In gardening, as in sports, there’s always next year.
And you can already start preparing for next year’s growing season at Botanica 2013: Ideas and Inspiration, a gardening symposium presented by the Master Gardeners of Stark County.
The symposium will be 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Trinity United Church of Christ, 3909 Blackburn Road NW, Canton.
I’ll be there talking about gardening trends. Other presenters are Rudy Moyer, agricultural manager at GentleBrook, who will speak on the topic Favorite Vegetables; Barrie Kridler of Kridler Gardens, speaking on Made in the Shade; and Barbara Oare of Quail Hollow Herb Society, on Gardening With Herbs.
Cost is $30 until Sept. 17 or $35 after that date. A continental breakfast is included.
For information and a mail-in registration form, visit www.osustarkmg.org or call 330-830-7700, ext. 102 or ext. 116.
Small-farming sessions
New and aspiring small-scale farmers are the targets of a five-session program being offered in September and October by the Ohio State University Extension.
The Northeast Ohio Small Farmer College will be held in Ashtabula County. Classes will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 12 and 24 and Oct. 3 and 10 at the county extension office, 39 Wall St., Jefferson Township. Then, on Oct. 12, participants will visit two local farms.
More information and a mail-in registration form are at http://ashtabula.osu.edu, or call 440-576-9008. Space is limited.
Keep Ohio Beautiful awards
Congratulations to Eric Jones and Helen Dauka, who were named volunteer and student of the year, respectively, at the recent Keep Ohio Beautiful awards luncheon.
Jones is a member of the board of directors of Keep Akron Beautiful and has been involved with the organization for nearly 20 years. Dauka, a May graduate of the University of Akron, has volunteered 1,200 hours with Keep Akron Beautiful, starting with her internship and continuing afterward.
Events, programs
• Akron Community Garden Tour, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, starting at Northside Station, 27 Ridge St. Tour more than 15 food gardens by trolley. Free. Healthful pot luck, 3-5 p.m., Pure Intentions, 156 W. North St.; bring a dish to share. Sponsored by the NeighborFood community gardening group. 330-836-9507.
• Art-A-Palooza, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Boettler Park, 5300 Massillon Road. Exhibits by more than 50 artists, entertainment, children’s activities, food. www.cityofgreen.org.
• Cleveland Botanical Garden events, 11030 East Blvd. Ask the Gardener, noon to 4 p.m. today. Eleanor Squire Library Program — History of Cleveland Botanical Garden, 2-3 p.m. Aug. 31 (members $5, others $12, reservations required). Garden admission: $9.50; children ages 3-12, $4; members and younger children, free. 216-721-1600 or www.cbgarden.org.
• Warm Up Akron meetings, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mogadore Branch Library, 144 S. Cleveland Ave. Members knit and crochet rectangles that are used to make afghans for needy people in the Akron area, and they’ll teach others the skills. 330-699-3252 or http://warmupakron.webs.com.
• Rudy’s Favorite Tools, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. Talk by Master Gardener Rudy Moyer. Part of the Summit County Master Gardeners’ Meet Me in the Garden series. Free.
• Made in Ohio Art & Craft Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 31, Hale Farm & Village, 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath Township. More than 100 vendors offering Ohio-produced arts, crafts and foods. $5, including museum admission. www.wrhs.org. Check the website for driving directions to avoid bridge construction near Hale Farm.
• Ohio Plant Diagnostic Clinic, 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 4, Secrest Arboretum’s Jack and Deb Miller Pavilion, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. $40, including lunch. Registration deadline is Aug. 31. Details and mail-in registration form at http://secrest.osu.edu, or send payment to Cheryl Fischnich, OSU Extension, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691. Information: fischnich.1@osu.edu or 330-263-3831.
Submit notices of classes, programs and events two weeks in advance to mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com or Home and Garden News, Features Department, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640. Please include name and phone number. All events must be open to the public.
Mary Beth Breckenridge can be reached at 330-996-3756 or mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com. You can also become a fan on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/mbbreck, follow her on Twitter @MBBreckenridge and read her blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/mary-beth.