News Release
For Immediate Release — April 27, 2009
Helping Gardens Grow
UT Offers Educational Opportunity for Homeowners and Novice Gardeners
SPRING HILL, Tenn. — For many homeowners, the “fruits” of their backyards are shrubs, flowers and lawn grasses. But a growing number of Tennesseans are growing real fruits in an effort to be healthier and save money. At the UT Institute of Agriculture’s Fruits of the Backyard Field Day, visitors can learn useful tips for both the lawn and the garden. This free educational event takes place on Tuesday, June 16, at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Spring Hill. Fruits of the Backyard is ideal for homeowners who want to get the most out of their yards, whether it be creating a beautiful lawn or managing a small fruit orchard.
The highlight of Fruits of the Backyard will be the hands-on informational sessions. Led by UT experts, topics will include proper grape and blueberry management, helpful irrigation techniques and productive backyard lawn grasses and shrubbery. These informal sessions are a great time to ask questions and discuss ideas. In addition to the presentations, visitors can also enjoy tours of the Middle Tennessee REC fruit orchards and a trade show featuring area merchants and their equipment as well as exhibits from university departments offering free production information.
The purpose of Fruits of the Backyard is to offer homeowners and even commercial producers an opportunity to learn about lawn and garden management strategies that are both effective and economical. It’s especially important for the growing number of novice gardeners to have a plan of action in place so they can enjoy the “fruits” of their labor.
Fruits of the Backyard gets started at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. The program ends at 2:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the website, http://middletennessee.tennessee.edu or call 931-486-2129.
The Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center is located on Highway 31, just minutes south of Nashville. Take exit 53 from I-65 and follow the signs to Columbia. The Research and Education Center is on the east side of Hwy. 31 across from the GM Plant at Spring Hill.
###
Contact:
The Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, 931-486-2129
The complete Fruits of the Backyard program