Saturday March 7, 2026 | 10am
Choose Your Price: $30 to $5
Presented by Adam Bigelow of Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions
Grow real food. Skip the chemicals. Start this spring.
You don’t need a lot of land, a lot of money, or a green thumb handed down from generations past. What you need is a solid starting point, and that’s exactly what this class delivers. Adam Bigelow breaks down organic gardening into clear, practical steps for anyone ready to get their hands in the soil. Tomatoes, greens, squash, herbs… this is where your garden story begins.
Western North Carolina soil is genuinely special. Rich, biodiverse, and full of life when treated right, it gives local gardeners a serious head start. This class shows you how to read that soil, feed it well, and set up a garden that produces real food without synthetic fertilizers or chemical sprays.
What You’ll Learn:
- Where to Begin: How to pick your garden spot, prep your beds, and set yourself up for a productive first season
- Organic Soil Care: What your soil actually needs and how compost, mulch, and natural amendments do the heavy lifting
- Planting the Right Way: Spacing, timing, and crop selection for WNC’s unique growing season
- Pest and Weed Management: Low-fuss, chemical-free methods that work with your garden instead of against it
- Food You Can Trust: Why organic methods produce cleaner, more flavorful harvests and how that difference shows up on your plate
This beginner-friendly class is perfect for first-time gardeners, backyard dreamers, and anyone who has tried and struggled before. No prior experience needed. Just show up ready to learn and leave with a real plan for your spring garden.
About Adam:
Adam Bigelow, known as The Joyful Botanist, is a passionate wildflower expert and storyteller based in Southern Appalachia. With years of study and field experience exploring the diverse flora of our region, Adam has dedicated himself to preserving the natural beauty of these mountains while educating others about the fascinating wildflowers that call them home. His engaging presentations combine botanical knowledge with captivating stories that bring the mountain flora to life. “Somewhere along the way, he accidentally fell in love with wildflowers”—and his enthusiasm is absolutely contagious.
Register Here:
Purchase your tickets for this class at our new, streamlined portal for class registrations here.