The Wood County Master Gardeners are hosting their annual Spring Seminar and Plant Sale Thursday, April 20 at 6 p.m., in Parkersburg at the Fort Boreman Room of the Judge Black Annex to the Wood County Court House. This is at 317 Market Street, directly across from the Blennerhassett Hotel.
The main speakers are John Burkhart from the WV Department of Natural Resources and Chris Chmiel from Integration Acres in Albany, Ohio. J.J. Barrett from WV Extension will be discussing how to increase soil fertility in the garden.
John is talking about WV Native Plants. He manages and monitors endangered plant species, develops conservation priorities for the state's flora, and conducts outreach and provides extension to educate and promote native plants for the WV Department of Natural Resources.
Chris Chmiel and his family operate Integration Acres, a diversified farm in southeastern Ohio. It remains one of the largest processors of pawpaws anywhere, with a product line that includes frozen pawpaw pulp, jarred pawpaw products and pawpaw seeds and trees. It also offers forest-farmed, locally foraged crops like spicebush berries, black walnuts and ramps. Chris also helped organize the first Ohio Paw Paw Festival.
The plant same begins at 5 p.m., and there will be refreshments and door prizes. Three silent auction items, including a fruit tree and hanging baskets, will also be available. For more information or to register contact the Wood County WVU Extension office at 304-424-1960.