Learning As A Lifestyle – Growing And Using Herbs

This past Saturday I spent the morning buying plants at the Farmers Co-Op and gardening supplies at Lowe’s. I wanted tomatoes and cucumbers, maybe some green peppers. My son, Ben, went with me and he wanted to pick up some herbs. I don’t know much about herbs and I am not that good at gardening. I only have two years experience.

The first year we grew plants, we did not do so well. Last year, Ben grew our garden hydroponically. He set up a bucket system that watered itself on a timer and drained into a reservoir so he could reuse the water. He put the fertilizer in the reservoir so the plants were fertilized easily and watered regularly. We had tons of tomatoes last year. Since Ben is the cook in my house, he knows more about herbs that I do. He picked dill, parsley, and basil for his first effort for herbs.

If you don’t know much about herbs either, you can come to the Center for Lifelong Learning for a class called Growing and Using Herbs. In this class, we’ll discuss growing herbs such as parsley, chives, rosemary and basil. We will also talk about how to use herbs in crafts. At the end of the class we will have an herbal tea tasting. Class is scheduled Tuesday, May 27, from 1:00pm to 4:00 pm. The fee for this class is $35 per person.

This class will be taught by Marilyn Jones. Marilyn holds a Masters of Education in Adult and Higher Education and a Bachelors Degree in Vocational Home Economics. She is originally from Florence, Alabama. Her husband is a retired Army officer. She has experience teaching with Park University and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College. Marilyn is currently teaching classes through the Continuing Studies and Outreach program of the University of North Alabama. Additionally, she is a fitness instructor at the YMCA of the Shoals. Marilyn also teaches a sewing class for us. Her Beginning Sewing class was been well attended. “She is so easy to understand and a great teacher,” said Kate Madsen, a student in the last class.

We keep our class sizes small so there is lots of individual attention for participants. Marilyn’s next sewing class will focus on mending using the sewing machine. The class will be scheduled in late July – watch the website for more information.

You can find out more about these classes and more this summer at the Center for Lifelong Learning, call 256-233-8260 or check out the webpage – www.athens.edu/CLL.

Hope to see you this summer at CLL, where learning is easy.
Center for Lifelong Learning – 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL 35611 – 256-233-8262
By: Wanda Campbell