SOUP to offer classes on gardening online

Virtual monthly series being offered by local nonprofit, library.

Springfield Ohio Urban Plantfolk is offering free sessions on Zoom to locals who would like to begin gardening or improve their skills.

The seeds are being sown for those who would like to begin gardening or improve their skills through a new virtual series presented by a local nonprofit led by local gardeners.

“Zoom into Gardening” is a monthly series being conducted by Springfield Ohio Urban Plantfolk (SOUP) in partnership with the Clark County Public Library. The free series will begin with a program on planting seeds at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, on Zoom.

SOUP is a community-based urban agricultural organization dedicated to helping Springfield’s southside communities obtain more food options. The organization operates farm stands each year offering fresh produce. While spring increases gardening interest, other factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic have led more people to gardening and this series is meant to be a source to get started.

“We think it’s a healthy practice to grow your own food,” said Nancy Flinchbaugh, who is coordinating this program for SOUP.

Flinchbaugh will emcee the Zoom presentations along with Sarah Webb of the library.

Each program will feature a gardener from Springfield who will share his or her expertise on a different monthly topic. The first guest will be Mary Anna Robinson. She’ll be interviewed about her

Each program will feature a gardener from Springfield who will share his or her expertise on a different monthly topic.

gardening and share tips on planting seeds in various videos, several other segments and a question-and-answer segment.

Other SOUP members will also be part of the various segments.

SOUP obtained a $400,000 grant in 2020 that will be used to purchase land owned by a Springfield Baptist church for the McCain Acres Urban Agricultural Center to help its projects. The group will update that project in each program.

There will be six total monthly programs. The second will be April 22 and focus on gardening at Springfield’s historic Gammon House with Dale Henry, and the third on May 20 will cover planting your garden.

To register for the series, contact Webb at swebb@ ccplohio.org or go to the library’s website.

CONTRIBUTED Chebrya Jeffrey, seen here preparing flats for planting at a greenhouse, will be one of the presenters in a new virtual gardening series presented by Springfield Ohio Urbana Plantfolk (SOUP) and the Clark County Public Library.