Learning to Garden

Photos Courtesy City of Raleigh Parks & Recreation

LEARN TO GARDEN

Abbotts Creek Offers Instruction to Youths

New Instructional Garden at Abbotts Creek Community Center

Abbotts Creek Community Center on Durant Road in North Raleigh

The Abbotts Creek Community Center’s new Instructional Garden – added in 2021 – offers a number of activities and instructional sessions in 2022 at the North Raleigh facility.

The new garden area includes raised beds, picnic tables, pollinator beds, blackberries, and raspberries.

The 2022 related classes include: n Vegetable Gardening Basics, March 16, 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., age 15 and up: An exploration of the basics of gardening, including seed starting, layout, what’s needed to build a bed, fertilization basics, pest prevention, and more. n Hands-on Vegetable Gardening, April 20, 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., age 15 and up: Learn how to amend the soil and add nutrients to the beds, how to plant previously started seedlings, how to direct sow, plant spacing, watering, and what plants to avoid putting together. n Little Gardeners, April 21, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., age 3-5. n Continuous Care for Your Garden, May (date and time to be determined), age 15 and up: – This class is focused on keeping the garden going -- including pruning, fertilizing, pest management, staggered planting/seeding, and more. n Continuing the Harvest, Fall 2022 (date and time to be determined), age 15 and up: An opportunity to turn the beds over for a new season, including harvesting, pulling dead/diseased plants, amending the soil to prepare for the Fall season, discussing the importance of cover crops, and more.

A joint venture between Wake County Government and Wake County Public School System, Abbotts Creek Community Center is a 26,000 sq. ft. facility and park. It includes a gymnasium, fitness room, playgrounds, and multi-purpose fields.

One of two playgrounds at Abbotts Creek Park, one for 2-5 year olds and one for 5-12 year olds

Abbotts Creek Park is also a part of the Capital Area Greenway System, with a 2.9-mile connector that follows Abbotts Creek from the Neuse River Train to the Simms Branch Trail near the intersection of Durant Road and Cub Trail.

For more information and to register for the sessions at Abbotts Creek Recreation Center, call 919-996-2770.

Abbotts Creek Community Center is located at Abbotts Creek Park at 9950 Durant Road in North Raleigh. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.