Agricultural group eyes lawn care

By Owen Boss
Staff Writer

Grown in Westhampton, a collaborative aimed at bringing together local farmers and amateur gardeners, will focus on how to keep a healthy lawn at the group’s monthly meeting next Monday.

The roundtable discussion, held at the Town Library on Main Street, will feature a presentation on lawn care from Debra Young, Operations Manager of North Country Garden Center.

“I am going to discuss the four-step fertilizing process, answer any questions that those in attendance may have and show them some new methods for liming,” Young said, adding “We will also go over both the organic and inorganic options for lawn care and when is the right and wrong time to fertilize.”

Young, of Southampton, said a common mistake among area homeowners is to expect that with enough work they can end up with a golf-course quality lawn.

“Most people want a golf course in front of their house, and that is just not realistic,” Young said.
Kurt Heidinger, who helped organize the group, said Young’s speech will continue Grown in Westhampton’s effort to facilitate the exchange of information between local growers.

“Anybody in the world can pick out a book on perennials or how to compost or how to grow the perfect tomato but getting the local knowledge on how to do it from people who have grown here forever, you can’t get that in a book,” Heidinger said.

An added benefit to the monthly meeting, Heidinger said, is that it brings area farmers and their consumers closer together.

“Everybody seems to be learning something,” Heidinger said. “The farmers get to pick the brains of their consumers and consumers get to know more about what is growing locally — both sides are finding it very helpful.”

Heidinger said all area residents are invited to the meeting, which is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m.
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Annual variety show

Residents are invited to help raise money for a local church group and area emergency responders next weekend by attending the 24th annual Pilgrim Fellowship and EMT Variety Show at Town Hall.

Julie Holt, who organizes the show each year, said performances will include musical performances, dancing, singing and acting.

“We’ve been doing this for 24 years now and you know how it is in Westhampton, whenever you do something two years in a row it becomes tradition,” Holt said.

Proceeds raised from ticket sales, Holt said, will be divided evenly between the Pilgrim Fellowship, a local church group and area EMTs.

The show is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 24. Tickets, which are $5 for adults, $2 for children, are available at the door.

People interested in performing are encouraged to sign up by calling 527-0294 or sending a request via email to julieholt@comcast.net.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.