The Nature Preservation Foundation, managers of the Hope Royal Botanical Gardens, launched its backyard garden lecture series in mid-July.

This comprehensive lecture series will take place on July 10 and 12 at the Shell Bandstand within Hope Gardens in St Andrew.

This initiative aims to empower professionals and retired citizens living in Kingston and St. Andrew by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to start and maintain their own sustainable backyard gardens. The programme fee is $7,000.00 per person.

Derrick Simon, commercial services manager, and Jeffery McKenzie, plant nursery manager, will conduct the lectures. They bring extensive expertise in agricultural practices and horticulture. Participants will benefit from both theoretical knowledge and practical demonstrations, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience.

Workshop objectives:

• Promote Hope Gardens as an agricultural and botanical training and education centre.

• Tap into an additional income stream for the gardens.

• Raise awareness about the benefits of backyard farming.

Course content

Participants will learn essential skills for backyard gardening, including site selection, land preparation, soil additives, crop selection, planting techniques, crop protection, pest and fungus identification, intervention methods, plant nutrition, irrigation, harvesting, and container gardening.

The course also includes a practical demonstration and hands-on practice for trainees.