The fifth annual Cultivating Edible Gardens Conference is set for to begin at 9 a.m., Thursday, May 19, at the East Arkansas Enterprise Community Inc. at Forrest City.
The conference is sponsored by EAEC, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The event is aimed at growers, gardeners and anyone interested in community gardens and theme is “Turning the Rich Soils of the Mississippi Delta into Edible Gardens in Food Deserts and Underserved Communities.”
Conference planners and sponsors say that community gardens bring people together, encourage healthier eating habits, reduce food costs, and provide mental and/or physical therapy.
Conference topics include growing produce on small plots, in containers and in raised beds; selecting crops that do well in the region; selection of seed and transplants; and growing sweet potatoes. Also, there will be a garden workshop for elementary school students.
To pre-register, for special accommodations, additional information or to be included in the complimentary lunch count, contact Cassandra McDaniel at 870-630-2005 or eaec@sbcglobal.net