Take a walk through the garden with Farmer John (John Ferree) who has had nearly 20 years of experiences as an organic grower of vegetables and cut flowers in the Midwest. We will look at live pest issues and discuss how to best deal with pest and disease challenges using organic methods. John takes a whole system approach to pest and disease management that considers climate, season, soils, plant stress, and fertility.
Starting this spring, we’ll have a variety of innovated programs available for youth and adults. Our Dig It! Youth Summer Series is open to children 7-11 years old and starts on June 23. For the gardening enthusiast, we’ll offer 5, one day sessions, focusing on a variety of topics. All OUTDOOR programs will take place at U Dig It! Community Garden, 5810 E Bryant Rd, Ludington, MI 49431. All INDOOR classes will be at the United Methodist Church of Ludington.
YOUTH Program
Dig It! Youth Summer Series Thursdays, 10am-12pm | June 23-August 11 | U Dig It Community Garden
Welcome to the Dig It! Youth Summer Series sponsored by U Dig It Community Garden (UDICG), AFFEW (A few Friends for the Environment of the World), MSU Extension, Sable Dunes Audubon Society, and Lakeshore Food Club. This is a FREE interactive gardening experience focused on nutrition and creative nature exploration, in addition to hands-on planting and harvesting. Students will be designing journals to record weekly sightings out at the garden. This effort will help support healthy food access in Mason County. A portion of the produce participants grow will be donated to the Lakeshore Food Club, and some will go home to share with families. This series runs for eight weeks. Participants are expected to attend at least six of the sessions.
If your child loves to create and get their hands dirty, this program is a perfect fit! Space is limited. Register soon! We are looking forward to meeting your child in the garden!
Get signed up by calling the MSU Extension office at 231-845-3361 or email gibso123@msu.edu.
ADULT Programs
Vermicomposting for Your Garden Tuesday, May 17, 6:00-7 pm
Vermicomposting puts worms to work to help solve some of our planet’s most pressing problems. Composting worms rescue organic waste from landfills, safely sequester carbon, and regenerate the soil that forms the basis of our food system. Compared to conventional fertilizers, worm castings are safer for humans and the environment. Most importantly, worm castings offer practical benefits for farmers and growers, such as slow-release nutrients, disease resistance, and enhanced water retention.
In this hands-on presentation, participants will learn about the benefits of using worm castings in home gardens and how to set up a basic home vermicomposting bin to turn kitchen scraps into plant food. Participants will have the opportunity to touch, smell, and purchase red wiggler worms and worm castings produced locally at Michigan Worm Works in Manistee.
Michigan Worm Works started from humble beginnings in 2016. Founder Elana Warsen brought a bucket of composting worms into her laundry room to help reduce her family’s food waste. She started sharing worms and castings with family and friends, and soon discovered that there was an unmet demand for safe, natural products to regenerate soil. Today Michigan Worm Works is Manistee’s first and only commercial vermicomposting company.
This session is FREE. Registration is required. Get signed up by emailing udicgarden@gmail.com Sara Bolan, UDICG Director.
Disease and Pest Management in the Garden Saturday, June 18, 10:00 am-11:30 am
Take a walk through the garden with Farmer John (John Ferree) who has had nearly 20 years of experiences as an organic grower of vegetables and cut flowers in the Midwest. We will look at live pest issues and discuss how to best deal with pest and disease challenges using organic methods. John takes a whole system approach to pest and disease management that considers climate, season, soils, plant stress, and fertility.
This session is FREE. Registration is required. Please call the MSU Extension office at 231-845-3361.
Freezing and Blanching Workshop Wednesday, June 22, 5:30 pm-8:00 pm
Wade Syers, MSU Extension Food Safety Educator, will be discussing what foods need to be blanched and why, what foods freeze well and those that don’t. Participants will engage in a freezer jam demonstration with samples to take home. This session is FREE. Space is limited to 12 and registration is required.
