May Agriplex classes highlight blacksmithing, gardening and more
Published 5:15 am Wednesday, May 8, 2019
- Jo Ann Holley teaches children about the strawberry plant during a Heritage Homeschool event last year.
This season’s warm-weather slate of how-tos and outdoor learning opportunities is in full swing at the North Alabama Agriplex, with a packed May calendar filled with lectures and hands-on skills classes for learners both young and old.
Tomorrow at 6 p.m., the Agriplex will host a neat walkthrough on how to make your own lightweight “hypertufa” plant containers as part of this year’s Heritage Skills series. Formed to look like concrete but much lighter, the containers will be the focus of a $15 per-person hands-on class hosted at the Agriplex by Alabama Extension’s Raydonna Sims.
Thursday’s class is just the next in a long line of upcoming Agriplex activities. Here’s a full rundown of what’s in store for the rest of this month:
May 10
Little Famers Sunflowers — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Sunflower planting at the Agriplex for both kids and families. Cost is $5 per child and $10 per family.
May 15
Lunch & Learn Raised Bed Gardening — noon to 1 p.m.
Free bring-your-own lunch event at the Agriplex. New topic each month, with the focus in May on raised bed gardening.
May 23
Heritage Homeschool Wildlife — 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Exploring wildlife at the Agriplex. Learn to identify native species and their habitats with experts from the Alabama Trappers and Predator Control Association. Cost is $8 per child and $16 per family.
May 25
Blacksmith Workshop — 9 am to 3 p.m.
Heritage smithing techniques at the Agriplex, presented by Allan Kress. Limited Space for adults and kids ages 14-17 accompanied by a supervising adult. Cost is $25 per person.
Last year, more than 4,000 people visited the Agriplex’s Heritage Center on Tally Ho Street, where most of the nonprofit’s skills classes are held. Some are adults looking to refine their green thumb as a hobby; others are local students who participate in one of the dozens of ongoing field trips, classes and hands-on learning opportunities the Apgriplex continually provides.
To find and register for the programs and events that interest you, visit agriplex.org and follow the steps for the new RecDesk registration system, or call 256-297-1044.
