Local gardeners (both aspiring and those with plots to fill) will find the inspiration, advice, community, and plants they seek at the one-day UT Master Gardeners of Davidson County Urban Gardening Festival. UGF, now in its seventh year, takes place Saturday, May 18, at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Ellington Agricultural Center.
The 2019 Festival is a one-stop shop for those looking to start or make changes to a garden. An impressive lineup of local and nationally known speakers, including the Xerces Society on climate change and Crown Bees and Slow Food of Middle Tennessee, will offer advice in small-group settings. Learn about how to amend soil, build backyard greenhouses, revive your roses, garden to feed your family, recognize disease in troubled trees, tackle pest control, and more. Nearly 100 exhibitors will be on site to teach about all aspects of gardening including chickens, beekeeping, and composting.
A much-expanded Garden Center will feature affordable, quality herbs, perennials, pollinators, and vegetables such as tomatoes and sweet potatoes. Some plants are cultivated by Master Gardeners. Crafts, pottery, salves, compost, and more will also be for sale. The Garden Center is a fundraiser for the work of the Master Gardeners of Davidson County.
Back by popular demand is the demonstration Chef Tent. Learn how to make your own fermented spring vegetables, pesto with a twist, and your own herb jellies. Or watch demos with locally grown produce and tomatoes from Bottle Hollow Farms.
Master Gardeners of Davidson County, who are trained by UT Extension Agents, will present how-to demonstrations on container gardening, mastering herbs and flowers, and more, all in small-group space where there is lots of opportunity for asking questions. The under-age set should head to the Children’s Tent for fun activities, including everyone’s favorite: face painting.
“It is so fun, and I came home with my very own plant!” said seven-year-old McKenzie about the Children’s Tent at the 2018 UGF.
If hanging out in the Chef Tent makes you hungry, eats and beverages will be available for purchase from local food trucks, including Bradley’s Creamery, The Rolling Feast, Hoss’ Loaded Burgers and Smokin’ Buttz. Enjoy Love Fest Lemonade, Boomerangs Australian Coffee, and Moose Head Kettle Corn. Live music from Bill and Melanie Davis and Becky McCloud will entertain.