For more information contact Wade Syers at 231-724-6361 or syerswad@msu.edu
Seed Saving Workshop Wednesday, August 24, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
Ann Gilchrist, local garden enthusiast, will be discussing the differences between GMO/bioengineered, hybrid, organic and heirloom seeds. Participants will learn which garden vegetables are good candidates for seed saving and how to collect and store seeds for maximal germination. She will also be sharing information on collecting seeds from native plants and their germination requirements. This session is FREE. Registration is required. Please call the MSU Extension office at 231-845-3361.
Tomato Canning/ Food Preservation Workshop September TBA, 5:30 pm-8:30 pm United Methodist Church, 5810 E. Bryant Road, Ludington
Join Wade Syers, MSU Extension Food Safety Educator, as he shares the steps to safe food preservation. Participants will engage in a hot water bath canning demonstration with samples to take home. This session is FREE. Space is limited and registration is required.
Registration link will be available in August on this page. Follow the U Dig It Community Garden-Mason County Facebook page to get the latest updates.
For more information contact Wade Syers at 231-724-6361 or syerswad@msu.edu
Representatives from Sable Dunes Audubon Society will talk about the many birds seen around the garden and we’ll build birdhouses to attract MORE!
Get signed up by calling the MSU Extension office at 231-845-3361. We’ll email you a registration form to complete your registration and a list of instructions to make it a great experience. You can also Get Registered online. Space is limited! WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF ANY OF THE SESSIONS YOU REGISTERED FOR ARE FULL!!
Learn about the many treasures found in the garden and surrounding areas on our nature scavenger hunt!
Get signed up by calling the MSU Extension office at 231-845-3361. We’ll email you a registration form to complete your registration and a list of instructions to make it a great experience. You can also Get Registered online. Space is limited! WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF ANY OF THE SESSIONS YOU REGISTERED FOR ARE FULL!!
The class will meet at the Lakeshore Resource Center due to rain!
We will be exploring different ways to make art with a variety of items, many found at the garden!
Get signed up by calling the MSU Extension office at 231-845-3361. We’ll email you a registration form to complete your registration and a list of instructions to make it a great experience. You can also Get Registered online. Space is limited! WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF ANY OF THE SESSIONS YOU REGISTERED FOR ARE FULL!!
Learn about yummy veggies. We will be picking vegetables and replanting a new crop!
Get signed up by calling the MSU Extension office at 231-845-3361. We’ll email you a registration form to complete your registration and a list of instructions to make it a great experience. You can also Get Registered online. Space is limited! WE WILL CONTACT YOU IF ANY OF THE SESSIONS YOU REGISTERED FOR ARE FULL!!
We will look at live pest issues and discuss how to best deal with pest and disease challenges using organic methods. John takes a whole system approach to pest and disease management that considers climate, season, soils, plant stress, and fertility.
Dunes Audubon Society, and Lakeshore Food Club. This is a FREE interactive gardening experience focused on nutrition and creative nature exploration, in addition to hands-on planting and harvesting. Students will be designing journals to record weekly sightings out at the garden. This effort will help support healthy food access in Mason County. A portion of the produce participants grow will be donated to the Lakeshore Food Club, and some will go home to share with families. This series runs for eight weeks. Participants are expected to attend at least six of the sessions. 
worm castings offer practical benefits for farmers and growers, such as slow-release nutrients, disease resistance, and enhanced water retention. 
in a freezer jam demonstration with samples to take home. This session is FREE. Space is limited to 12 and registration is required. 
GMO/bioengineered, hybrid, organic and heirloom seeds. Participants will learn which garden vegetables are good candidates for seed saving and how to collect and store seeds for maximal germination. She will also be sharing information on collecting seeds from native plants and their germination requirements. This session is FREE. Registration is required. Please call the MSU Extension office at 231-845-3361.
Join Wade Syers, MSU Extension Food Safety Educator, as he shares the steps to safe food preservation. Participants will engage in a hot water bath canning demonstration with samples to take home. This session is FREE. Space is limited and registration is required. 
new crop!