POTSDAM — Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of St. Lawrence County is offering the Seed to Supper gardening program to county residents this spring at the Potsdam Public Library.

This free course includes six weekly classes geared toward low-income beginning gardeners who are interested in growing healthy food for their household.

The course will cover how to plan and plant a garden, manage pests, weed and water, and use the harvest.

The focus will be on creative ways to contain costs and build relationships within the community.

CCE’s Community Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener Volunteers have been preparing hands-on activities for the course, aimed at building confidence and supporting learning.

A grant of $2,000 from Cornell University will cover a course manual as well as garden kits for the participants who complete the course.

The kits will include basic tools, seeds, seedlings, potting mix, a soil test and more.

Sessions will take place on Wednesday evenings 6-8 p.m. from April 17 to May 22.

CCE is seeking 15 participants for the course who are adult residents of SLC, and self-identify as having a low income or experiencing food insecurity.

Having a garden plot is not a requirement as container gardening techniques will be included in the course.

The food insecurity rate in St. Lawrence County is high at 12%.

Providing healthy food and a calming outdoor hobby for yourself and your family can be a powerful experience to counter stress while building knowledge and self-sufficiency skills.

Additionally, participants will have an opportunity to connect to local resources and a support system to face their challenges.

After four years of offering Seed to Supper, CCE has heard positive feedback from graduates.

100% said they  plan to use the course book in the future, plan to grow some of their own food the following season, and would recommend the course to others.

As one graduate put it, “I feel that I will be successful this year after taking this course, and I am grateful for all the time you put into making this happen.” And another: “I am so excited about my garden and have high hopes that the results will be wonderful.”

If you are interested in signing up, visit bit.ly/S2SinSLC. Contact Community Horticulture Educator Erica LaFountain if you have questions or work at an agency that can help promote Seed to Supper: ENL2@cornell.edu, 315-379-9192 x240.