do not worry about keeping mum as instructors will likely appreciate all that you have to bring to the table. I took a couple of wood carving classes a few years ago, and our instructor gave each of us a free pass to a local historical mill festival. We sat under a big tent, and carved all day while people came by and watched. (I did get a few breaks to walk around and watch how molasses is made,witness the Civil War re-enactment, and to visit other exhibits... and eat, of course.) Have fun & enjoy!
