KINGSTON, R.I. – September 5, 2014 – The annual Fall Garden School sponsored by the University of Rhode Island’s Outreach Center will engage participants in learning such back-to-the-land, self-sufficiency practices as jam making, beekeeping and raising chickens on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center in Providence. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“This season’s garden school is a modern take on homesteading techniques,” said Sejal Lanterman, who is organizing the event for the URI Cooperative Extension. “We’ll spend the day outdoors in the garden learning about a selection of traditional practices that are relevant to the conscious consumer of today.”

Sessions include a food preservation demonstration called “The Jam Session” about how to preserve home-grown produce, a discussion of permaculture that will take place in the park’s Edible Forest Garden, a beekeeping lesson during a brown-bag lunch at the park’s newly-installed beehive, and a session on raising chickens at home led by a licensed poultry judge.

Throughout the day, URI Master Gardeners will be available to conduct soil tests for participants who bring in a soil sample from their yard or garden.

Registration is required and costs $40 for the entire day or $20 for one session. Click here for information or to register for the event or call 401-874-2900.